Muscle Cramps/pains & medications

[Legs-alive]

my Neurologist has just prescribed me with Baclofen tablets for really bad muscle pain/cramps in my groin. It starts Ed off at one side & has now moved to both. I’ve only been on them 3 days but wondering if anyone else suffers from these & takes this medication for the same thing & if so how are you finding them?

[Veteran250]

Hi Legs-alive.

I suffered with arthritic knee pain 24/7 until recently, and then someone in this community suggested...... Masons Dog Oil..... I buy it on ebay, it works a treat for pain relief......apply it liberally over the painful area, but rub it well in..... I apply my oil before going to bed for a pain free night, but I am pain free into the following day..... hoping this works for you? 😀

[Legs-alive in reply to Veteran250]

I have dystonia, which can often be found along side of ataxia, but in the past have suffered in full body tremors forms of them but recently started with cramps in the groin due to them. Just wondered if anyone else had took this medication for similar types of cramps. Thanks for your reply tho👍🏼

[wobblybee]

🤔 This condition can also cause low down pain and discomfort.

Pudendal neuralgia

Pudendal neuralgia is long-term pelvic pain that originates from damage or irritation of the pudendal nerve – a main nerve in the pelvis.

The pudendal nerve supplies areas including the:

lower buttocks

area between the buttocks and genitals (perineum)

area around the anus and rectum

vulva, labia and clitoris in women

scrotum and penis in men

Pudendal neuralgia can be very uncomfortable and distressing, but help is available.

Symptoms of pudendal neuralgia

The main symptom of pudendal neuralgia is pelvic pain. Any of the areas supplied by the pudendal nerve can be affected.

The pain may:

feel like a burning, crushing, shooting or prickling sensation

develop gradually or suddenly

be constant – but worse at some times and better at others

be worse when sitting down and improve when standing or lying down

Other symptoms can include:

numbness and pins and needles in the pelvic area

increased sensitivity to pain – you may find just a light touch or wearing clothes uncomfortable

feeling as though there's swelling or an object in your perineum – often described as feeling like a golf or tennis ball

needing to go the toilet frequently or suddenly

pain during sex, difficulty reaching orgasm, and erectile dysfunction in men

When to get medical advice

See your GP if you have persistent pelvic pain.

Do not delay seeking advice if the pain is causing problems. Pudendal neuralgia can continue to get worse if left untreated, and early treatment may be more effective.

The stress of living with pudendal neuralgia can also have a significant impact on your physical and mental health if it's not treated.

Tests for pudendal neuralgia

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and may examine the area to check for any obvious causes of your pain.

If they think you could have pudendal neuralgia, or they're not sure what's causing your pain, they may refer you to a specialist for further tests.

These tests may include:

a vaginal or rectal exam – to see if the pain occurs when your doctor applies pressure to the pudendal nerve with their finger

an MRI scan – to check for problems such as a trapped pudendal nerve and rule out other possible causes of your pain

nerve studies – a small device inserted into your rectum is used to stimulate nearby nerves with mild electrical impulses to check how well the nerves are working

nerve block injections – painkilling medication is injected around the pudendal nerve to see if your pain improves

Treatments for pudendal neuralgia

Treatments for pudendal neuralgia include:

avoiding things that make the pain worse, such as cycling, constipation or prolonged sitting – it may help to use a special cushion with a gap down the middle when sitting and try constipation treatments

medicines to alter the pain – these will normally be special medicines for nerve pain, rather than ordinary painkillers like paracetamol

physiotherapy – a physiotherapist can teach you exercises to relax your pelvic floor muscles (muscles that you use to control urination) and other muscles that can irritate the pudendal nerve

painkilling injections – injections of local anaesthetic and steroid medication) may relieve the pain for a few months at a time

decompression surgery – if something is pressing on the pudendal nerve, such as a piece of tissue, surgery to move it away from the nerve may help improve your pain

nerve stimulation – a small device is surgically implanted under the skin to deliver mild electrical impulses to the nerve and interrupt pain signals sent to the brain

You may be referred to a specialist NHS pain management team or pain management programme for support and advice about treatment.

Not all of the possible treatments are widely available on the NHS.

Causes of pudendal neuralgia

Pudendal neuralgia can happen if the pudendal nerve is damaged, irritated or trapped.

Possible causes include:

compression of the pudendal nerve by nearby muscles or tissue – sometimes called pudendal nerve entrapment or Alcock canal syndrome

prolonged sitting, cycling, horse riding or constipation (usually for months or years) – this can cause repeated minor damage to the pelvic area

surgery to the pelvic area

a broken bone in the pelvis

damage to the pudendal nerve during childbirth – this may improve after a few months

a non-cancerous or cancerous growth pressing on the pudendal nerve

In some cases, a specific cause is not found.

[Legs-alive in reply to wobblybee]

I have dystonia, but in the past have suffered in full body tremors forms of them but recently started with cramps in the groin due to them. Just wondered if anyone else had took this medication for similar types of cramps. Thanks for your reply tho👍🏼

[wobblybee in reply to Legs-alive]

🙂 I hope you get relief soon.

High dose anticholinergic therapy for childhood onset dystonia, botulinum toxin injections for focal dystonia, and levodopa for diurnal dystonia provide symptomatic relief for some patients. ... Baclofen, a pre-synaptic acting GABA agonist, has been reported to benefit dystonia in a number of retrospective studies.

[Vert]

I have a rare genital condition called SPG7 this affects my muscles in my lower body, I ‘drag’ my right leg constantly. I have been on Baclofen for the best part of four years now, it is a muscle relaxant, so will hopefully provide you with some relief. I have suffered hardly any side effects from it, it seems to do what it says on the tin’

[Legs-alive in reply to Vert]

Many thanks for your reading of. Have you had any weight changes whilst taking it?

[Vert in reply to Legs-alive]

No I can’t say that I did notice any changes in my weight.

[Legs-alive in reply to Vert]

Thanks again for your reply 👍🏼

[FFNick]

I too take Baclofen for muscle cramps, it does not remove the cramps just makes them bearable. The side effects are typical as it is a muscle relaxant.

All typed with keyguard supplied FOC via specialist OT.

[Legs-alive in reply to FFNick]

Many thanks for your reading of. Have you had any weight changes whilst taking it?

[aixata]

Hi Legs-alive,

I have SCA3 and symptoms started in 2016. I took baclofen for one year for muscle cramps. It really eases cramps but get me tired while working at the office ... I stopped baclofen since almost 2 years for this reason. For the time being I try to support (daily) pain.

Best regards.

[Legs-alive]

Many thanks for your reply, yes it makes me tired, at present I only take them at bedtime to prevent this from happening through the day & causing more problems🙄🤦🏻‍♀️.

Hoping you’re managing as bed as you can. I do feel for you, they’re awful & extremely painful! Best wishes back to you.

[Hidden]

My neurologist put me on potassium and magnesium and that took care of most of my cramps.