Spasticity?? Does it turn off and on like a light switch?

[johnnymutt]

Hey everyone, quick question.

On March 12th, my body went almost totally spastic, and then on May 5th, it completely shut off. In between the time there, I experienced total pain, and heavy urination. It started with my body (both legs and right arm) just cramping and totally giving off pain. The spasticity leveled off, and the pain stayed. On May 2nd, I had another really bad spastic period, worse than the first one. I was literally laid out on the floor, with tears in my eyes because of the pain. Yesterday (May 5th) it all went away, as quick as it started. Mind you, I am still a little sore, but I am urinating normally all of the sudden, and my body feels like a million bucks again.

I really thought it all had to do with my adrenal adenoma, but as multiple test confirmed, the adenoma had nothing to do with the symptoms I was dealing with. So here I am once again, left holding the bag. I am so much more confused now, than when this whole thing started.


thanks for reading
Confused and dazed
John

[slightlybroken]

So your a fellow Ohioan..so am I. Hello from tornado alley (Xenia) LOL. Love your air brushing by the way.

Sometimes when I would have my episodes, certain things would act up. Sometimes it would be the same annoyances, like my spasticity and fatigue, or sometimes it would change and be a different combo, spasticity and double vision. A relapse can be any worsening of an old symptom or the development of a new one. I'm kind of wondering if your bladder wasn't going spastic too. That's why you were having an increase in urination, but this is just a guess on my part.

I would tell your neuro about this episode, and how it acted, and what symptoms you had with it, when you go to your appointment. Make sure you tell them every symptom you have experienced that you think may help with a diagnosis.

I wish you the best at your appointment..I'm still trying to find a ballsy enough doctor to diagnose me with MS or at least something..The "We know something is wrong, but we don't know what " diagnosis, just doesn't cut it with me.

Take Care

[johnnymutt]

Broken, thank you for the info and that incredibly helpful link. As far as what I'm Dx'd with, I have no idea which direction to move in. I will say, that while I have been "spastic" for these last two months, I have not noticed any of my other annoying disturbances.

Lulu, amen. I really was getting worried that I was going to miss out on a nice (well as nice as Ohio gets :p ) summer. I have my first nero appointment next week. I did have another  brain MRI last week. Looking at it, I will say that I did not see anything that stands out and says hello. Their are a few spots and black holes here and there, but as the tech said, nothing to be concerned with. I did have what looks like a lesion about 10cm long on the right side, but no one picked up on it, so it must have not been what I thought. I know, stop trying to self diagnose, lol. I'm just a curious chap is all.

Phoenix, I had no problems reading. So it sounds like this is an on and off disease indeed. Even though I've read it dozens of times, all over the net, it still doesn't sink in until you have such a clear cut episode. One that you wake up one day, and it is on. You live though pure heck for a couple of months, and then Bam!, it shuts off, and no one is the wiser.

Oui, anybody wanna heavily used, completely worn out body? I'll take scrap price for it.

:) thanks everybody for the insight and good vibes.
Chin up, chest out, and I'm out the door.
John

[Phoenix177]

hi there,

I'm in limboland, but I've told my PCP last Nov on a follow up for my sx, it was like someone flipped a switch and my right eye, right leg and arm, my balance, memory/recall problems, a weird draining fatigue and my bladder when back to normal (unless I got too hot during those nice sx-free for 6 weeks). Heat intolerance is something I always have to keep in mind. ( I over did it last weekend chores working in the sun)

even some of my dx conditions, like fibro or OA, went back to normal. when what-ever this is was (at least it feels like it) flipping switches or cutting/splicing my wires (nerves), it was short circuiting the fibro, but once everything was I feeling normal and that monster , I guess, took a nap the fibro, OA went back to normal. (the fibro is under control). It was nice to have my life back even if  it was short lived. my sx left in the opposite order they came and when they returned it was in the same order as the 1st time they came.

I'm going to a neuro in 1 week since my sx has returned and brought new ones.

hopefully your neuro can figure out what's going on. I know the not knowing can drive me nuts at times.

I've tried to make sure my spelling, nouns, and the right words are good and where they should be. sorry if I missed any, but hopefully its makes since.

[Lulu54]

John,

Yes it can turn on and off as quick as flipping a switch.  Have you talked to your neuro about this?  SB is right, there are drugs which may help control the spasticity and control the pain.  don't just try to tough it out when there is pharmaceutical help.

I hope the million dollar John sticks around for a while!  Isn't it great to feel good?

be well,
Lulu

[slightlybroken]

Hi John,

When I first started to have issues with spasticity, it would occur like you described. It would come to visit, last several days, then go away. I would have lingering muscle pain from where it had hit me, but this is how it would act.

Remember that when speaking of MS, a relapse is any  MS symptom that last more than 24 hours. If you have MS, or if this is one of the possible diagnosis for you (I'm sorry, I don't know if your DX or not.), this could have been a relapse, especially since you complain not only of the spasticity, but of bladder symptoms too.

Here's a Health Page on muscle tone and spasticity that you might find interesting:
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Muscle-Tone-And-Spasticity/show/159?cid=36

I was later put on Baclofen to help with the spasticity, because one time during an episode (I don't call them relapses because I'm not DX with MS as of yet), the spasticity never left me. It is now a daily symptom that I deal with. Some days are worse than others...but it is always there.

If this symptom keeps occurring, you might want to speak with your doctor about a muscle relaxer, like Baclofen, Zanaflex, etc..I know how painful this symptom can be and you do need to get some meds to help you through it.

Take Care