oh, ps....the K (potassium) test might be a good idea. you also need good levels of Mg for muscles. i get that in my multivits. so labwork might be a good idea just to make sure there's not something else you can do.

take care.

Hi Bethie~ Just chiming in to say I hope the Zanaflex is helping. You're way too sweet to be having such a cruddy time of it.

{{{{{BETH}}}}}}

Thanks DM but its not helping because the doc gave me flexeril and not zanaflex

I didn't even look at the bottle when I picked it up from the pharmacy. I came home and popped one right away. (by the way I usually always check my rx before taking it but i was in so much pain I didn't)

Any way I was talking on the phone with AMN today and she wanted to know what the dose was that the doc prescribed. I went to grab the bottle to tell her and it read flexeril Anyway I'm still having spasms like mad so I am going to call him again tomorrow to get the zanaflex.

Thanks for caring princess

Beth,

please also get your blood looked at if neither works. I was really shocked to see how low my mineral/electrolyte levels was... and I do feel better taking the supplements. I really hope you feel better soon!

~ Monique

Thanks Monique. I have an appt for my yearly physical next week and I will talk to my pcp.

She always does bloodwork at these visits

I used flexeril - which wasn't bad - but zanflex is better. But it does make me sleepy (so did flexieril, but not as much - I took 10, 20 mgs).For day I use methocarbamol which does not make me tired.

I also use potassium and magnesium supps, heat and rest. Stretching - when I'm already spasming -only makes it worse. I do yoga when I'm not bad, and that keeps me not bad.

For me, it's the whole regime that seems to work. One or the other alone is not enough.

Swimming is really a good thing though and if I could only pick one thing that would be it.

(Just so you know, I did not wait for the bloodwork to start the supps, and my docs never had a problem with that. I don't see how they can hurt if you use as directed)

Hope you get relief soon.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I am feeling a little bit better today. Spasms are still with me but they are not as agravating as yesterday.

Others have already suggested all the things I was going to say!

Plain magnesium (not mixed with any other minerals or electrolytes) at bedtime mostly seems to work for me, and that's available OTC.

Zanaflex rocks! it is short lived, and works great on those stubborn spasms. it will take a few days to really sink in and work. soak in a nice warm bath, and practice some yoga relaxation before you go to bed.

dont take Cipro while on Zanaflex, or at least let someone know you are on it. Cipro can cause the zanaflex to be more powerful, and cause the liver to work harder to clear it from the body.

I hope you slept better last night.

Thanks you guys.

I am always afraid when the doc adds to the many medicines that I already take.

I know they are the doctors but I do get online and enter all my meds to make sure there are no interactions.

I remind myself that doctors are human and they too make mistakes.