One symptom of spasticity is spasms, but not everyone with spasticity has a hard time with the "charlie horse-type" spasms. I have a few times, but the spasticity pain symptoms I've experienced most often are usually quite different then that.

For me, the spasticity usually gets both limbs (arms &/or legs) at the same time, and can feel like:

- a dull ache, like a tooth ache
- the meat being pulled off my bones
- "cold to the bones" ache sensation (very painful)
- like my tendons are being taxed to the max (very painful)
- muscle stiffness
- small little twitches (spasms) under the skin, but don't hurt

I don't do much exercises when I am in the midst of an attack (that usually includes severe spasticity), but I do a lot of stretching exercises when I am not. I have often worn braces at night when it is really bad, so that I don't contort my limbs in weird ways. Antidepressants can help somewhat, but LDN has been my ticket to almost complete relief from this symptom.

Cherie

I'm on neurontin (sp?) for other nerve pain, but I found it doesn't really help me with the spasticity. I do hate that "almost" charlie horse feeling in my legs I get from time to time.

There are only a few things that have seemed to help it so far. The first is doing stretches when it's not hurting. The other is my new friend the heating pad. I sit for a few hours with it, switching it on and off so I don't get overheated.

I do know if it gets worse, I'll ask the doc for meds. Not sure if pain reliever or a muscle relaxer would work better for this.

Hope you feel better soon.

I've used baclofen for about 10 years and it helps my spasticity immeasureably (sp?).
I asked my doctor for it when I read about it, and I now use about 60 mg. a day, and it does lessen the stiffness of M.S. I couldn't live without it. I've never noticed any side-effects from it. Whenever a person's muscles are stiffened I guess pain can result. Just be sure to ask your doctor for something to lessen your M.S. spasticity. I've never used anything but baclofen, but I'm sure there are other drugs that do the same thing. Baclofen isn't meant to be a pain-reliever, but a spasticity-reliever, which in turn relieves pain.
Good luck with whatever you try.....

Thanks for this Cherie!

While I posted about the "near charley horse" thing, I also have the muscle stiffness, those flickering small twitches under the skin, and that never ending tendon thing!! I tend to blow some things off, but the stiffness from spasticity is one of my MAJOR problems these days! I walk funny, I can't bend down because my legs are straight stiff, I can't even tie my own shoes sometimes cause my legs won't bend enough for me to get my feet anywhere near my hands!!

You know, something I forgot to mention was that after I got used to the Baclofen and got past the dopey feeling, I noticed that I had less fatigue. I attribute that to not having my muscles constantly fighting me. The constant pain and muscle tightness was actually wearing me down more than I thought.

The other thing I do is to go get a really good 1 hour long Swedish massage every couple of months. That really helps, too.

I could never get past the "doped up" feeling with Baclofen. It just wasn't the drug for me at all (not many are!)

I get deep tissue massage once a week to help with the spasticity/tightness in my calves, thighs and feet. If I go more than 2 weeks without one, she can hardly touch my calf muscles they are that tender. She is a certified massage therapist and has worked with several MS patients. She's been working with me for 4 years now.

I feel so bad for all you guys who have pain with your spasticity! I guess mine is easy in comparison. I have muscle stiffness, mostly in my right leg, which makes it very difficult to walk or function in any other meaningful way.

I'm really considering asking the neuro for some 'roids and see if that'll help. I'm on 60mg Baclofen already, and that helps some. I can definitely tell when I don't take it!

Cherie you descibed me perfect.... I don't have the charley horse feeling but you explained it perfectly! I hate the "cold to the bones" that is the worst!!!

I do take Baclofen and seems to help most of the time

I've had spasticity in nearly every muscle in my body at one time or another. It's constant in my legs and back and nearly constant in my arms. It's the kind of spasticity in which the pain seems to emanate from the bones, but the tightness occasionally works its way to the surface. My throat and stomach are more prone to charley horse-type spasms.

I take a daily cocktail of Neurontin, Baclofen & Zanaflex and am on a maxed out dose of all three. They keep me functional, but hardly pain free. When I'm in really bad shape, I take Valium & Tramadol, which dull the pain enough for me to function more normally.

Maybe it's that I have a high tolerance for the meds, but I don't get a dopey feeling from any of them. Sometimes I wish I would, so that I could simply forget about the pain and the constant reminder of my MS!

You may need a combination of meds to address your spasticity. Ask your neuro for his/her opinion.

I take 10mgs of baclofen at night and that works for my spasticity in my legs.