light as a feather, stiff as a board!

[mj111169]

Hey all.

Does anyone feel really stiff when getting up from a sitting position?  I can be at my desk for anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, and when I get up, my legs are really stiff.  Also, when I drive home from work, by the time I get home it looks like an 80 year old woman is getting out of the car.  

When I play on the floor with my daughter it takes me a while to get up too!  And when I handle something heavy my hands get stiff.  For instance, last night I took a hot pie out of the oven.  When I put it down my hand was completely stiff and my fingers were deformed looking. I had to manipulate them with my other hand to get them back to normal. This actually happens quite often.  No arthritis, according to the doc.

Anyone else have these types of "bouts" with stiffness?

Thanks!!!

Maureen

[momma2abcd]

I am diagonsed since 2007 @ 32 yrs old.... but as Linda mentioned about yoga, you can go to   mymsyoga.com and they will mail you a free dvd to follow. I got one but thinking about starting it soon.

[mj111169]

Thanks everyone!  I have no diagnosis as of yet, so am not on any meds.  I just notice these different things and like to find out if this is something that people deal with!  I write the symptoms down as I go along to bring to my second opinion with a neurologist.  That happens on November 8.  

Lately I am having my wrist pain and also in my feet.  I haven't had it in a while.  My left side mostly, and my left foot is numb/tingling most of the time these days.

Thanks again and Happy Halloween!!!

Maureen

[coffeeom]

Hi   I have stiffness in my legs..mornings are pretty bad..it takes a little while for them to start moving a little better. Also at the end of the day it is harder for me to get up and down my stairs.

I am going to yoga and Im finding it to be very helpful!!  They have gentle streching classes with some meditation that has helped me so much. It has helped me put off taking the baclofen...I just dont want to add yet another medicine to my list!!! Hopefully it will stay that way!

Maybe there is a good yoga studio near you that you can try...or if you need to do it at home there is a free yoga dvd at mymsyoga.com with baron baptiste that is good!  Hope everyone is feeling better soon ....xoxo Linda

[bairdy]

hi
yes thats one of my major problems stiffness!!
if i sit or stand in the same position especialy in the car im as stiff as a board
im on baclofen, but like they say if you take to much it makes you too loose lol
regards bairdy

[johnnymutt]

Like the others have mentioned, spasticity seams to have it's own agenda, especially when we need our muscles the most. My muscles get stiff no matter what position they are in, sitting or standing. I'm on a new med, Zanaflex, which I'm impressed with so far. It manages most of the stiffness. A lot of the cramps that you are talking about, however, make it through the meds, but without the severity of not having the meds.

Something that makes absolutely no sense to me, but does work well, is physical therapy. The first couple of times you go, it triggers the spasticity and it's a night of hell to follow. After a couple of times however, you start to feel the results of stretching and working the muscles.

I've lost every bit of 50% or more of my strength due to spasticity. So I'm hoping you get to the docs sooner than later over this, for one treatment or another. As I, and many others have discovered, spasticity can lead to tremendous, unmanageable, constant pulling at the joints, that cause severe pain. I still haven't decided what's better (glass half full here :p) the spasticity or the breakthrough cramps.

To tighten this up, keep on keeping on, or in laymen's terms, keep moving, and I hope the best outcome for you.

Johnny

[thornygates]

yes my muscles stiff from sitting 45 mins or so. standing is hard because my legs don't seem so strong anymore so i think that's why they get stiff. I can walk and it helps but even walking lately makes my legs get really stiff and hurt. like they spasm up or something.

getting off the floor takes a while but figure use it or lose it.  that's what mom always said. then again, at 72 she could kneel down pet my dog and stand back up like it was nothing. sigh.

my hands get stiff. I've given up my coffee mugs because my hands would get stiff and wobbly. my hands are often wobbly now.

guess I've thought it comes with being 50. I am also in limbo land so who knows.

[zenhound]

I get stiffness from sitting. And most mornings when I wake up my legs are stiff and achey. Walking it out seems to help, as long as I don't go too far as I am learning recently. I'm undiagnosed so the usual disclaimers apply..

[momma2abcd]

I can so relate, I do get very stiff from driving or sitting as well. somedays I feel like I got hit by a mack truck and my whold body is sore when i get up from sleep.

[wiggles94]

Hi Maureen,
I am very stiff upon standing when I have been sitting for a while.  Feel like a VERY old woman as I work out all the kinks etc!  I used to drive 1/2 hour to work and hope that no one would be around to watch me get out of my car!   I also notice stiffness in my fingers.
Take care,
Carol

[jensequitur]

I get really stiff when I spend time sitting down.  As I walk around, I loosen up a bit.  I also have a problem when I get up from sitting, or when I wake up in the mornings - my body wants to seize up - my muscles tense up, and I have to forcibly relax my back and legs so I can move.

Stiffness from overuse is pretty typical, and it can be brought on by heat.

[COBOB]

I can sit or stand and walk without excessive stiffness.  But trying to sit or trying to stand can cause me some pain. It seems that the muscle spasticity "learns" a position, but trying to make a major change in the muscle lengths causes all kind of new spasms (and occasionally a fair amount of pain.)  Arthritis is in the bone joints... what I get is one group of contracted muscles fighting the opposing group of contracted muscles.

Baclofen may help, but it is a two edge sword.  If you go to stand up, you need your quadriceps to contract.  Too much Baclofen and you can not stand up.    

Bob