Muscle Cramps post transplant

[pelagia]

Anyone out there had any problems with muscle cramps post-transplant?  My husband is having cramps in his hands and feet.  He is 5 weeks post-transplant.  It was waking him up last night.  He tells me that he is drinking lots of water. 

[angela515]

What are his anti-rejection medicines?

[pelagia]

He's on prograf, cellcept and prednisone.  I don't have the doses handy.

Could it be that he's not getting enough salt?  He never ate much salt and then when he went on dialysis he cut back even more. 

[angela515]

There are lots of reasons for cramping, and yes too little salt is one... so is too little potassium... and too little fluids.

To my knowledge, and my experience on those 3 meds, they don't cause cramps.

[stauffenberg]

There are a number of reasons for muscle cramps post-transplant.  Several of the immunosuppressive drugs belong to the class of neurotonin inhibitors, which damage the nervous system and can cause crampng.  Electrolytes can also be thrown out of balance by the transplant, and low levels of potassium are especially likely to be the source of cramping, since they govern muscle contractions.  If renal tubular acidosis develops because of the toxic effects of the immunosuppressive drugs, this will acidify the body and also disturb the electrolyte balance.  Which problem is causing the cramping in any particular case can only be determined by studying the lab values.

[pelagia]

Thanks!  So far his labs look have been looking good (still going twice a week up until this week).  I guess he should ask the doctor about this when he gets his results back for Monday.

[MIbarra]

I had cramps in my fingers also and am on the same meds as your husband. They weren't too troublesome for me though. They have since gone away.

[Romona]

I get cramps off and on. Especially in legs and feet. One response I got when I complained was walk more and drink more fluids. Personally if my phosphorous is low I have a lot of pain.

[cambonesegirl]

I to had a lot of cramps in my hands and feet post transplant for about a month. I was drinking plenty of water and eating well. It's gone away now but I thought that was weird. The cramps were worst then the ones I use to have at dialysis.

[pelagia]

We asked the nephrologist about the muscle cramps at my husband's appt. today.  He said it's likely due to his magnesium being too low.  He told him to spread his magnesium out over the day, rather than taking them a bunch at a time.  That should help to improve the absorption.

[angela515]

Wow.. Didn't the doctor tell him when he first put him on mag. that he has to take it at different times of the day? If not, I would get a new dr.

[pelagia]

He was taking his mag three times a day at first.  Now he is taking it 5 or 6 times a day (a good excuse for a snack).  It's worked - this past week his mag climbed into range for the first time.

His local nephrologist is okay.  His office is only about 30 minutes from our house and it's easier than driving 3 hours round trip to go to the tc.  The doc and tc coordinate on the bloodwork, the tc folks take the lead on managing the immunosuppressives and the neph keeps his eye on the bp meds and minerals.