Spasticity?

[Azuron]

Saw a neurologist for the first time last week. I described some symptoms to him, and he said there is a very real chance of it being MS.  He never mentioned the word spasticity, but said I could take baclofen. My GP spoke to him and gave me a script for it. I have taken it twice now when I thought I had spasticity, but to be honest, I don't know what it feels like, if I really have that, or if I am imagining things and overreacting.  The muscles in my forearm and upper thighs felt tight, taut, twitchy but not actually twitching. I compared it to a guitar string that's been tuned too tight.  It was an odd unpleasant feeling, but not painful.  I am due for a head and spinal MRI in the next 8 weeks.

Could people please describe what it feels like for them?  Where does it happen? Does it go away by itself eventually or do you need to take medication for it?

many thanks

[jensequitur]

That's right - baclofen is a drug that's supposed to remain in your system, so that it is constantly working to keep the muscles relaxed.

I think that it was Lulu who helped me out with titration, so I'll try and remember what she told me!

The first week on Baclofen, take one pill a day.  If you're like me, that one pill will actually do some good for the first week.  Then at the end of the week, you might notice some spasticity returning.

The second week, take two pills a day - one in the morning and one in the evening.

The third week, take three pills a day.  Now you have to - as Lulu mentioned - start counting four hours from your last dose.  Try to space them out, instead of taking three at once.

Now you have to start paying attention to your symptoms.  After the end of that week, do you feel the tightness returning?  If it feels like the Baclofen are less effective than they were at the first of the week, three Baclofen probably aren't enough for your symptoms.

I think 8 is the maximum in a day.  

However, I'm very surprised that she prescribed Baclofen first off.  It's a spinal muscle relaxer, that's given for muscle spasms and spasticity.  I'm also concerned that she didn't go over the titration schedule with you.  I would hold off and talk to the neurologist directly about the Baclofen before you take any more.  Unless of course it's really hurting!

Stretching and massage will help a little to relieve the tightness.

[Azuron]

Lulu, so you are saying baclofen should be taken regularly, rather than on an as needed basis?
My basic neuro exam was essentially normal, however having said that, I saw a very junior doctor who in my (registered nurse) opinion was pretty useless. She did not ask about parasthesias, did not go into detail about the trigeminal neuralgia I ended up with late November, nor had she ever heard of Lhermitte's sign (she ended up googling it while I was there).  In the end she went and got the neurologist himself, who asked a few RELEVANT questions, and it was him that said there is a very real chance, and it was him that ordered the MRI scan. Once I've had the scan, I will see him again. Knowing myself though, I will demand to see the scans immediately.

Thank you all for the answers and input.  Who knows, maybe I'll end up becoming a regular here depending on the scan.

[jumpinjiminy]

That's what it feels like. Mine went away, but comes back every now and then - like now with a new flare up. It can sometimes get pretty intense. Baclofen helps, but didn't work 100% for mine. I still had some very painful sustained spasms while on it.

[Lulu54]

I have to stop right here and warn you about baclofen.... it is NOT like taking aspirin or tylenol for pain.  Baclofen works through the central nervous system and must be titrated up and down (slowly introduced or withdrawn from) so that you don't encounter other problems.


The usual doseage of baclofen varies, but if I remember  correctly it is really only effective for about 4-5 hours before the next dose is needed, that is why most of us are on a 3x daily dose.    Please be sure to talk to your doctor about the proper way to take this drug.  

As for you having MS, the neurologist must have seen some things on exam that led to that conclusion.  Will there be more tests or when is the next appointmnet to discuss treatment?

The baclofen only works on symptoms and there are the disease modifying drugs that you should also be on to work on slowing/stopping the disease progression.  

Welcome to the forum - I hope we'll see you around.  Lulu

[HVAC]

True Spasticity is when the nerves give the muscles the wrong signals and they tense up. In some cases it does hurt. With many of us we do need medications like Bacflofen. My GP prescribes it for me. With all of us it happens different places depending on where we either have inflammation or damage to the nerves. If you have inflammation it can go away if it is nerve damage it may be permanent. Yoga can help a little.

Alex

[MCBCON]

Sounds enough like spasticity.