toes, hands, and fingers curl up and OUCH!!!

((((( Amy ))))) that sounds very painful, I have no experience with it and pray you get some relief soon. Sending gentle hugs and prayers your way.

Aims,

It sounds like some type of vitamin deficiency to me, as well.

This is what I found online and I agree with what they're saying from a nursing standpoint.

"Deficiency of magnesium causes weakness, muscle cramps, cardiac arrhythmia, increased irritability of the nervous system with tremors, athetosis, jerking, nystagmus and an extensor plantar reflex. In addition, there may be confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, depression, epileptic fits, hypertension, tachycardia and tetany."

"The most common sign of hypocalcemia is what is called "neuromuscular irritability." Your nerves and muscles, which are directly related to blood calcium levels, may spasm or twitch.
If your blood test results indicate hypocalcemia, you may notice muscle cramps in your legs or your arms. You may notice, with mildly lowered blood calcium levels, numbness and tingling of your fingers and toes."


So, maybe the vitamin cocktail would work. I would maybe ask your doc about it.

Hope you start getting relief!

This is what happens to me too... I soak mine in the hottest water I can stand...

Amy...people with renal insufficiencies can have electrolyte imbalances that cause severe muscle cramps. I have had them that took my breath. Also, when I am on higher doses of prednisone I cramp. It usually starts in my fingers and toes! Mention it to your doc for sure!!!
Judy

I noticed you're taking steroids. They are known for causing an increase in the sodium in your blood and a corresponding decrease in potassium. Sodium and potassium are like a seesaw in your blood; as one goes up, the other goes down.

When I was on steroids, I would wake up in the night with excrutiating cramps in my calves and feet. Here's what helped me:

Watch your salt intake. Steroids make you crave it, so if you aren't already limiting it, consider starting
Increase your potassium intake. Bananas, orange juice and sweet potatoes are all good sources of potassium. Be careful of potassium supplements, because they can cause serious heart arrythmias. Check with your doctor before taking a supplement.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your help :)! I have made a list of questions about this muscle cramping to ask my rhemy and have made a list of the vitamins everyone suggested and will see what she says. I have an apt with her in 2 weeks!!!!

Hi,  I guess I don't understand what you mean by curling up?  In the cold water do they instantly "curl up"?  Or, do your fingers and joints in your hand hurt and cause your tendons to curl up?  I've had a lot of troubles with inflammation in my hands and my fingers don't want to straighten the way they should and I have issues with making a fist, holding a pen, counting money at work, opening a door-you name it.  I read some of the suggestions for whats going on with you and I will try some of them myself.  Having a banana a day can't hurt anything. 

 

I also found this helpful because I am on prednisone and didn't realize that it caused me to crave salt.  I know it makes my hungrier all around, but now that I know that I can hopefully help myself step away from the Pringles that I've been dying for lately.  (duh-right?!) 

 

I usually soak in a warm bath or use a heating pad on my hands when they feel like this and/or take extra prednisone.

 

Thanks!