Aa
DO we REALY speak the same language? Please comment..
Hi all, there are some things that we all have heard of, but ARE we all talking about the same thing?
1.Like arm/leg sleeping? Is it a feeling of not feeling anything or is it just like a little numb and heavy maby?
2.The difference between muscle twich, myoclonus, fasciculations, tics?
3.Cramps, spasms, can you describe? Can it range from mild to very bad? Like I started two months ago to get a painful feeling in my legs, here and there, reminds me a little of when women get the "cramps" often when they're pregnant and sleeping, then you would have to spurn your leg to something to get rid of it (convulsion?). But it is not the same though, but the pain is a little simular. And now I get this in my arms also. Could that be what you call spasm? Or is spasm only when you get your foot/leg twisted (you can see it)?
I know, ofcourse I am not English speeking, so maby I am the only one confused in all of those words? But please help me understand how different it can be between us, if you all would write down your version of what this means. Thank you :)
Dagun
1.Like arm/leg sleeping? Is it a feeling of not feeling anything or is it just like a little numb and heavy maby?
2.The difference between muscle twich, myoclonus, fasciculations, tics?
3.Cramps, spasms, can you describe? Can it range from mild to very bad? Like I started two months ago to get a painful feeling in my legs, here and there, reminds me a little of when women get the "cramps" often when they're pregnant and sleeping, then you would have to spurn your leg to something to get rid of it (convulsion?). But it is not the same though, but the pain is a little simular. And now I get this in my arms also. Could that be what you call spasm? Or is spasm only when you get your foot/leg twisted (you can see it)?
I know, ofcourse I am not English speeking, so maby I am the only one confused in all of those words? But please help me understand how different it can be between us, if you all would write down your version of what this means. Thank you :)
Dagun
Thank you all for your great responses :), as we can all see that number 2 and 3 look a little different to peoble. That is exacly what I have realized when I have been looking things up in Wikipedia and other places.
1. I totaly get this now, I just thought it would be strange to say "asleep" when I am walking and moving my arms all the time, while I have tingling 24/7. So I thought "asleep" would be very numb and difficult to move. Well but this fits ok though, because when I think of it, that is exacly what I said to my physical therapist, when he was pressing my legs up to my stomach in last February (when I had no idea what was happening with me). I said " keep doing this, it feels SO good it is like your waking my feet up from asleep" :) so good for me!
2.My neuro said when I showed to him how my thumb was acting few days earlier, that it is myoclonus. It was quick movement, again, and again (for maby a minute, I do not realize). But it was not regular, it was like 2 in a row, then pause, 1, then pause, 3, then pause, if you get what I mean (I am using the words that I know to describe things that you all could say in one word!). But this is why I am getting confused about myoclonus/fasiculations. Because the muscle movements I have ALL AROUND (stomach also) most of them behave with this simular pattern, even though all of my muscles does not have thumb at the end to move ;-) to prove it. But from now on I am going to notice it even better, and try to figure out what I think it is.
3. This is still confusing, because of the spasm/cramps that I am feeling. It is rather mild, but though painful and it is not like when I´ve been exercising and get that kind of very painful cramp. This happens when I am relaxed, at first all around in my legs now and then but now also in my arms. It is not like a big muscle becomes very hard, but I am thinking if spasticity like Bob mentioned could be that mild? I always thought spasm and spasticity was the same. But now I have learned some more :).
Please if anyone can add to this, please do!
My best to you all,
Dagun
1. I totaly get this now, I just thought it would be strange to say "asleep" when I am walking and moving my arms all the time, while I have tingling 24/7. So I thought "asleep" would be very numb and difficult to move. Well but this fits ok though, because when I think of it, that is exacly what I said to my physical therapist, when he was pressing my legs up to my stomach in last February (when I had no idea what was happening with me). I said " keep doing this, it feels SO good it is like your waking my feet up from asleep" :) so good for me!
2.My neuro said when I showed to him how my thumb was acting few days earlier, that it is myoclonus. It was quick movement, again, and again (for maby a minute, I do not realize). But it was not regular, it was like 2 in a row, then pause, 1, then pause, 3, then pause, if you get what I mean (I am using the words that I know to describe things that you all could say in one word!). But this is why I am getting confused about myoclonus/fasiculations. Because the muscle movements I have ALL AROUND (stomach also) most of them behave with this simular pattern, even though all of my muscles does not have thumb at the end to move ;-) to prove it. But from now on I am going to notice it even better, and try to figure out what I think it is.
3. This is still confusing, because of the spasm/cramps that I am feeling. It is rather mild, but though painful and it is not like when I´ve been exercising and get that kind of very painful cramp. This happens when I am relaxed, at first all around in my legs now and then but now also in my arms. It is not like a big muscle becomes very hard, but I am thinking if spasticity like Bob mentioned could be that mild? I always thought spasm and spasticity was the same. But now I have learned some more :).
Please if anyone can add to this, please do!
My best to you all,
Dagun
Your English is great compared to our use of foreign languages. I hope that all these replies make sense to you - as I stated originally, so many of these terms are used interchangeably.
Be sure to catch that Bob is explaining spasticity and how it differs from spasms. They are not the same.
As for the idea that spasms do not cause pain, there are a number of people here who would disagree with that thought - spasms can be very painful. Cramps can be painful. Spasticity can cause pain as well. Anything that is messing with the normal flow and operation of our muscles and CNS has the ability to cause us pain.
best,
L
Be sure to catch that Bob is explaining spasticity and how it differs from spasms. They are not the same.
As for the idea that spasms do not cause pain, there are a number of people here who would disagree with that thought - spasms can be very painful. Cramps can be painful. Spasticity can cause pain as well. Anything that is messing with the normal flow and operation of our muscles and CNS has the ability to cause us pain.
best,
L
Hi Red_star,
You have been around here a lot lately, and looking at your profile we can see that you belong to a large number of forums on MedHelp, including this one.
Would you kindly take some time to start a new post and introduce yourself and share your reasons to be here on the Multiple Sclerosis forum? We love to know what brings people - especially those who do not have MS - here to this special place. I look forward to learning more.
Be well,
L
You have been around here a lot lately, and looking at your profile we can see that you belong to a large number of forums on MedHelp, including this one.
Would you kindly take some time to start a new post and introduce yourself and share your reasons to be here on the Multiple Sclerosis forum? We love to know what brings people - especially those who do not have MS - here to this special place. I look forward to learning more.
Be well,
L
1. Arm/leg sleeping? The medical term for this is paresthesia. Paresthesia symptoms are tingling, burning, pricking, or numbness of the skin.
2.The difference between muscle twitch, myoclonus, fasciculations, tics?
Fasciculations is medical term for muscle twitches. A muscle twitch is an involuntary movements of muscles and muscle fibers. The majority of muscle twitches are isolated occurrences, not repeated actions.
Tics are repetitive, spasmodic movement of a muscle.
Myoclonus is a sudden, brief, involuntary, jerk like contractions of a muscle or muscle groups - eg: leg or arm will jerk involuntarily.
3.Cramps, spasms? Can it range from mild to very bad?
The difference between a muscle cramp and a muscle spasm is the force of the contraction. If a muscle quickly contracts and releases without pain, it is a muscle spasm. If it is prolonged and painful contraction it is a muscle cramp.
A cramp pain typically lasts a few minutes however in some cases it lasts just seconds or up to 10 minutes. The severity of the pain varies and the muscle can remain tender up to 24 hours later.
:)
2.The difference between muscle twitch, myoclonus, fasciculations, tics?
Fasciculations is medical term for muscle twitches. A muscle twitch is an involuntary movements of muscles and muscle fibers. The majority of muscle twitches are isolated occurrences, not repeated actions.
Tics are repetitive, spasmodic movement of a muscle.
Myoclonus is a sudden, brief, involuntary, jerk like contractions of a muscle or muscle groups - eg: leg or arm will jerk involuntarily.
3.Cramps, spasms? Can it range from mild to very bad?
The difference between a muscle cramp and a muscle spasm is the force of the contraction. If a muscle quickly contracts and releases without pain, it is a muscle spasm. If it is prolonged and painful contraction it is a muscle cramp.
A cramp pain typically lasts a few minutes however in some cases it lasts just seconds or up to 10 minutes. The severity of the pain varies and the muscle can remain tender up to 24 hours later.
:)
Wikipedia does a pretty good job of explaining the technicalities of the terms. I'll give a shot at how I'd explain them.
1. Depends on the person. Some folks loose all sense of touch. Some sense a vibration. I get itching that turns into burning. They are all types of paresthesia (abnormal or altered sensation.)
2. Twitches, tics and myclonus seem to all fall into the same "contract a large group of muscle fibers" type of symptom. Fasciculations are more of involuntary and repeated contractions and relaxation of a small group of muscle fibers. We were taught that fasciculations looked like worms moving under the skin.
3. Cramps are usually the result of a muscle doing work and building up lactic acid in the tissue. Spasms are an involuntary contraction of the muscle. Spasticity is typically a different issue. Spasticity (in MS) is muscle being pulled into sustained contraction by the CNS. Muscle spasms and spasticity are not the same thing. Spasticity can have a lot to do with the brain not being able to sense the position of a limb and may be triggered by sensory issues. Spasms can occur outside the CNS and happen in the muscle at the neuromuscular junction. Spasms and spasticity are not really like a convulsion, but there is a type of myoclonus that is related called a Myoclonic Seizure.
Some days (usually in the morning,) my left arm will fly around and slam into my laptop keyboard (hard enough to break it) and I have thrown coffee and coffee cups across the room. That is pretty typical of a Myoclonic Seizure.
For the CNS spasticity issues, I take Baclofen. For the skeletal muscle spasm issues I take Norflex. For the myoclonic seizures, Tegretol and Valium.
At least this is how I understand what my doc says and what each of the medications does. Hope that helps.
Bob
1. Depends on the person. Some folks loose all sense of touch. Some sense a vibration. I get itching that turns into burning. They are all types of paresthesia (abnormal or altered sensation.)
2. Twitches, tics and myclonus seem to all fall into the same "contract a large group of muscle fibers" type of symptom. Fasciculations are more of involuntary and repeated contractions and relaxation of a small group of muscle fibers. We were taught that fasciculations looked like worms moving under the skin.
3. Cramps are usually the result of a muscle doing work and building up lactic acid in the tissue. Spasms are an involuntary contraction of the muscle. Spasticity is typically a different issue. Spasticity (in MS) is muscle being pulled into sustained contraction by the CNS. Muscle spasms and spasticity are not the same thing. Spasticity can have a lot to do with the brain not being able to sense the position of a limb and may be triggered by sensory issues. Spasms can occur outside the CNS and happen in the muscle at the neuromuscular junction. Spasms and spasticity are not really like a convulsion, but there is a type of myoclonus that is related called a Myoclonic Seizure.
Some days (usually in the morning,) my left arm will fly around and slam into my laptop keyboard (hard enough to break it) and I have thrown coffee and coffee cups across the room. That is pretty typical of a Myoclonic Seizure.
For the CNS spasticity issues, I take Baclofen. For the skeletal muscle spasm issues I take Norflex. For the myoclonic seizures, Tegretol and Valium.
At least this is how I understand what my doc says and what each of the medications does. Hope that helps.
Bob
Wow, Dagun. You have an excellent question here. Believe me, it is not just your lack of being a native English speaker that has you confused. Some of these terms are used interchangeably, and often the usage might not make sense.
An immediate example I can think of is what happens to our body if the MS comes out of remission? There are a number of words used, that all mean basically the same thing: relapse, flare, and exacerbation are all the same and used interchangeably.
You know I am no medical expert but here is what I am thinking -
To me a cramp and a spasm are different - I think of a cramp as a sustained contraction of the muscle and the spasm as a on and off contraction that repeats over and over. A cramp sets in the muscle and holds the muscle in a position that causes pain. The cramp is often relieved by a change of position, or gentle massaging or other physcial actions. Cramps can be caused by nutritional deficiencies. muscle fatigue or other problems .
BUT I found a link that says spasms are involuntary contractions of the muscle and that if the spasm becomes a sustained contraction, it is then a cramp. So this one calls cramp and spasm the same. http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/article.htm
My computer is acting funny so I am going to post this part before I loose it and then go ponder the rest of the questions you have posted.......
An immediate example I can think of is what happens to our body if the MS comes out of remission? There are a number of words used, that all mean basically the same thing: relapse, flare, and exacerbation are all the same and used interchangeably.
You know I am no medical expert but here is what I am thinking -
To me a cramp and a spasm are different - I think of a cramp as a sustained contraction of the muscle and the spasm as a on and off contraction that repeats over and over. A cramp sets in the muscle and holds the muscle in a position that causes pain. The cramp is often relieved by a change of position, or gentle massaging or other physcial actions. Cramps can be caused by nutritional deficiencies. muscle fatigue or other problems .
BUT I found a link that says spasms are involuntary contractions of the muscle and that if the spasm becomes a sustained contraction, it is then a cramp. So this one calls cramp and spasm the same. http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/article.htm
My computer is acting funny so I am going to post this part before I loose it and then go ponder the rest of the questions you have posted.......
Dagun,
You bring up very good points. I did not understand some differences.
1. There is the feeling of pins and needles. Then there is pure numbness and heaviness. They are caused by the same problems with the nervous system.
2. Fasciculations (muscle twitches) and clonus I was told recently by a Doctor are different. Fasciculations are muscle twitches which sometimes can be seen like crawling. Clonus is involuntary spasms. Clonus can be measured on a basic neurological exam. Clonus is when the nervous system tells the brain to tighten involuntarily according to what the Doctor said. I could have it wrong.
3. I think of as a cramp as the same as a spasm? My charlie horses and diaphragm spasms are cramps.
Alex
You bring up very good points. I did not understand some differences.
1. There is the feeling of pins and needles. Then there is pure numbness and heaviness. They are caused by the same problems with the nervous system.
2. Fasciculations (muscle twitches) and clonus I was told recently by a Doctor are different. Fasciculations are muscle twitches which sometimes can be seen like crawling. Clonus is involuntary spasms. Clonus can be measured on a basic neurological exam. Clonus is when the nervous system tells the brain to tighten involuntarily according to what the Doctor said. I could have it wrong.
3. I think of as a cramp as the same as a spasm? My charlie horses and diaphragm spasms are cramps.
Alex
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