Spasticity

[Dpjinx]

I wake up really stiff. I'm in PT too so I asked my therapist. Suggested a few things that really didn't help. So I started searching books. What conclusion I've come to is that it's the spasticity of this crappy disease. I do my stretches in bed before getting up. It helps some but still have it most ofday

[Karen-x]

I have spasticity in a few forms....sometimes constant muscle spasms, sometimes twitches everywhere, and at other times my hamstring gets so tight it hurts to walk.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to Karen-x]

Wow, sorry you go through that. I have times when the calves of my legs feel like stretched out rubber bands, it that spacitity?

[Iona60 in reply to CalfeeChick]

That's exactly how I describe spasticity to people. Feels like a rubber band stretching out and then snapping back.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to Iona60]

except mine don't snap back

[WAshingtongirl in reply to CalfeeChick]

I described that sensation years ago to my former neuro. It was at the back of my foot (the one with foot drop). It felt like an old, tight rubber band. Is that spasticity?

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to WAshingtongirl]

I just pulled this off the internet....

Spasticity (from Greek spasmos-, meaning "drawing, pulling") is a feature of altered skeletal muscle performance with a combination of paralysis, increased tendon reflex activity and hypertonia. It is also colloquially referred to as an unusual "tightness", stiffness, or "pull" of muscles.

This from the MS site:

Spasticity and MS: Management Strategies: Overview

Spasticity refers to feelings of stiffness and a wide range of involuntary muscle spasms (sustained muscle contractions or sudden movements). It is one of the more common symptoms of MS. Spasticity may be as mild as the feeling of tightness of muscles or may be so severe as to produce painful, uncontrollable spasms of extremities, usually of the legs. Spasticity may also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints, and can cause low back pain. Although spasticity can occur in any limb, it is much more common in the legs.

In flexor spasticity, mostly involving the hamstrings (muscles on the back of the upper leg), and hip flexors (muscles at the top of the upper thigh), the hips and knees are bent and difficult to straighten.

In extensor spasticity, involving the quadriceps and adductors (muscles on the front and inside of the upper leg), the hips and knees remain straight with the legs very close together or crossed over at the ankles.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to CalfeeChick]

Thanks CalfeeChick .Not sure I have that. Mine may be tendon related, but it did say something about that too. Crazy disease!

Any word back from your doc yet?

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to WAshingtongirl]

Thanks, I thought that was pretty good description of spasticity.. No word from Dr office yet. Will try to call them tomorrow. I'm actually feeling just a little better. I think I still want to get on some meds and start living again!

[Iona60 in reply to CalfeeChick]

Ouch! Mine is just annoying, like hitting your funny bone.

[Juleigh21]

I experience that every single morning. Do you wake up with terrible pains in your legs? I sure do. I always wonder if my legs will hold me when I first get up.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to Juleigh21]

That's what the last week has been for me. Never sure if the legs will hold me.

[Dpjinx in reply to Juleigh21]

It's like creak creak creak. In need of WD40 😋

[erash]

If severe enuf, there are meds that may help. Talk w/ your neuro Dpjinx if u haven't already?

[CherieMSCN]

Dpjinx I have lived with this for years and there are some evenings I know before bed that morning will bring stiffness and pain. On those nights I take an as needed dose of an antispasmodic. My doc put me on Zanaflex rather than Baclofen for this as dosing is more adjustable and the med does not need to be taken regularly to get blood levels up for effectiveness. Also, I would suggest stretching before bed as well as in the morning before getting out of bed. That has worked best for me.

[karenmbloom in reply to CherieMSCN]

I take baclofen on a regular basis. I do have zanaflex as an option to take when spasms are bad. I know it's going to be horrible in the morning if a wet/damp evening.Also weather changes are bad. It is good flexible option that offers relief.

[KBlake]

There are medications that can help. My neuro gave me baclofen which helped some. I got to the point where I couldn't stand up straight. I was crawling around the house. I ended up falling while I was trying to pull myself up on the toilet and going to the hospitle. I didn't have any broken bones, but they wouldn't let me go home until they got me straighten out. Now I have a baclofen pump and i am pretty much back to normal. My point is, don't let it get too severe. I should have let mey neuro know that the meds weren't helping enough. I just didn't know that there was something more they could do.

[Dpjinx in reply to KBlake]

Thanks for info. I will talk to him about baclofen. I started pool therapy today. So far I feel good. Have a great day 😘

[Sleek78]

I am very spasticity in my legs and knees every day. And knees hurt. I take tramadol 200 mg. Once the kick in I can walk and function a lot better.

[karenmbloom in reply to Sleek78]

I don't like to rely on the narcotic pain pills like tramadol -constipation from them is a whole additional potentially serious problem.

[Dpjinx in reply to karenmbloom]

I recently looked this drug up for info. Already have that problem so don't need to add to that problem

[Sleek78 in reply to Dpjinx]

I been on tramadol for over 5 years and without I can't really walk and I am so stiff.

I also agree with what your saying, but tell I find something better I am stuck on them 😕

[CherieMSCN in reply to karenmbloom]

Agree!

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Hi Dpjinx lm really sorry your going through this, and really hope it gets better for you.☺ You have gotten a ton of different ideas to bring to your Dr. Hopefully between the 2 of you,. You can come up with a plan.☺

Oh yeah, someone on here said something about Botox for spasticity. 😁 That's my 2¢

🌠

[Iona60]

I have spasticity mostly on one side. I'm on a few meds for this. I heard an MS Nurse say that in her experience, bike riding really helps as it stretches the leg both up and down. I have bought a seatless peddler that has helped me a lot. I us this one and like it because it allows me to push it really far away from my chair so I can stretch my legs further.

I hope you find something that helps.

[Dpjinx in reply to Iona60]

Good idea. I go to PT and use their bike. I'd really like one like you have. Do you know where I can get one ? Hope your day will be a good one 🙂

[Iona60 in reply to Dpjinx]

Sorry Dpjinx . I had the link up to put in the post and I totally forgot. Wonder why that was? Couldn't be MS related. Ha!

I bought it from Hammacher Schlemmer. They give a lifetime guarantee on any of their products.

hammacher.com/Product/84418...

[CherieMSCN in reply to Iona60]

My left side is weaker than the right and biking causes me to lose my left leg when I get fatigued or overheated. There is no one thing that is right for everyone. Each of us has to find individually what works best for us.

[rjoneslaw]

I was like that to. When I started to have a relapse I was put on baclofen 10mg x 3 that didn't do a lot so then I went up to 30mg x 3. It did help a lot but I was still having some spasticity so my dr was thinking about putting me on Botox as well. When I saw that dr she told me I wasn't a candidate for it but instead put me on tizanidine hcl 4mg x3 along w/ the baclofen and it has been working.

It also helps that you stretch every morning. I go to rehab 5 days a week 2 of those include a neuromuscular massage where they stretch me. You will be amazed how loose you will be after the neuromuscular massage.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

My best 2 minutes of the day are when I wake up and nothing is numb/tingling. Then I wiggle my toes and the day's tingling starts. 😊

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

I have learned so much from reading all your posts about your leg meds/spacitity. 😊

[angelite]

Hi DPjinx,

I stumbled ( 'scuse the pun ! ) upon this rather good website the other night when browsing. It explains spasticity in nice plain language and gives treatment options. Mine is more when I move and use the muscles rather than overly stiff at rest - they feel like overtuned guitar strings, get painful and lose power in use. I have a couple of involuntary spasms too, in r. shoulder and leg. Leg is typical flexor pattern. I do like a good leg stretch in bed and often do the downward pointy toes/ upward towards shin stretch to relieve discomfort : )

Hope this info helps :

mssociety.ca/qc/Documentati...

Angela x

[Dpjinx in reply to angelite]

Thanks I'll read it when I get home