Your thoughts friends

Hello or should I say good late evening from Arizona!

I mentioned to my new MS specialist about when I walk around in a store (that's all I'm able to do these days) my right leg gets horrible cramps and muscle contractions in my right thigh then my right foot numbs and I actually have a episode where the foot drags or I trip on it.  This happened a couple weeks ago before my new doctors visit.

Well now 2 days ago I was just laying down messing with my iPad and when I got up my left foot felt cramped, I thought I could shake it off but it got worse and I mean so much worse that I couldn't walk without assistance or grabbing furniture.  The foot ended up in a compete severe cramp and so did my right thigh again.  When I would walk my left camped foot would go inward as if my feet ended up crossing as I walked.  During the cramping the fot had tingling.  This subsided after 24 hours and my foot is fine now.

Does anyone have a clue what this could be and I didn't know if I should bring this up to my new doc yet.

Any suggestions or your own pupersonal thoughts would be great!!

Thanks!!!
Valarie

[doublevision1]

I haven't experienced anything similar to what you describe but certainly sounds like it could be within the realm of MS.  The only thing I get occasionally in my left leg while walking us an occasional JOLT, not really an electrical feeling like I get elsewhere;  this sensation reminds me more of a rubber band snapping, if that makes any sense.  It always takes me off guard, it comes on with such force and is over in a milisecond.  My neuro says it's just nerves misfiring and not to worry about it unless it worsens in intensity or frequency, which so far it hasn't.  What you describe sounds more severe and yes, tell your neuro exactly what's happening when something new like this comes on. They need to know in order to fully assess how you're doing, any disease progression, response or lack of response to treatment, etc.  Hopefully this isn't something that will cause you ongoing trouble.

[vwick77]

Your feedback is greatly appreciated !!!!!

Never had something like this happen and it was just so severe so fast !!!!

Also lately (meaning this past week and also in the past) I have been experiencing my eyes quickly veering to the left and back again when Im focused on something.  It s just a fast action in my eyes that it is so hard to explain.  this has been happening all week !!!

[Lulu54]

This is definitely something to talk to your neuro about and have reported. A quick thought - are you doing any form of exercise/stretching?  They say that gentle stretching is one of the best things we can do to help with muscle spasms, which these might be.

The jumping vision/not tracking with your head movemtns can happen for a number of reasons and there is therapy that can possibly help this as well. I have a delay in my eye tracking to when my head moves - and exercises that I am not very good at doing regularly.  

[vwick77]

I'm a huge lover of yoga!!  I have done that for many years and I'm gonna do even more lately due to these muscle spasms!

Yeah the eye rapid movement is odd, has happened for a few years now but lately everyday it is happening!  It is a quick rapid movement that seems to go to the left.  

I'm gonna have to mention these to my Neuro for sure!

[debgen]

Hi Valerie,

It sounds a lot like you are experiencing severe spasticity in your leg, which has been a huge problem for me for a long time.

Lulu is correct, stretching helps a great deal. I also take medication such as Baclafen and Zanaflex to help alleviate some stiffness and cramping in the leg. This is definately something to discuss with your neuro.

Hopefully you can find some relief soon!
Deb

[Lulu54]

Yoga is HIGHLY recommended for people with MS, even chair yoga can be beneficial.  Keeping stretched is very important, and can help with spasticity and gives us added strength.  I'm not a yoga person but do other forms of exercise.

[vwick77]

Thank you ladies !!!  Thanks for tip Lulu !

Yeah Deb I never experienced anything like this and it was so debilitating and painful :(

Question, can spasticity cause damage to the muscles down the road or cause any permanant problems??? It felt like it would never go away

[vwick77]

Does anyone know if spasticity causes any damage down the road or permanent problems?

Thanks !!

Valarie

[kwarendorf]

Hi Valarie -

The short answer is yes. In severe cases spasticity can cause damage to muscles and tendons. It can result in joints being "locked".

Kyle

[vwick77]

Appreciate your response Kyle :)

Was not aware of this!  Was not familiar with spasticity at all until now

Thanks !