Spasticity Question

[SueFern]

Hi Everyone!

It has been a long time since I have posted on here.  After many doctors and second opinions I have a diagnoses of Transverse Myelitis and I am on MS watch.  I have a lesion on my C2 and had a small one on my brain that no longer shows up on an MRI.  I was given baclofen for leg heaviness.  I only take it on occasions where I do more then I should and know I need it.

My question is can you get spasticity in your hands and feet to the point that they throb?  I have periods where my hands just ache and swell slightly in the heat and my feet the same.  I have always thought along the lines of arthritis, but all of my blood work has always come up negative and my sed rates are extremely low.  Last night I took a baclofen because my legs were bothering me too and I woke up feeling a lot better in my hands and feet as well.  But now as the night is approaching they are starting to throb again.  I am wondering if anybody else gets this way.  I was always thinking inflammation but as I am doing more research I am wondering about it being spasticity.

Any thoughts?

Susan

[HVAC]

Sue,
  What you describe is my worst MS symptom really. I can stand all the rest. I hope you get some relief. I am an active person myself.

Alex

[SueFern]

Thanks Tammy and Alex!  I have a call into my neuro.  I am waiting for her to call me back.  I am frustrated with the throbbing of my hands and now my lower back is stiff again too with my legs.  I don't think I am having a relapse I think I just aggravated things since I have been doing a lot lately.  It is really frustrating that at 35 doing too many everyday things makes my body react this way.  I am trying to think positive that things could be a lot worse.  It just gets hard sometimes.

[HVAC]

I have what you have and take a combination of Zanaflex and trileptal 4 x a day plus a Butrans patch. I went to a pain clinic. I tried a lot of drugs before we found the right combination. The Doctor explained in my case my MS causes my nervous system to be on and reactive 24/7. He said we needed to quiet things down. For me he said I had a combination of nerve pain and clonus involuntary muscle spasms.

Alex

[maxthecat43]

Hi Susan,

I take baclofen three times a day, for spasticity.  It doesn't do a thing for the heaviness I experience though.  I have heard that Ampyra helps with walking problems, but it would depend on the reason.  (Unfortunately, I am not a candidate- because of a short history of seizures, and CRPS.)  Leg heaviness doesn't seem related to spasticity.  Leg heaviness (at least this is my understanding) is due to a lesion messing with the electrical signal to your leg.  The lesion may have healed, but not perfectly.  

Also, if any of the symptoms you're having are new- or more intense, you need to have your neurologist take a look at you.  Do you think you may be having another relapse?

Let us know, okay?
Tammy