spasticity

[TravisWharam]

Hi guys, for the ones who have the more violent spasticity and don’t take baclofen. What do you use?

[hoosierdad]

Sorry, but I do take it. For the first couple of years it caused dream paralysis (I was vaguely aware I was having a dream in which I couldn't move, but I couldn't speak to ask my wife to awaken me). That almost never happens now, but I can't relax without it. I have very mixed feelings. One alternative, Flexeril, never helped me at all.

[TravisWharam in reply to hoosierdad]

Tizanidine/zananflex is the only other prescription they’ve ever gave me. Flexaril is for a different kind of spasm than we have as far as they tell me. I’m going to try to make life work without it as a trial and see what happens. I’ve been on it for 12 years and my spasticity seems worse when I’m taking it.

[Djp1989 in reply to TravisWharam]

I've never benefited from Tizanidine. Gave me terrible nerve pain and unable to sleep. Avoid it. I take Baclofen and don't notice any issues. I don't know if it's helping though, because I've been on it so long.

[nikolahn in reply to hoosierdad]

None mentioned Gabapentin.

Why?

[TravisWharam in reply to nikolahn]

It doesn’t help spasticity.

[Coslet]

I tried everything listed above. Nothing touched my spasms like Baclofen. My state recently approved medical marijuana. I’ve gotten a card and I’m about to start experimenting with various strains at night to walk down the amount of Baclofen I use. I currently take 10mg am/pm and 40mg at night.

[TravisWharam in reply to Coslet]

I smoke, don’t pay much attention to what kind. Helps. That amount of baclofen would make me very tired. I have never been over 40 a day I think. I tried tizanidine and all it done was make me tired. I’m working on removing it completely to see what happens since I have been on it for 12 years.

[quilling]

I also do take Baclofen. My physical therapist years ago told me neurologist to prescribe. Life changer for me no side effects. Nighttime cramps weren’t helped so Clonozapam was prescribed and I finally was relieved of those. I take Gabapentin also. 40 years into this pain is everyday waking me in the night too but I know meds help as my prescriptions have gotten messed up and I have gone without and the pain was unbearable so I know they help.

[Equinney]

I was up to 45 mg of Baclofen a day and not having relief. My neuro had been talking about a pump. Now I get 99.3 micrograms a day pumped into my spinal column. The results for me have been amazing. The surgery to get the pump placed has been worth it. Over a year since the surgery. They can up the dosing in office radius needed. Don’t have any of the side effects going this route. They do a test spinal tap before surgery to see if you are a candidate for it.

[bluejadedwho]

Has no one tried any more natural treatments for spasticity and muscle stiffness? It saddens me that so many have so much faith in allopathic doctors, who are so alliated with big pharma. It is good that some are getting some relief from marijuana. Don't get me wrong, sometimes prescription medication is necessary, like in the case of needing hydrocortisone for those that have the adrenal dysfunction phenotype, but they should not always be the first thing to try. Magnesium, specifically the Glycinate form works wonders before bed. Potassium is another that may help especially if one has adrenal dysfunction.

[MSTKing]

I’m on baclofen - sorry.

It does the job for me.