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Extreme Thigh Cramps/Pain

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Posted 1/22/2018 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have had UC since 1999, and in the past 6 months have developed excruciating inner thigh cramps. I am a cyclist and I ride 100-200 miles per week, and have been doing this for 1 &1/2 years now. I am also on Statins for Heart Attack in August 2016, and have recently backed of on the statins, and I really don't need to be taking them.

The cramping came on after a hard ride in July of 2017, and have never really gone away...
This means that I was on statins about 1 year before the cramps started. So I am really unable to find a defining cause, which the rheumatologist can hopefully help me with.

I am scheduled to see a rheumatologist for extreme left hand arthritis that requires surgery to fix that, and I am not researching to see if I can find out the prevalence of myalgias in UC Patients.

Anyone here familiar with this phenomena? And, remember, I am not talking about a Charlie Horse once in awhile, I am talking about extreme debilitating cramps and pain.

Thanks in advance.

Deacon
Posted 1/22/2018 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Any recent changes in medications? Is this signature still up to date?
-----------------------------
Dx of UC in Dec 1999
Lialda 2.4g bid
Started 100mg Imuran BID, (maintenance dose at 100mg Daily) on 8/7/14
C-Diff X 2 since starting Imuran
Starting Humira 11/17/2017 (back on Prednisone fro now)
-----------------------------

I'm seeing joint pains and myalgia (muscle pains) being used interchangeably as a common extra-intestinal manifestation in UC, from a bunch of searches.

I'm seeing myalgia being referenced in steroid withdrawal.

I'm seeing myalgia as being a side effect experienced by some due to UC meds. For example:

Mesalazine-induced myalgia and creatine phosphate kinase elevation: case report and review of the literature
/www.rghn.it/materiale_cic/925_2_2/7849_mesalazine/article.htm
Posted 1/22/2018 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I updated it just now, thanks
There are no med changes associated with the onset of these myalgias. I am an RN and have been tracking this pretty well.

I used to take Atorvastatin and when I seen my Cardiologist I told him I was stopping the med because the cramps are ruining my active status, and he put me on Pravastatin, lower dose, and sometimes different statins work better dependent upon the person.
I have been taking COQ10 and Mg to counter the statin effect, but no success yet. I also drink plenty of electrolytes and a pre ride mixture of lytes and vitamins....

I ride HARD, but no harder than I did for the prior year in which I experienced no cramping at all.

So I was on the statins for 1 year before the cramps started, and from what I have read the adverse symptoms show up much earlier than 1 year...

I am really eager to get to the Rheumatologist...yet apprehensive because of the possibility of getting bad news. It's difficult getting older and having a chronic condition, or 2 ...

Current Meds
Humira 40mg every 2 weeks
Losartan 20mg Daily
Pravastatin 20mg nightly
Imuran 100mg daily
ASA 81 mg daily
COQ10
Posted 1/23/2018 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
I used to get very painful inner thigh cramps from cycling, especially in the winter when it's cold and damp. I went to physio and saw an RMT but the relief was only temporary. After a year of walking like a penguin I started doing daily intensive stretching which helped. Later I was able to obtain injectable magnesium sulfate 500mg/mL. I would take 1mL of the solution and inject half into each abductor muscle. The next day I would do the same thing except I'd put it into my quads. I'd then get into the bath and let the heat circulate it. Within a few weeks my inner thighs were 90% better. After that continual stretching healed it.

IMO it's a blood flow problem with chronic tendonitis. There isn't enough blood / interstitial fluid making it to the tendons and muscles because they are so tight, so they remain in chronic contraction. The mag + heat + stretching would prob help a great deal. I got the mag sulfate from my doctor, but my MD is open minded. If yours isn't you could try applying topical magnesium gel or magnesium oil. I can't promise it'll work the same.
Posted 1/23/2018 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Statins can be so tricky because it's hard to separate the side effects from a symptom. One issue with statins in that they can negatively effect the mitochondria in our cells - including muscle cells. This is (in theory) why they can cause muscle pain. Have you considered taking other supplements for mito support? Like L-carnitine or alpha lipoic acid? You may also want to try a water and fat-soluble form of CoQ10 which is better absorbed by the body.

But of course, this is only if the issue is steaming from your previous statin use.
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