Muscle Cramps
Medical Term: Myalgia
Muscle cramping and pain can occur during cancer treatment. Some simple suggestions for decreasing the amount of pain in your muscles are:
- Increase your fluid intake- Dehydration can be painful on the muscles, so make sure to drink a lot of fluids.
- Undergo a physical therapy program
- Undergo an occupational therapy program
- Make sure you are getting the appropriate amount of sleep
- Hot/ cold therapy to relax the muscle(s)
- Quinine (found in tonic water)
Besides these life style change or adaptation suggestions, there are medications that can help to alleviate the muscle pain you experience. Before starting any type of treatment, discuss your muscle pain with your doctor first. Be sure to bring a record that details the onset, characterization, location, intensity, and duration of the pain along with any factors that have relieved the pain in the past. If cleared by your physician, you may take a Non-Steroid-Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) such as Motrin, Ibuprofen, Advil, or Aleve to alleviate the pain. Tylenol can also be used if your doctor says it is ok. Your doctor can also prescribe a wide variety of drugs to stop your muscles from causing you pain.
Muscle pain can also be caused by low blood calcium. Talk to your doctor about how to best manage your muscle pain while continuing your GIST therapy.
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