Muscle spasms???

[Antalya]

Greetings all!  I had horrendous back spasms for about a month.  Truly agonizing.  Couldn't move or barely breathe.  I didn't think this could possibly related to my MS, until my Aunt asked me today and I just started wondering......  I know some people get muscle spasticity and pain.  I hope this is not MS related.  It was awful and I don't want it back.  The acute pain has stopped but my muscles are still stiff and sore.  Think they are in shock.     Any ideas?   THANKS.   Aaak.

Marcia

[ppmguy]

      spasms for a month, wow!!! that hurts.  it sounds like a pinched nerve, and ms then makes it hard to heal. i pinched a nerve in my back and my pcp sent to the pain clinic for a nerve block. the injection can also be used deep intramuscular.  they are low dose synthetic cortisone. it will stop the pain for 1 to 2 months. when the pain stopped a pt.  helped me strengthen my core muscles. he said ,when the core is stable and strong it protects the back.  i have been pain free for a year.        barry

[Antalya]

Thanks so much for all your helpful hints.  I have been "off line" - obviously because I have been dealing with some other crisis with a dear dear friend who is in CA - and I am in NJ and is driving me crazy.  Stage IV Lung Cancer and JUST diagnosed.  Anyway - I did have a neuro appt this week.  She doesn't think the spasms are MS related.  ?  But if they were really just a muscle spasm, then why would they be changing?  First, for about 5-7 weeks they were the really horrifyingly painful spasms on the r side of my spine by my waist.  Now they have moved across my back above the waist, then down to my waist, then below the waist.  ?  I think she is wrong.   She said "So do you WANT it to be MS?"  Of course not, but want an explanation!  
Another thing that made me mad was that when I said I really didn't want to do Tysabri, she asked me what DID I want to do?  Because she didn't have any other ideas.  That was her plan for me.  Period.  My films of my recent MRI looked horrifying to me - she said I was stable.  I asked if she could show me what was what and she said she didn't have time - but she'll schedule a longer appt next time - in 3 months.  Great.  
She is new to me - and the practice - but has excellent credentials.  I like her but definitely did NOT like those answers!
Thanks for letting me vent.  Very frustrating and others don't understand.  
I feel like I have been complaining a lot lately.  SO exhausted and in pain!
Yesterday was the first day i a long time that I didn't groan at the thought of doing ANYTHING!!!!
Best to you -
       Marcia

[byyygrace]

http://www.unitedspinal.org/msscene/2008/11/18/paroxysmal-symptoms-of-multiple-sclerosis-they-come-and-they-go/

Read down a little bit and this will explain them somewhat.

[byyygrace]

marcia,

Our health pages to the right may have info on the spasms-I haven't checked. I've only been diagnosed since September and the spasms started in October. When one would start it would take my breath until it worked it's way out. It seemed my neck and shoulders would stay tight all the time and the neuro could feel the tightness along my spine.My neck and shoulders are still tight and sore if I rub them-this is probably stress! I remember how it used to hurt to roll over in bed-no fun!

I hate needles-we probably all do! I am blessed to be taking a new DMD in pill form, Aubagio. It's only been about 2 months, but minimal side effects so far! The Tizanidne I can take 1-2 tablets 3 times a day. When I started he told me to take it at night only because it would make me very sleepy. Now. when my back starts hurting in the afternoon I take another with my Gabapentin and the pain goes away!(And it no longer makes me sleepy!) I don't like pills either(this time last year I took nothing and now I take 10 prescriptions-yuck!) so I don't believe I'll ever take 6 a day-2 right now is working just fine!

If I find other info about back spasms and MS I'll let you know. If your neuro won't help, perhaps your PCP will.


Colin

[Antalya]

colin-

Thanks for your confirmation of what I thought about the spasms.  How long do yours usually last?  Thank goodness that med is a pill - I was afraid it was some sort of injection.  ick.  (Enough of those w/ 14 years of Avonex -about 700 inj! and now Tysabri....)   When I went to my neuro I thought it was possibly sciatica pain.  She didn't think it could be MS related. I'm going to research some more.  Do you know anywhere for me to go to find out more about muscle / back spasm and MS??  At least this offers an explanation.  Thanks for that.  
My muscles are still freakin' out a bit.  STIFF and stubborn.  It is still very painful to move at night in bed.  Have you found that your muscles feel sore/stiff even after they are no longer "spasm-ing"?
Sorry for all the ?s, but it is so nice to "talk" to someone who understands!!!!

           :  -))              Marcia

[byyygrace]

Yes, my spasms are MS related and Tizanidine, a muscle relaxer is a pill. Glad you're no longer in agony!

colin

[Antalya]

Thanks for both your input.  DO you think the spasms are MS related?  Did your neuro?  Is the muscle relaxant a pill?  I tried another kind - didn't help.  Also tried a pain killer my PCP gave me for moderate to severe pain.  Didn't help either.  But it was too small a dosage I think .  (I can't take any of the percoset, percodan horrid drugs).
My acupuncture helped - and I think just time, heat 2x a day and MILD stretching.  
Yoga is a great idea, but any even slight over extension caused agony.  And at the beginning I couldn't even slightly move, much less do any kind of "exercise".  If lying down, couldn't lift up to get the heating pad under me or if I was sitting up, same thing leaning forward.  AWFUL.
So thanks for any advise.
I am going to go to a PT guy I know has MS experience soon.  I only have a presc for one appt - but assume after my evaluation I'll just get another script.
It's so lovely to only be very stiff and not in agony.

Thanks again

[msmomx2]

Yoga Yoga Yoga...ok I know it is just one more thing to fit in to life's limited time and energy but I have a really bad back and as long as I do Yoga (or some form of back streaching) I can get by pretty ok.  Might also want to see if your Nuro will refer you to a PT person who is good with MS.

[byyygrace]

I'm sorry for what you're going through, Marcia. I'm not certain that mine are the same as yours but the spasms will knot up in my back really tight and then travel all the way down. It feels like an alien under my skin trying to get out! Lol. Not really a laughing matter but I'd rather laugh than cry!

My Neuro gave me tizanidine(sp), a muscle relaxant. It has really helped with the spasms. I had never had back problems before MS but I guess I have several lesions on my spine. I also use a heating pad (against my neuro's advice) every evening after work and move it from my shoulders, to the middle, and then my lower back. That helps too.

Just be careful with the heat! We tend to lose sensation sometimes with spinal lesions and could burn ourselves. I keep my pad on low. My Neuro suggests microwavable heat wraps. I tried that once but mine had extremely hot spots in it!

I have not had any severe spasms since using the tizanidine and the heat. I hope you get relief soon. Hopefully someone who knows more than me will answer you soon!

Blessings,
Colin