Just wondering if anyone has experienced any cramping in the hands and feet. Don't know if it is the prednisone or cylclophosphamide or the disease?

Hey Lildreamer. I get alot of cramping in my legs, and especially my feet. can get down right painful at times. It seems to be worse at night, when trying to relax and go to sleep....very annoying...I think it may be from the prednisone, but also due to the muscle damage from the PM. Just something else we have to get used to I guess...lol God Bless and keep up the Good fight. Wayne

I get leg and foot cramps frequently and occasionally my hands. I take prednisone and immuran, as well as drugs for pulmonary hypertension. The hand cramps are the worst, very painful. Have a nice day. Barbbe

I have hand and foot cramps, too. The hand cramps are much worse at night. Baclofen sometimes helps ease the cramps. My rheumatologist still is not sure I have polymyositis (she has repeatedly said I don't have antisynthetase syndrome, despite the Jo-1 antibody). Last week she said I may instead have scleroderma. One of the hallmarks of scleroderma is hand and foot pain. Raynaud's is a scleroderma red flag too. But Raynaud's is a feature of AS -- so confusing sometimes. Hope everyone has a good day.

I too have cramping sensation in my hands and feet. My hands take a while to get going first thing in the morning, especially if I've done a lot of lifting or carrying the day before. I now use a bag slung over my forearm to carry items, always ask for my groceries to be packed lightly and try to avoid carrying things for long distances. Even carrying a cup of coffee home on a walk from the local cafe or if the dog tugs too much on the leash can be enough to set it off. And after a busy day my hands tend to burn along the side of my fingers and over the top of my hands, wrists and forearms in the evening. I use warm packs to ease it while I go to sleep and lots of gentle flexing in and out with my fingers to warm my hands up in the morning.

Kelly, You have great tips. I have the same symptoms. I'm going to try the warm packs. Thanks! Kristen

Kristen, You're welcome! I'm all about anything that brings us ease. Hope it helps. We should consider a forum of tips and strategies we all use to navigate life with these bodies so affected by AS. Kelly

Kelly, That's an excellent idea. A forum of coping strategies and tips would be very useful. Thanks! Kristen

One which is working for my hand cramps is gripping a cake of full unused soap. It seems to work. Found the idea on the net. Can someone also explain what mechanic hands are for me. I get the bright red hands a the end of the day as if all the blood has rushed to them, but minimal swelling these days since starting treatment. My doctor says that mechanic hands involves rashes and the like and says I don't have mechanic hands. Still very confused on all the names of symptoms.

I had terrible pain/cramps in my hands/wrists radiating up my arm, and in my ankles up through my calves prior to diagnosis. Once I was on Prednisone these went away and they have only returned a few months ago when I was taken off Prednisone. I find it worse at night, I think cause I'm not busy doing things to distract me from it. lildreamer - my understanding is that the bright red hands (my fingers have been red and swollen but I also go blue and am super sensitive to heat/cold, and I've read some people's fingers go white) is Raynaud's Phenomenon. I thought mechanics hands was when the skin is rough and cracked. Mine is mild, just rough on index fingers but cracked at the tips of each fingertip which can be very painful if deep. I could be wrong but that's how it was explained to me.