Favorite Muscle Relaxants?

[SOONERMOM]

To those of  you w/spasticity issues,  which muscle relaxants work the best for you and more importantly....were you able to think clearly while taking them.  

If this gets any worse I am scared I may have to stop working until this passes (it will pass eventually..right?) since they do require me to think AND walk around at the same time.  Right now I feel like I can only do one at a time while taking the zanaflex.  

Did  any of you end up w/spasticity issues during your first flare?  Is this common??

Thanks,
Stacey

[cjacks]

Stacey

Whining ???  You haven't heard whining yet.  I delete most of what I write ..  I'm so glad you got some meds .  what did you get?have they helped and how do you feel on them ?

Like I said before , we may never know what we have ..  I think there is a need for a new dx. for us in this limbo..  We all have about the same sx.   What is it ?  

I'm late ....  Jo

[SOONERMOM]

I guess after being told I "probably" didn't have MS a month ago, I am just in shock that all this is happening!  I mean WHAT ELSE is it?

My GP did give me @20 tablets on Wed. and I was so grateful, this will last me a while.  I guess I am not the type just to wait around and see how bad things get...which is really all I can do at this point until my next MRI.  Thanks for listening to my whining!!!  I hope I will have a better outlook next week!

Stacey

[cjacks]

Stacey

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. You have a right to get tx. for pain and if spasms are causing pain ...Ask the doc . what he can do for you .. Even the gp can order something . I don't understand the  'wait and see'  or  'don't tx. w/o dx.' . Very barbaric in my humble opinion..

You need relief NOW.    Stacey , my very best wishes to you .  

Jo

[SOONERMOM]

I really hope that my neuro doesn't take the "don't treat it w/o a diagnosis" approach.  I feel crippled at the end of my day.  I had never asked for a pain or muscle medication in my life, but I can just tell that my muscles in my left leg just don't have a normal resting tone anymore...I have NEVER felt anything like this. (I guess it is more obvious because the right side feels normal)  It goes from my ankle to knee to hip and just feels like everything is twisted & tight and my joints even hurt.  I had gotten a yoga tape and definitely need to get going on that tomorrow!!  I had thought about PT if necessary too & I need to re-read the post by Q about muscle tone.  Thanks for all your responses!

Stacey

[spastic]

I am sorry that those are happening to you, I know what you are going through. I have Spazie legs as Heather says, I love that nickname! I finally had to go on a disability leave in July when the pain really started kicking in. I am/was a supervisor for an enormous store and walked at least 12 miles a night. I am on flexeril, gabapentin, xanax, and trazadone. I have to say though a little bit of xanax and flexeril keeps the spasms at bay but I do not recommend taking it together, it definately makes a person loopy! Good-luck to ya, lots of hugs, ada

[cjacks]

Hot Pants ,  Is that a keeper?

I have taken flexeril with Aleve for my spasms and it works well.  It does make me woozzy, Dr. px. 10mg... waayy too strong for me ( my walking friend use to take 10mg and was fine ) so I cut them in quarters ,   2.5mg and not until after I'm sure I won't have to drive ..  I am a notorious light weight when t comes to these kinds of drugs , pain meds also.

I had nerve and muscle testing this week . This dr. was fantastic .. took his time and  TALKED to me  . I asked what the pain in my legs are( I was having them in his office ) .  He said the deep stuff , in calves, are spasms in the muscles . What I feel in the center of my thighs, length wise, is nerve pain  'sensation '.  He says my muscles and nerves are fine, that its impulses from my brain, gone haywire ( my words)

I have been so confused about the differences between spasms , cramps , charlie horse and nerve pain being thrown into the mix and if I was having any of these . ( even after all the help from everyone and Quix)   It was reassuring to talk with him.

He said many of these kinds of  'syndromes' don't get dx.d but can be managed .  P.T.  O.T.   counseling   pain management   .  He said if that is were I fall then he would be more than glad to help.  :)     Besides he's a cutie , doesn't hurt


Now that being said , my d.o. said it doesn't really matter what they are or where they come from that magnesium is the thing to take , along with ??   ??   ??  . I love this guy dearly but ...  if I'm getting spasms from mixed up brain signals than what does that have to do with mag.   Good argument for getting dx.  Any feedback??

Hugs        Jo      PS  It takes me about an hour to write one of these( long) posts. Yikes

[LATW]

MAYBE I ALREADY HAVE A MEDICATION THAT WILL HELP THEN.  I JUST STARTED AN ANTI SEZUIRE MEDICATION LAST NIGHT.  IT HAS ALREADY HELPED WITH SOME OF MY FACIAL PAIN.

BUT I DID NOTICE MY RIGHT LEG WAS NUTS LAST NIGHT.  THAT DID MAKE ME WONDER IF THE MEDICATION HAS SOME EFFECT ON IT IN A NEGITIVE WAY.

I STARTED WITH 1/2 DOSE AND WILL TAKE ANOTHER 1/2 TONIGHT.  THEN GO TO THE FULL DOSE TOMORROW.  I HAVE NOTICED TODAY THAT THE MEDICATION HAS STOPPED WORKING SOME ALREADY. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A 24 HOUR MEDICATION.

HOWEVER, THE PAIN AND PRESSURE BEHIND BOTH OF MY EYES HAS LET UP SOME!  I HAVE SUFFERED WITH THAT PROBLEM FOR SO LONG AND IT WAS SO MISERABLE!

LA

[Momzilla]

Do most of them make you loopy or drowsy?  Or worse, dizzy?

My doctor, at my last appointment, asked if I needed any medication.  I said I was interested in something for my hamstring spasms.  He said we would address that for sure, but he wants to get a diagnosis first, and would prefer not to treat it until I'm diagnosed if I can stand it.  He wants to see how my spasms act or something, doesn't want medication to mask something or other.  Which was fine.

But, I know there is that hope, now, that I can get something for my spasms.  Do they make you woozy?

Hot Pants*

[Heather3418]

I have had spasicity issues even since my first attack 13 years ago.  There are many good drugs out there.  I have tried them all.  I believe!  I am hesitant to say which ones did what, since that may keep you from trying ones that actually work for you.  I do not want to discourage anyone.  What doesn't work for one person, may work perfectly for another.

Many Neuro's think that the spasms are like "muscle seizures."  Many prescribe anti-seizure medications.  Many for Parkinson's disease.  Many work well.  It's really a trial and error period of which drug you finally find that works best for you.

This is a good time to look up drugs for spasicity on Google.  You will find much information there and also the MS Society Website.  If you think I am copping out here, you may be right.  I am very hesitant to discuss specific drugs, since your experiences with these drugs may be totally different than mine.

Heather

[LATW]

I am interested too because I am having a very difficult time with my right leg and foot. I can only assume what I am having are spasms.  

I get an awful pulling in my lower back and leg and then my foot pulls upward.  I am think I need to call the doctor on Monday and ask.

LA