Spasms under ribs, front & back - Cure Parkinson's

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Spasms under ribs, front & back

Kingdomcome profile image
14 Replies

Spasms under ribs, front & back

Are they muscle spasms? Spasms below my left shoulder blade and lower chest area (left side). It’s constant. It fluctuates in strength. Not painful but bothersome discomfort and limiting. Also occasional head tremors just recently. It subsides, or at least I don’t feel the spasms, at bedtime. Maybe my inclined bed therapy helps.

I just increased my B1 dose to 500 2x/day. Has B1 helped with spams?

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Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome
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14 Replies
park_bear profile image
park_bear

Possibly dyskinesia. What meds are you taking and how much?

Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome in reply topark_bear

Really. I do have dyskinesia in my left leg/foot. I’ve been taking C/L 25/100mg since 2018 and diagnosed 2014. I’ve also tried Amantadine and other PD meds but stopped due to adverse effects. Also had DBS November 2020. I just stopped taking C/L three days ago. So I’m currently not on any PD meds now not other meds. Interesting that my MDS neurologist couldn’t didn’t mention dyskinesia. Also my head tremors, which is new symptom. Maybe it will be addressed in the next DBS settings. BTW, why do you say possibly dyskinesia?Thank you for your prompt reply.

Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome in reply toKingdomcome

I’m currently not on any meds.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toKingdomcome

I am no expert on DBS but as you say that could be the cause. I would definitely bring these issues up when you have your next adjustment. Or better yet, put in a call to your neurologist and ask if this could be caused by DBS and if you should come in for an adjustment now.

Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome in reply topark_bear

I just checked my daily journal on PD symptoms. I had spasms since August 2020, so the DBS isn’t the cause. But my head tremor started after DBS. My MDS Neuro didn’t say what may be causing the spasms, if that’s what it is. I thought somebody on this forum might have these symptoms, if, in fact they are muscle spasms, or something else. Thanks again.

Nivrac77 profile image
Nivrac77 in reply toKingdomcome

I’ve had that discomfort feeling or something similar in the lower rib/under shoulder area but not sure if I’d call them spasms exactly. My bothersome feeling-again like you described it, is not sharp pain, but bothersome discomfort that reminds me of side ache pain when I was a kid (I’m 67 now), that I used to feel after I had run playing tag so hard that it caused these side aches. Back then the feeling slowly subsided, now it comes on only when I’m walking regularly at any continual steady pace for at least 150 yards. I do Rock Steady and exercise regularly, but walking can be frustrating due to this pain similar to what you described. On another similar mentioned area-I’m right now debating unilateral DBS. My movement disorder specialist is recommending that due to impact of tremors exclusively to right side only after 5 years of tremor issue. Would you do DBS again knowing what you now know and have experienced?

Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome in reply toNivrac77

Will try to answer your question when I’ve completed the DBS programming. I’ve only done 4 programming. It’s gonna take awhile. My 3rd programming made my symptoms worse. After the 4th (3/9) setting, symptoms reduced until this morning. Annoying symptoms (dyskenesia left leg/foot, hand tremors. My next setting is 4/28. Will increase B1 dose to 1,200 mg. I’m 90 lbs, 4’11”, female, and 71yrs old this May.

Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome in reply topark_bear

Oops. I’m currently not on any meds.

OptimusPrime profile image
OptimusPrime in reply toKingdomcome

Have the same/similar muscle aches below right shoulder blade and sometimes shifts down and over to lower right rear ribs. Almost like a trigger point if you have ever had them. Very tender to the touch, and makes driving uncomfortable as ribbed seat pokes the spot. I find relief with a TENS unit set for 10 to 60 minutes, and then repeat as needed. Also, CBD ointment rub is good for relief.

Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome in reply toOptimusPrime

Hard to describe. Feels like knuckles massaging under the rib area moving in different directions, and occasional dull stabbing feeling. They are not painful nor tender to the touch. Simply bothersome or annoying discomfort.

Last year, I had muscle spasms in my breast which was painful. Rubbing CBD ointment gave it soothing relief. And, thanks for the reminder, I will rub CBD ointment on these spasms. Will see if that works. Will let you know.

LeharLover62 profile image
LeharLover62

Or maybe magnesium oil or magnesium which helps for leg spasms I know. Also, my husband gets more leg spasms when his dopamine is a little low...another possibility if it’s a spasm.

Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome in reply toLeharLover62

I’ll try that if the CBD ointment doesn’t work. I just stopped taking C/L three days ago because I had DBS. I upped my B1 dose to slow down PD progression. Hope B1 helps. I’m not on PD meds now nor any other meds. That’s a possibility. Thank you.

Grasss1973 profile image
Grasss1973

I experience something similar when the c/l dopa is wearing off. I always attributed the symptoms to muscle dystonia which is one of the typical symptoms of PD. I experience abdominal wall muscle tightening under the ribs and into the lower chest. It actually gets worse when I walk. I also get a searing pain over the tendon of my right index finger. I’m pretty sure it’s from PD in my case because of the response to Dopa.

Parenthetically, I don’t know about anyone else, but I am stunned by the lack of familiarity of the PD docs with some of these fairly common complaints.

Somebody needs to Re-write the text book I guess.

Kingdomcome profile image
Kingdomcome in reply toGrasss1973

I agree. When I mention spasms docs act like it’s their first time to hear the word.

My spasms are hardly noticeable to non-existent at bedtime. I sleep in an “inclined bed therapy.” Supposed to improve circulation.

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