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Myasthenia Gravis and Muscle Cramping

Posted by Just Me @brighterday, Feb 7, 2024

I'm still new to the myasthenia gravis diagnosis and need some advice, please. I've been taking pyridostigmine for a few months. Over time, I've noticed some muscle cramping, but nothing too severe. This has changed! Last night I woke up with severe leg cramps in my thigh and calf on one leg and my thigh on the other. It was debilitating and scary. I'm wondering if this is a symptoms of MG or if it is a side effect of the pyridostigmine? Either way, are there any home remedies? Last night I drank a bunch of water, walked around the house, and tried some heat. Eventually, things calmed down enough that I was able to get back to bed. However, I still feel twinges of cramping today in both legs and, also, in my flank.

What can I do to 1) prevent this and 2) treat it if it continues? I'm wondering about electrolytes? Gatorade, Pedialyte, or something like that. I know there are so many things I'm not supposed to take with this diagnosis and don't want to get myself in even more trouble by taking something I shouldn't. BTW, I'm between doctors right now or I would be on the phone with my doctor about this. I would gratefully appreciate any and all advice you have to offer.

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leellen | @leellen | Apr 20, 2025
In reply to @77smith77 "I have had MG for about 6 years now. Had a lot of leg cramps early..." + (show)
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I have had MG for about 6 years now. Had a lot of leg cramps early on. Could stop them by standing up as soon as they started. Happened many times daily. 6 years in they are very infrequent. I do take pyridostigmine 4 times daily. I have been on many treatments including Rituximab, IVIG, Solaris, Plasma Exchange, Steroids, Pulse Dose Steroids and now efgartigamod. Physical Therapy, Cardiopulmonary Rehab. 9 hospitalizations, 5 in ICU. I have not been in the hospital for over 2 years now. Work 4-6 hours in my Restoration Shop most days. Never give up.

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IVIG seems to be helping me… I’m tapering off pyrostigmine

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lou52 | @lou52 | May 12 7:54am
In reply to @pm56 "Home remedies for cramping include drinking pickle juice or a tsp of mustard. I was experiencing..." + (show)
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Home remedies for cramping include drinking pickle juice or a tsp of mustard. I was experiencing terrible cramping (I have RA/AxSpA) and my rheumatologist suggested a nightly supplement of magnesium, but I am also currently being evaluated for MG due to muscle weakness, and I read that magnesium is not recommended for MG patients. I find heat helps to calm the cramping as well.

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@pm56
I’ve been taking pyridostigmine since 2018. I’ve been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis but I’m still seronegative. For the last two years I e been experiencing terrible cramping, especially in my chest area. Recently Robinul was prescribed for the cramping, but while it truly works, it comes with awful possible side effects of its own. I’m seeking natural remedies to alleviate the cramping.

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pm56 | @pm56 | May 12 8:59am
In reply to @lou52 "@pm56 I’ve been taking pyridostigmine since 2018. I’ve been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis but I’m still..." + (show)
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@pm56
I’ve been taking pyridostigmine since 2018. I’ve been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis but I’m still seronegative. For the last two years I e been experiencing terrible cramping, especially in my chest area. Recently Robinul was prescribed for the cramping, but while it truly works, it comes with awful possible side effects of its own. I’m seeking natural remedies to alleviate the cramping.

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@lou52 I have been experiencing more severe cramping recently and have now been diagnosed with dermatomyositis. Per my rheumatologist, I take 500mg of magnesium each night, I have increased my water significantly (I never drank very much, so now I drink at least 45fl oz of water every day), and per the neurologist if it’s really bad - a small glass of tonic water (it has quinine). Hope that helps 🙂

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sheceegold | @sheceegold | May 12 11:26pm
In reply to @lou52 "@pm56 I’ve been taking pyridostigmine since 2018. I’ve been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis but I’m still..." + (show)
Profile picture for lou52 @lou52

@pm56
I’ve been taking pyridostigmine since 2018. I’ve been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis but I’m still seronegative. For the last two years I e been experiencing terrible cramping, especially in my chest area. Recently Robinul was prescribed for the cramping, but while it truly works, it comes with awful possible side effects of its own. I’m seeking natural remedies to alleviate the cramping.

Jump to this post

@lou52 See a Naturopath. Doctors don’t know everything. Naturopaths treat illnesses differently. I was dealing with debilitating fatigue and after seeing doctors who checked ONLY for heart and cancer causes and found no cause, I found a naturopath who did a different and extensive lab testing and found that I was suffering from a severe case of Epstein-Barr Virus. If you are unfamiliar with EBV I won’t go into details and suggest you get on line and learn about it.

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