Suggest treatment for painful cramps in the legs while suffering from chronic leukemia
Patient: Hi, my father is 64 years old, he is suffering the leg vasoconstriction which will easily get muscle cramps while sleeping and easily tired while walking, feel quite week. And he is also suffering chronic leukemia for 2 years, but under good control by medicine. One year ago, he starts feel his legs week, and easily get muscle cramps, quite painful, probably due to the medicine s side effect, so would you please advise how to deal with it? is there any medicine to treat it? Please let me know, thanks very much for your help in advance. Doctor: Hi there,I'm sorry to hear about the medical problems your father is having.  When I hear the symptoms that your father is having, the first thing that comes to my mind is claudication. Claudication is pain while walking due to arterial insufficiency- basically, the muscles in the legs don't get enough blood flow when they are being used, and they start to ache.  This is caused by peripheral vascular disease and is common in smokers, diabetics, and patients with high cholesterol levels.  These patients will often have a history of coronary artery disease and sometimes renal problems as well.  The first thing I would recommend is for your father to start a waking regiment and walk consistently every day.  He should aim to walk for about 30 minutes a day. If he can't do 30 minutes, he should do as much as he can, and then try to do a little more each day.  The most important thing is daily consistency - he has to do it every day, not just one or two times a week. I'd also recommend he check his cholesterol levels, and if they are high a statin such as lipitor (atorvastatin) can help lower his levels and prevent further damage. Finally, if he continues to have problems with walking after 6 months of a dedicated walking problem, then he should see a vascular surgeon and have his arterial vessels looked at in his leg with ultrasound. I hope this is helpful. Please contact me with any questions.