For me, spasticity comes in 3 forms - painful spasms, spasms I feel but no pain, and spasms I don't feel but feel weakness from them just like the other 2. Generally, the ones in my arms are not the painful ones like I feel in my ribcage and/or legs. The ones in my legs I can also feel pain or soreness around the tendons and ligaments.

Now that I got that background out of the way . . .On my arm by my wrist and forearm there is swelling and pain. I have not fallen or had any sort of trauma to the area at all. There is no pain in moving my fingers or anything that would indicate a fracture. I can flex my wrist up and down but not side to side. So I am wondering if the "gentle" spasms I get caused some sort of tendonitis.

Has anyone experienced tendonitis due to spasm?

I have that just off of my right elbow, in the crook of it...I'm sure it's something like what you suggest, T. Inflammation from the constant tension in the muscle might be like tennis elbow...are you on advil or some anti inflammatory?

I dont know if I have tendinitis from spasms, but I've had problems for years with tendinitis. Since I was at least a teenager or my early 20s.

Tendinitis in my knees, in my achilles tendon (which actually ruptured once), my shoulders.

and you would not believe how many relatives of mine thought I was always faking the pain and tendinitis. They thought I was whining because I wanted attention, because I got tendinitis so often. It's irritating.

Tricia, I think I have this in my legs and arms. I've often thought I had arthritis or something similar but your explanation of it makes sense. I get bad spasticity in my legs when it rains - especially around my knees. Also, my right hand and arm is numb but I still get a deep throbbing pain generating from my wrist to my elbow. It's got to be spasticity. I take Motrin nearly every day whether I feel I need it or not. I guess I'm trying to keep the aches at a tolerable level.....no need to wait till it gets unbearable to take the meds.

I hope you feel better. I've gotten good results with just OTC pain relievers.

Thanks you guys! I have been following RICE and took some Advil. Spasticity is the only explanation I can come up with as I haven't done anything to that area. It is still swollen so today will be another day of rest (hahaha), ice, compression, and elevation.

Hey T,

I have had tendonistis in my elbow and shoulder, several times. I've never thought of it as related to MS or spasms in any way.

If it is tendonitis (and it does sound like it is, based on your description), the best course of action is PT. If you leave it too long, it can lead to scar tissue ... then it makes it very hard to treat.

PT is very helpful, as are the exercises they should assign you. That won't stop it from coming back at some time in the future, but at least it should heal THIS instance within a few weeks.

Good luck!

Cherie

Thanks, Cherie! For the most part it is improving. Phew! I haven't had to take Advil all day. I have been alternating heat/ice though.

I do still wonder if it the spasticity. It does follow along the brachioradialis and the elbow area is sensitive to touch. Who knows, huh? I'll have to remember to talk to the neuro about it when I go in in February.

Hey T! I had tendonitis in my elbow a good part of the past Summer and now am suffering from Trochanteric Bursitis in my hip. The pain w/it is aggravating and stabbing at times w/spasms added to the mix. (I did note that both of these ailments started after I went through a flare of some sort.

I had hip injections last Mon and start PT tomorrow. I really hate being side lined; it's so frustrating and sometimes seems neverending. *insert whine* I can't take anti inflams due to stomach/kidney issues, so it's hard to get the inflammation down.

Guess what I'm trying to say is "I can relate". Hope you feel better soon.

I can relate as well!

Before Christmas I'd had tendonitis in one hip for about 6 months. It was so very painful that it was incapacitating at times. Now that the hip pain has eased some, I have tendonitis in one knee that's making walking difficult all over again.

Hope you all feel better soon..... me too!

Thanks DM & Anne!

I can't take too much aspirin/ibuprofen either. It doesn't mix well with Celexa (I'm on a small dosage, 5 mg, for pain management) and I start bruising all over.

Last night I gave in and took a 1/2 valium before going to bed. It helped calm the spasms down and I can now type. I also broke down and called my PCP yesterday just to get it checked out. I see him this afternoon. We'll see what he says.

I really do think this is spasticity related as I wake up several times at night with my arm in a spasm - right along the brachioradialis. I normally take Neurontin 600 mg before bed time. Neurontin has a short 1/2 life and around 2 in the morning the spasms start - right when the Neurontin is wearing off. I also take Neurontin during the day and have been getting some relief once it kicks in. Based on the relief, I know it must be nerve/spasm related. So I took the valium last night to see what would happen and this morning, as I mentioned, I can move my arm enough to type.