Does this look like hypertonia? "picture inside"

[sammycung]

I am currently seeing a neuro to find out if I have MS; I have almost all of the symptoms, tingling etc
I just wanted to know if you think this looks like hypertonia?
I feels stiff all the time, that small bump you can see on my leg is getting bigger and I sometimes experience I tight squeezing and relaxing sensation in both my legs in that same spot (kind of like a slow continuous muscle contraction) "not painful"!. Ps I get that lump in both legs and some days it seems bigger than others.

Please help!

[sammycung]

Thanks for your answer! Very imformative!
Thanks again
Sammy
XXxxXX

[supermum_ms]

Hi Sammy,

Most of 'my' leg spasms are pain free, the muscle is clearly 'pulsing' with a ripple effect (think of the ripple a water balloon does) but my face or cheek muscles tighten up like a rock for a while before they relax back to normal, I think they are both forms of spasms. Depending on how long it lasts depends on if i feel the muscle ache but i wouldn't classify them as painful. Spasticity on the other hand is very very painful, and i would love to cut the offending limb(s) off if its not stopping quickly.

I have rib spasms on my left side too, i call them baby hugs because they are not painful, a full hug is breath takingly painful for me, i cant stop the screams from being ripped from me, not sure if this is worse than spasticity both are pretty excrusiating. Hugs are spasms too, they are the little muscles between each of your ribs, there isnt a lot of room between them and if they all spasm at once its crushing pain as they tighten and relax, you do think heart attack when its in the ribs. Hugs also get described as a banding feeling, this is still the same principal though its one muscle group surrounding the torso, they tighten with less of the relaxing aspect.

Spasms dont always cause pain, it does depend on what muscles go into spasm i would say, but remember i'm a lay person that does a lot of reading, i could be totally off base with my interpretations.

Cheers...JJ

[sammycung]

Ohhh can muscle spasms actually cause this? Aren't muscle spasms painful though?

[supermum_ms]

Hi sammy,

I dont really know but I think its saying that during an exam, the muscles are expected to behave in a 'normal' consistent way and if there is an increase of movement (more rebound) it points towards hypertonia. Still I think it's only talking about what the dr is looking for during an exam, this is the only thing ive located so far that give some idea of what you should see if your looking for hypertonia, nothing mentions a 'lump'. It sounds like it could still be related to muscle spasms/spasticity but thats still a guess, see the link below to get a better idea. Sorry i've not been more helpful....

Hyperkinesis: Abnormally increased muscle movement/spasm

Hypertonia: Too much muscle tone leading to stiffness

Hypotonia: Too little muscle tone leading to floppiness

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hypertonia/hypertonia.htm

Cheers........JJ

[jensequitur]

Personally I think you're being a little too specific.  The lump on your leg does look like a muscle in spasm, but 'hypertonia' refers to muscles that are highly toned.  This can be because of spasticity or spasm, but hypertonia is just a description, not a diagnosis.  

I would research spasticity if I were you.  Typically spasticity manifests in one limb, not both, however.

[sammycung]

Hello, this may sound dumb, but i'm not sure what that means lOl..."Hypotonia - is a common finding"....Etc...

What are they trying to say? Are they saying that sittig it the wrong posture can cause this?
Sorry... :(

[sammycung]

Hi, yes it is there all the time and on both legs but it seems to be bigger on the one i took a photo of. Beleive it or not but the lump is actually bigger then it looks, i think the photo just makes it look different.

Thanks :)

[Karen99]

Hi.  I can see where the muscle looks enlarged, or contracted in that one spot.  Is it there all the time, on both legs?  

[supermum_ms]

Oh I just saw this....


Hypotonia - is a common finding, which results in defective posture maintenance and is manifest as a diminished resistance to
passive limb displacements and a delay in the response to such rapid imposed movements. Limbs are easily displaced by relatively
small force and, when shaken by the examiner, exhibit an increased range of excursion. When muscles are contracted against
resistance that is then removed, the antagonist muscle fails to check the movement and compensatory muscular relaxation does not
ensue promptly. This results in rebound movement of the limb ( Holmes' sign ).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Based on this explanation it might not be something you can see in a photo.

Cheers.......JJ

[supermum_ms]

Hi Sammy,

When ever i see a picture someone has posted which are usually of their brain, the first thing that pops into my mind is yep thats a brain, sorry but your leg just looks like a leg. I think sometimes pictures dont show what your seeing in the flesh, i think it would be difficult for anyone to comment............sorry!!

Cheers.......JJ

[sammycung]

Anyone got any ideas?

[sammycung]

CLICK on Picture to enlarge it, you can see it allot better that way :)