When I had nerve pain it was pretty consistent and wouldn't go away. It stayed in one spot, so it was predictable. But I'm getting muscle spasms and the pain's accompanying them. It goes away if I don't have the spasms and it's just like a normal muscle spasm--starts out where you know you're getting one and builds in a wave. That's when the pain really starts. It's also a bone-deep pain sometimes where it feels like the muscles want to rip away from the bone.

I had been on neurontin before but it didn't help and by then I was up to almost 900 mg a day. The max I've ever been on neurontin was 2400 mg a day. That was back in 2003. My neuro and I discontinued the neurontin as it wasn't helping with any of my symptoms--not decreasing anything at all even slightly. The neuro definitely feels that the pain's related to spasticity rather than nerve pain.

So I didn't really answer your question. My guess would be that no, you really can't always tell if it's nerve or spasticity pain. I suppose you have to rule out one or the other by trying different drugs.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

(Love your tag line, Brain!)

Gaz, we don't have enough experience yet but Jim's been getting Botox in his legs for spasms. He's had one treatment so far but it did help and lasted about two months. He's due for his second treatment on the 27th and I can update how he feels afterward. His legs spaz so bad they draw up and cross over. After Botox they stopped doing that completely.

With my back, it feels like slowly tightening tightening tightening until nothing wants to move. It stays like that sometimes days, sometimes longer. Sometimes even pulls the ribcage tight so it sort of constricts my breathing.

But it's slow slow slow, not like clench let go, just getting more tight like tuning a thousand piano strings at once, all over my back.

With the legs, not like that, more like RLS then it aches. Not nerve pain that I can figure. But I don't know what else to call it. My legs get a little stiff but the back , you can see it's locked up.

My neck is so bad, we always use that old Steve Martin line - " When I walk into a restaurant, every head turns except mine cuz I have no neck!"

Sandy, I've heard botox works wonders. My friend, Darah, is thinking about getting that done for her spasticity because it's pretty bad. Mine isn't as bad as Jim's is, but man, I feel for him! Hope he gets as good results from the 2d tx as he did from the 1st tx. My legs have been bad enough that the only semi-comfortable sleeping position is the fetal position.

Brain, my back will tighten up like yours does. Part of the problem is that my upper back/trap/neck area are prone to spasms because of having had whiplash a few times. Love the "heads turn" line. I'll have to remember that!

I hear you with the rib constriction. I've been having to take off my bra because it HURTS my ribs and my back. But it's not an all-around feeling--it's between the ribs and in certain back muscles.

Yeah, I know about the RLS thing. Interesting way to describe that. It's not the RLS, that I know. I'm taking ropinirole (generic Requip) for that and it helps. Got to ask the neuro about the klonipin with the ropinirole as both help with RLS. Yet another thing on my to-do list.

I've had a headache now for 2 days from this. Around my head, not in the head. <sigh> Only one more day to wait until the doc's office opens up. I'll be on the phone first thing.

Think I'll go kill some pain with Ghiardelli chocolate brownies. It won't make the pain go away, but it will certainly make my mind go elsewhere. Too bad my football team has a bye week this week.