LEG SPASMS

  : : I AM A 28 YO MALE WITH SPINA BIFIDA. SINCE BIRTH I HAVE HAD CHRONIC R LEG
  : :  SPASMS. THEY START AT THE BOTTOM OF MY RIGHT FOOT AT RADIATE IN TO MY
  : : R BUTTOCKS AND INTO MY GRION REGION. ANY TESTS THAT WERE DONE EXAMPLE(EEG,EMG,MRI)
  : : WERE ALL NEGATIVE. I AM ON NEURONTIN 300 MG 3 TIMES A DAY FOR 2 WEEKS WITH LITTLE HELP.
  : : PT HAS NOT HELP. SOME TIMES I EVEN BECOME INCONTINENT WHEN I GET THE SPASMS
  : : I CAN NOT GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP. ANY INFO WILL HELP
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  : I am not clear as to whether these spasm involve pain, muscle contractions
  : or both.
  : Neurontion is very useful in treating pain which origionates from direct
  : nerve irritation so I presume that this is at least part of the problem.
  : The dose of neurontin is quite low however and i would not give up on the
  : drug until a daily dose of 2000 to 3000 mg has been attempted.
  : If muscle cramps / spasms are the major component of your problem there
  : are a number of medical strategies available, these are frequently used
  : in patients who suffer from MS as they often suffer from very disabling
  : spasticity of the legs.
  : The drugs used in this case include baclofen which can be taken by mouth
  : or directly instilled into the space surrounding the spinal cord and
  : infused continuously via an implanted pump.
  : I would suggest that you see a neurologist who works with the problem of
  : spasticity in MS patients in order to have a full evaluation and explore
  : the options which are available to you.
  : If you wish to be evauated at the spasticity clinic run by Dr Kinkel in
  : the Mellen Center for multiple sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic the
  : number for appointments is (216 ) 444 5559.
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  MY SYMPTOMS INVOLVE BOTH PAIN AND SPASM OF MUSCLE.  I ALSO SUFFER FROM SEVERE VERTIGO
  FROM THE 900 MG A DAY OF NEURONTIN. IT ALSO MAKES ME FEEL A LOT MORE HUNGRY THAN REGULAR. I AM ALREADY
  OVER WEIGHT. I DO NOT WANT TO GAIN ANY MORE
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Recommendations are as listed above.