Spasticity

[yousyous8]

Hello,

I'm terribly sorry to bother you all again. Especially that it could be nothing. You're all going to think that I over worry (which I do).

I was wondering if my sister is going through a new episode or a flare. She still can't get an appointment with a neuro which is really getting ridiculous by now. But she had another MRI last week.

So yesterday, she apparently spent the whole afternoon crossed-legged. And when she un-crossed them, she had really bad spasms. She's still experiencing some pain now. I guess it could be spasticity. Given the fact that this is an MS symptom that she didn't experience before, I was wondering if it's a flare up and how to lessen the pain. Does it eventually go away or does it get more complicated to the point that she can't walk? does she need medical assistance?

If you believe it's a new episode, is it "normal" that it occurred few months after the first one that started in juin/july (still on-going consequences such as fatigue when walking and bladder issues).

Thank you so much for your help.

[yousyous8]

Hey Kyle,

Actually that gave me a good laugh :) You're so right. Maybe a weekend somewhere will help! :) Sorry again guys, I know it doesn't help and it can be quite annoying.

cheers !

[kwarendorf]

Hi YY -

Excuse me if this seems a little blunt. You need to stop. You are not doing your sister, or yourself, any good. Not everything that has happened or will happen to your sister is related to MS. Having MS does not excuse us from things that are not related to MS, like catching a cold, or pulling a muscle or having an adverse reaction to spending an entire afternoon with her legs crossed.

Again, sorry if this is a bit abrupt, but you need to take a deep breath :-)

Kyle

[yousyous8]

Thank you for your replies. JJ, thank you very much for your elaborate reply. I do seem to get ahead of myself. She says she feels better and the pain subsided a little. It's all very new so whenever her body does something, I run to google. But I'm getting better at restraining myself :) And your support is wonderful. Thank you very much.

Alex, she will see her GP in 2 weeks to get her MRI report. I hope she won't still suffer by them.

Thanks again :)

[HVAC]

Can she see here Primary and get some muscle relaxers either Baclofen or Zanaflex work for spasticity?

Alex

[supermum_ms]

Its obvious that you love and worry about your sister, but not everything actually is outside of normal..... even if they do have MS. Please try not to let you anxieties jump to conclusions of the her future, you ultimate concerns may never happen!

You said... "she apparently spent the whole afternoon crossed-legged"

"I guess it could be spasticity." - err not sure how it would be spasticity  and not a normal expected reaction for long periods of cutting off circulation, numbness, pin and needles, spasms and pain would not be abnormal for a perfectly health person to experience.

"Given the fact that this is an MS symptom that she didn't experience before, I was wondering if it's a flare up and how to lessen the pain." - it wouldn't be a flare/relapse because it has direct cause eg physical act. If was anything MS related, it would only fit into peudo, which is temperary and not a true flare/relapse.

"Does it eventually go away or does it get more complicated to the point that she can't walk?" - jumping way ahead here, it would typically improve all by itself, though it could take a few days for the muscles to stop aching and being stiff, just like muscle reactions from going to the gym after a long absence.  

" does she need medical assistance?" - probably not what your thinking, this isn't a medical emergency in my opinion, over the counter pain medication, massage, gentle stretching, along with not sitting crossed legged for long periods any more, etc should be all thats needed but 'if' she continues to be in a lot of pain after a couple of days, then she might want to see her dr.

"If you believe it's a new episode, is it "normal" that it occurred few months after the first one that started in juin/july (still on-going consequences such as fatigue when walking and bladder issues). "

- I don't believe this does indicate a relapse! If her last relapse was in June/July, then it wouldn't be abnormal to be having a new relapse in March, some 7 to 8 months later.

Take a deep breath, and try to not jump to far ahead of today!

Cheers............JJ