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Muscle Cramp Help
Hello All,
I have been experiencing, for the first time, sever muscle cramps in my necj, upper back and down my left arm. Its been debilitating and the absolute most painful and horrifying experience in my life. These are not just a muscle cramp one gets from dehydration or from running, they seem to linger and last forever. I have lost the remaining feeling in my left hand, my arm is so weak, and when there is no active cramp the entire arm just aches so bad. I cant sit straight, stand or walk with out it pulsating and my pain meds only dull the pain so I can somewhat function. The other night my neck completely seized up in a cramp as my arm and back, I thought I was oing to die, ive never felt anything like it. The twitches/facilations seem to have increased as well.
Does anyone have any ideas on easing this. I am alternating between ice and heat, anti-inflams, pain meds, muscle relaxers,marijuana, etc, but they only help mildly. Im going on week 3 and I dont know how much more I can take. It is healing but so slowly. I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy (not that I have any). I really cant imagine spening the rest of my life like this. I have no insurance, these types of doc bills can destroy a family financially, but knowone will insure me. If anyone has some ideas on helping, maybe alternative medicine I would really appreciate the help.
Thank You
Amy
I have been experiencing, for the first time, sever muscle cramps in my necj, upper back and down my left arm. Its been debilitating and the absolute most painful and horrifying experience in my life. These are not just a muscle cramp one gets from dehydration or from running, they seem to linger and last forever. I have lost the remaining feeling in my left hand, my arm is so weak, and when there is no active cramp the entire arm just aches so bad. I cant sit straight, stand or walk with out it pulsating and my pain meds only dull the pain so I can somewhat function. The other night my neck completely seized up in a cramp as my arm and back, I thought I was oing to die, ive never felt anything like it. The twitches/facilations seem to have increased as well.
Does anyone have any ideas on easing this. I am alternating between ice and heat, anti-inflams, pain meds, muscle relaxers,marijuana, etc, but they only help mildly. Im going on week 3 and I dont know how much more I can take. It is healing but so slowly. I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy (not that I have any). I really cant imagine spening the rest of my life like this. I have no insurance, these types of doc bills can destroy a family financially, but knowone will insure me. If anyone has some ideas on helping, maybe alternative medicine I would really appreciate the help.
Thank You
Amy
Hey Ya'll,
So I went to my doctor today, we r not going to do much until i am insured. He gave me some phys therapy exercises, advised I take some vitamins (fish oil for inflammation, B12 and magesiu, as you suggested Nikodicreta) and I will continue my methadone for pain and flexeril, etc.. There were lesions discovered a couple years ago in my Thorasic area after a car accident, my PCP doesnt want to take any chances on being DX'd without any insurance. I have approx a month or two before he will make me go to the county facility in Sylmar CA. I am gttig close to saying f**k it and just going. I've had away too many episodes this year and I am terrified of the perminant damage.
The less I sit the less my arm hurts, i got foot cramps the other day , omg my toes were all curled and not in the good way. That sucked.
Anyway thank you ladies, you guys are the best. I appreciate your help. Its amazing how painful the lingering effects of these cramps/spasms are. I am willing to try anything at this point. If a shaman told me to walk over hot coals while singing I will survive juggling monkey ba**s I would!
Hope ya'll are feeling well.
Big Hugs
Amy
So I went to my doctor today, we r not going to do much until i am insured. He gave me some phys therapy exercises, advised I take some vitamins (fish oil for inflammation, B12 and magesiu, as you suggested Nikodicreta) and I will continue my methadone for pain and flexeril, etc.. There were lesions discovered a couple years ago in my Thorasic area after a car accident, my PCP doesnt want to take any chances on being DX'd without any insurance. I have approx a month or two before he will make me go to the county facility in Sylmar CA. I am gttig close to saying f**k it and just going. I've had away too many episodes this year and I am terrified of the perminant damage.
The less I sit the less my arm hurts, i got foot cramps the other day , omg my toes were all curled and not in the good way. That sucked.
Anyway thank you ladies, you guys are the best. I appreciate your help. Its amazing how painful the lingering effects of these cramps/spasms are. I am willing to try anything at this point. If a shaman told me to walk over hot coals while singing I will survive juggling monkey ba**s I would!
Hope ya'll are feeling well.
Big Hugs
Amy
Hey Amy.
You may have vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies.
Blood work and hair analysis for minerals (some mineral deficiencies will not show up in the blood tests) are in order.
And if your symptoms persist or worsen you may need to see a doctor.
For immediate relief get Magnesium oil (mix of Magnesium Chloride and distilled water) and massage your entire body well, leave on for 30 minutes and then shower.
After the shower do a lymphatic massage using a long handle body brush (sold at most pharmacies).
Repeat daily.
Purchase a high quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.
Do alternative nostril conscious deep breathing 7"in-2"hold -7"out. Make sure you engage your thorax. Minimum 5 minutes and repeat multiple times daily.
Make sure you do physical activity (as much as you are able to) daily, in order to stimulate your circulation.
Do meditation- or if not familiar-, purchase a Meditation cd and meditate on your issues
daily ( just before going to sleep is great) for a minimum of 30 days to see noticeable results.
Eliminate or reduce sodas, caffeine, Anything white!, junk food, and grains if possible.
Notice if there's a difference in a few days. Also NO artificial sugars at all!!
I work with people for pain management, using hypnotherapy, meditation, eft, pranayama breathing, energy psychotherapy. If there are any reputable such practitioners or therapists in your area consider having a consult with them.
The results are rather impressive and the fees are quite reasonable.
Hope this helps.
Blessings,
Nikodicreta
You may have vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies.
Blood work and hair analysis for minerals (some mineral deficiencies will not show up in the blood tests) are in order.
And if your symptoms persist or worsen you may need to see a doctor.
For immediate relief get Magnesium oil (mix of Magnesium Chloride and distilled water) and massage your entire body well, leave on for 30 minutes and then shower.
After the shower do a lymphatic massage using a long handle body brush (sold at most pharmacies).
Repeat daily.
Purchase a high quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.
Do alternative nostril conscious deep breathing 7"in-2"hold -7"out. Make sure you engage your thorax. Minimum 5 minutes and repeat multiple times daily.
Make sure you do physical activity (as much as you are able to) daily, in order to stimulate your circulation.
Do meditation- or if not familiar-, purchase a Meditation cd and meditate on your issues
daily ( just before going to sleep is great) for a minimum of 30 days to see noticeable results.
Eliminate or reduce sodas, caffeine, Anything white!, junk food, and grains if possible.
Notice if there's a difference in a few days. Also NO artificial sugars at all!!
I work with people for pain management, using hypnotherapy, meditation, eft, pranayama breathing, energy psychotherapy. If there are any reputable such practitioners or therapists in your area consider having a consult with them.
The results are rather impressive and the fees are quite reasonable.
Hope this helps.
Blessings,
Nikodicreta
Aww! Please don't feel like a whiner! We all have our moments. That's what we are here for. It's so nice to come here with things like this and feel okay about it and have others understand!
I still am having problems with my muscle spasms as well, but it isn't constant pain. The flexeril doesn't really help me at all either. I do take tramadol around the clock. I've been taking it for a year now. It does really help with the pain. It took awhile to get it down to a level I could live with. It doesn't really help with breakthrough pain, but it helps the pain that is constant in my legs.
When I started taking tramadol, it didn't really help and it actually made me nauseous. I just kept taking it because I felt like I had to do something. Eventually after it was built up in my system, it started to help. I know it doesn't work for a lot of people but it works for me. I can't take Vicodin, it doesn't help me at all.
And believe me, I am far from positive! I am better than I was, but that's because I have come to a point where I have just had to make peace that this is my life now, and for whatever reason, I just have to live like this. I also had to start taking an antidepressant. I fought that for a long time too, but I decided to try it and it has made a difference in my outlook.
Anyways, I really hope you get some kind of relief soon! Have you gone back to the doctor at all or let them know that this has been an ongoing issue? Maybe a deep tissue massage would help? ;-)
Take care!
Sarah
I still am having problems with my muscle spasms as well, but it isn't constant pain. The flexeril doesn't really help me at all either. I do take tramadol around the clock. I've been taking it for a year now. It does really help with the pain. It took awhile to get it down to a level I could live with. It doesn't really help with breakthrough pain, but it helps the pain that is constant in my legs.
When I started taking tramadol, it didn't really help and it actually made me nauseous. I just kept taking it because I felt like I had to do something. Eventually after it was built up in my system, it started to help. I know it doesn't work for a lot of people but it works for me. I can't take Vicodin, it doesn't help me at all.
And believe me, I am far from positive! I am better than I was, but that's because I have come to a point where I have just had to make peace that this is my life now, and for whatever reason, I just have to live like this. I also had to start taking an antidepressant. I fought that for a long time too, but I decided to try it and it has made a difference in my outlook.
Anyways, I really hope you get some kind of relief soon! Have you gone back to the doctor at all or let them know that this has been an ongoing issue? Maybe a deep tissue massage would help? ;-)
Take care!
Sarah
Hi there,
Please do not feel like a whiner..that is not the case...you always have a place here to bring to...My cramps can last a few minutes at a time and I can have a few episodes or spasms in a row...and they hurt like he##...I will sometimes get them in my calf or under my foot sometimes both at once..they will come and go..I will get them for a week and they'll go away and then a few months later they'll come back....a few months ago I got them in in my thumb and it cramped up so much that it actullay got stuck in a bent position and it turned purple in the bend of my thumb hurt like he##..until a few days it seemed to straighten but swelled up....
I have had numb spots in my left shin area too that come and go....Funny thing that my right side of body is totally uneffected.... but my left is so different it is like drawing a line straight down my body...
Please let us know how you feel..
Big hugs Jibs
Please do not feel like a whiner..that is not the case...you always have a place here to bring to...My cramps can last a few minutes at a time and I can have a few episodes or spasms in a row...and they hurt like he##...I will sometimes get them in my calf or under my foot sometimes both at once..they will come and go..I will get them for a week and they'll go away and then a few months later they'll come back....a few months ago I got them in in my thumb and it cramped up so much that it actullay got stuck in a bent position and it turned purple in the bend of my thumb hurt like he##..until a few days it seemed to straighten but swelled up....
I have had numb spots in my left shin area too that come and go....Funny thing that my right side of body is totally uneffected.... but my left is so different it is like drawing a line straight down my body...
Please let us know how you feel..
Big hugs Jibs
Hey Guys,
Thankz for your help, sorry I havent had the nerdy to login in latley to respond. This has just got me wiped out. There are several spots on the left arm that are super tender (thi=ose are the spots where the cramps are) and its funny you say that about pressing on them as long as I can, cause I have doing that that last couple days. The muscles are so constricted, like a rubber band thats been stretched to the limit. I cant sit straight or the cramps start up, but if I slouch a bit it seems to help. I was trying to put ice on my arm because it does help my back, but the second the the ice touches my arm the pain shoots up my arm, like metal hitting a tooth filling, yikes! Ill keep putting it on the back (well back of my shoulder.shoulder blade area), even though that are is better, it seems to help my arm.
I told my hubby that Im ready to just cut this arm off, I cant imagine goig the rest of my life in this kind of constant pain. And you know what Sarah, the Flexeril might as well be baby asperin lol, I dont even bother with it. Are you taking ay pain medication? How are you sleeping ? Mine seems way worse at night. I'm trying to sleep ina half sitting up position. I'm happy im not alone yet Im so sorry that you guys have to feel this pain and constsnt uncomfortble feelig.
Jibs, how long did it last in your leg? Mine is on the left too. My left side has been a constant torment for about 5 years now. My left hand has gone completely numb and tingly. THe last couple days my right arms been twitching,like under the skin as if somethings crawlig under my skin.
I feel like such a whiner, I really hate it. How do you guys keep so strong, both of you are so helpful and positive. I'm really having a hard tim e with this . I have never been a
complainer, I was homeless from 9 yrs old until I was 17 and had more tha my fair share of life woes, but damn none of that brought me to this place of complete and utter hopelessness. I had been planning on going to school once my kids hit there current ages(17 and 20), I thought thats perfect, ill still be in the mid 30's and I can start my career as a makeup artist finally, then bam, I get the smack down again, I just feel like I just cant win.
Ok well I will try some stretches and I'll contiue to try and massage/press on the areas. Thank you so much for your imput and support. I dont really know you guys, but i am more appreciative than you can imagine. i have knowbody to talk to about this. It scares my family and I cant bare to talk about it with them cause I see the looks on there faces when Im in the most pain, it kills them. Thank you sooo much xoxo
Amy
Thankz for your help, sorry I havent had the nerdy to login in latley to respond. This has just got me wiped out. There are several spots on the left arm that are super tender (thi=ose are the spots where the cramps are) and its funny you say that about pressing on them as long as I can, cause I have doing that that last couple days. The muscles are so constricted, like a rubber band thats been stretched to the limit. I cant sit straight or the cramps start up, but if I slouch a bit it seems to help. I was trying to put ice on my arm because it does help my back, but the second the the ice touches my arm the pain shoots up my arm, like metal hitting a tooth filling, yikes! Ill keep putting it on the back (well back of my shoulder.shoulder blade area), even though that are is better, it seems to help my arm.
I told my hubby that Im ready to just cut this arm off, I cant imagine goig the rest of my life in this kind of constant pain. And you know what Sarah, the Flexeril might as well be baby asperin lol, I dont even bother with it. Are you taking ay pain medication? How are you sleeping ? Mine seems way worse at night. I'm trying to sleep ina half sitting up position. I'm happy im not alone yet Im so sorry that you guys have to feel this pain and constsnt uncomfortble feelig.
Jibs, how long did it last in your leg? Mine is on the left too. My left side has been a constant torment for about 5 years now. My left hand has gone completely numb and tingly. THe last couple days my right arms been twitching,like under the skin as if somethings crawlig under my skin.
I feel like such a whiner, I really hate it. How do you guys keep so strong, both of you are so helpful and positive. I'm really having a hard tim e with this . I have never been a
complainer, I was homeless from 9 yrs old until I was 17 and had more tha my fair share of life woes, but damn none of that brought me to this place of complete and utter hopelessness. I had been planning on going to school once my kids hit there current ages(17 and 20), I thought thats perfect, ill still be in the mid 30's and I can start my career as a makeup artist finally, then bam, I get the smack down again, I just feel like I just cant win.
Ok well I will try some stretches and I'll contiue to try and massage/press on the areas. Thank you so much for your imput and support. I dont really know you guys, but i am more appreciative than you can imagine. i have knowbody to talk to about this. It scares my family and I cant bare to talk about it with them cause I see the looks on there faces when Im in the most pain, it kills them. Thank you sooo much xoxo
Amy
Sorry to hear you are having these horrible cramps. I had something like this happen to me about a month or so ago. I ended up going into the walk-in clinic, as PCP nor neuro would help.
The doctor at the walk-in prescribed me muscle relaxers (flexeril) and told me to use ice, not heat. This is the exact opposite of what I was doing. He went into some long explanation as to why one should use ice and not heat with spacticity, but I didn't hear him. Needless to say, the flexeril didn't really help a whole lot, but it was better than nothing. I think it took about 2 1/2 weeks for it to get back to a tolerable level. It's still there, but I can tolerate it now.
Is there one specific spot or spots that you can pin-point or is it more generalized. If you can pin-point the area/areas you should push on that area fairly hard and hold the pressure there for as long as you can stand it. That will help the muscle to relax.
Sorry I can't offer any more assistance than that. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this!
Feel better,
Sarah
The doctor at the walk-in prescribed me muscle relaxers (flexeril) and told me to use ice, not heat. This is the exact opposite of what I was doing. He went into some long explanation as to why one should use ice and not heat with spacticity, but I didn't hear him. Needless to say, the flexeril didn't really help a whole lot, but it was better than nothing. I think it took about 2 1/2 weeks for it to get back to a tolerable level. It's still there, but I can tolerate it now.
Is there one specific spot or spots that you can pin-point or is it more generalized. If you can pin-point the area/areas you should push on that area fairly hard and hold the pressure there for as long as you can stand it. That will help the muscle to relax.
Sorry I can't offer any more assistance than that. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this!
Feel better,
Sarah
Sorry,
Just re-read about docs...how about some light stretching excercises..maybe that would help.
Just re-read about docs...how about some light stretching excercises..maybe that would help.
HI,
I am so sorry you are having this problem. I have had this cramping but in left leg and foot and it hurts so bad...I never experienced it in your current location..I have heard stretching is supposed to help.....
My cramping is on left side, it effects calf and foot right under arch and I have had some numbing in my shin area..all on left..this has been coming and going...
I hope you can get through this...Have you called doc?
Jibs
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