MJL, About three weeks after starting Gleevec, I had my first episode of back pain, leg pain/heaviness/aching as well as some actual cramping in one leg. That was just before Christmas. I do not get that every day. However, I still get some aching and it is always in my low back and in my sides as well, but certainly not every day. The cramping has not been recurrent as it was that day, however the aching still happens. I did not have high white counts at diagnosis, so it does not seem to be relevant to the severity of disease symptoms prior to treatment. I hope this is not recurrent for you. I used a topical analgesic cream which actually worked wonders and I felt much better in a very short while. I don't know if it is a matter of your body getting used to the drug, but it is interesting these symptoms did occur close to the end of the first month as it did for me. It is quite annoying I agree !
