Night Spasms

[Bubbe66]

Hello all!

This is the first time I have posted on here. I am 53 and had RA since I was in my mid 30’s. Currently on Etanercept injections once a week and use paracetamol, Tramadol and Amytryptiline for pain relief.

I am really struggling at the moment with sleeping, or getting off to sleep. I can feel really tired, go to bed doze off for a few minutes and then I wake up with what feels like spasms/electric shocks through my hands, arms and legs. I am then awake for several hours (often until the birds start singing!)

Any suggestions? I have tried ice packs, warm showers, camomile tea....

It’s driving me (and my hubby) crazy!

[allanah]

Hiya Bubbe, love your happy profile picture and welcome here but I'm afraid I'm no help at all ! ! I havent had that symptom with my RA , so I would guess try ring the docs. However others on here might have had it.

But I hope you feel better soon and if you havent found it already having RA nras.org.uk is a great site for RA

[Lolabridge]

Hello Bubbe.

I'm sorry to hear you're suffering. I don't think I can help you either because I've not experienced any of those symptoms. I do get some tingling and cramp sensations occasionally but not bad enough to keep me awake for long like you are dealing with.

I think a call to your GP or Rheumatology nurse/consultant is probably best if these problems persist. I do hope you can get some relief soon and sleep better.

[wishbone]

I had the same several years ago and they are not a nice thing to have. The spasms were worse when I was dropping off to sleep. Never got to the bottom of it but probably something affecting the nerves. One doctor did think they were due to medication, tramadol if I remember correctly, which like you, I was taking at the time along with paracetamol. They eventually stopped even though as best as I can recall, I still carried on taking tramadol. Could be the spasms ceased because my body got used to tramadol, who knows.......

[Mmrr]

Hi, I don't have any advice, but just wanted to say welcome to the forum.

[Bubbe66 in reply to Mmrr]

Thank you 😊

[happytulip]

Hi, do you jerk involuntarily? If so I get this. It's extremely uncomfortable and actually quite painful. I was told that it is possibly a result of damage to my autonomic nervous system.

It comes in waves with me. I hasnt happened for months then happened last night.

I find that I get it during or leading up to a flare. Sometimes my muscles twitch so much that the GP has given me PRN diazepam. I use it infrequently but it helps when I need it.

[wishbone in reply to happytulip]

I forgot to add that the jerks were involuntarily with me too. My whole body would jump on times. It was a horrible condition and I'm relieved it hasn't returned.

[Summerrain14]

Hi Bubbe66, I am sorry to hear that you are really struggling to sleep. I have nothing useful to add I’m afraid. I had around three months like this due to my pain levels though rather than muscle spasms.

Just wanted to say hi, welcome and hope your rheumy team May be able to help. x

[juliea793]

Sorry to read your woes. I too have had Ra since my 30's and now 70. Sounds like you have restless leg syndrome in many areas. Things I would try and do myself is drink more water to see if its Dehydration causing problem especially if you are exercising. Thereafter I would speak with your GP. I see you are taking Amitriptyline for nerve pain so perhaps Gp can give you more advice. Sorry can't help anymore but good luck.

[Biofreak]

Hi Bubbe66. Sorry to hear you are having these horrible spasms. I have never had these sensations but my brother has. He has been taking prescribed tramadol since 2007 after he had bowel surgery. He has these spasms where he says it feels a bit like electric shocks which makes his arms and legs jerk. His GP suspects it's because of tramadol use. He is now gradually reducing his dose. It is a very slow process because withdrawal effects are a problem with long term users. It's too early to say if the reduction will make a difference. Also it doesn't mean that tramadol is the cause in your case but may be worth discussing with your GP.

[wishbone in reply to Biofreak]

That sounds very much like what was happening with me. Looks like that doctor, he was in A&E, may well have been correct thinking tramadol was the culprit with me. I'm still taking tramadol, a higher dose than back then, so I could be right thinking my spasms eventually ceased because my body got used to the stuff.

[Biofreak in reply to wishbone]

Tramadol can be effective but coming off it is a nightmare according to my brother. He has reduced it to half his original dosage after about 8 weeks. He was on the maximum dosage.

[wishbone in reply to Biofreak]

I've been taking it for 5 years or more. Started off on a lowish dose then gradually upped it to the max over the years as my RA got worse due to difficulty controlling it. Have recently managed to reduce my daily intake from 400mg to 'approx' 300mg now my RA is better controlled but not enough to reduce it further. I say 'approx' because I snip a corner off a 200mg tablet before I take one. Not the recommended way to reduce my doseage I know, but I have my reasons which I'm not going into. As you say tramadol can be an effective pain killer for some people but does come with baggage and doesn't suit everyone as is the case with many drugs we are prescribed .

edit...it does give me very vivid dreams.

[Biofreak in reply to wishbone]

My brother is down to 200 mg per day now but has said the withdrawal effects are bad so he's maintaing at 200 mg for a few weeks at least. Withdrawal for him is nausea and dizziness and fatigue. Strangely no increase in pain level.

[Bubbe66]

Thank you so much to all who have replied to me, I will take on board all your suggestions and see how I go on. Many thanks 😊

[Plumcrumble]

Welcome to the gang, I have a spasm, mild electric shock feeling just as I'm nodding off, I don't know why, I take leflunomide and prednisolone, but I think it might be slight nerve damage caused by chemo treatment, that was 7 years ago though. I sort of count sheep if I have trouble dropping off, I'll put it on a separate thread, see what the rheumy says, best wishes Sarah