My mother (87) also has some neuropathy but not PN. Recently she started having severe pain attacks in her back. I took her to her pain management doctor, who diganosed it as back spasms caused by her abnormal gait (her right knee is bending in toward her left leg due to arthritis). He prescribed Baclofen but it seems to be doing nothing to help.

I called the pain doctor's office today, and they said that Baclofen takes a while to start working. Baclofen's web site says 10 days. So my first question: why would the doctor prescribe something that takes that long instead of something faster acting, and is it reasonable for me to demand that they give her some more immediate relief? (like Flexeril, maybe?) She tells me the pain is worse than childbirth, which, not that I would know first-hand, sounds pretty bad.

She also told me she was leaking urine when she took this drug last night, so second question: is loss of bladder control a side effect? I can't find it mentioned under any list of side effects.

Thanks in advance...I figured that if any group of people had answers, you folks would.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baclofen

I don't recall many folks taking it for PN tho?

As for it taking a 'while'? Even Neurontin and Lyrica take about 4-6 weeks to actually work, providing there are no side effects.
Look up the particular drug and dose + prescribing information and read that...its listed under 'usual or common side effects'? or towards the end of the whole thing under 'less common effects reported'.

As for loss of control? A thing to consider is how she's living right now? Mostly sedentary? Pressing on some nerves and not others? Any tests that might have been done on her, such as MRI's or the like? Can also pinch a fussy nerve enough to make it that unhappy! I know. That's happened to me w/the resulting undesirable s/e! For me, it's taken almost a year to get back to normal of sorts.

As for the pain? Has she been tested for either gallstones or kidney stones? I've the former and I'm often feeling as if I've been hit w/a 2"x4"! Docs don't know 'what to do w/me' because I've so many other fun things going on! To be honest? Sometimes the 'cures' are worse than the problems!

As for the incontinence due to the med? Call the doc! See/ASK what alternatives there are? I'm sure your mother is a 'lady' and this problem is one of the more distressing ones encountered than many others! [My M-I-L went thru the same problems]

Just be glad that your mom is alive & sharp at 87! I am much her junior and having gone thru some of this issue? I have to say, it's in the top five of the most distressing aspects one has to face! Please give her a ! from me?

Kidney infections are [I now recall?] often treated w/baclofen, and yes they take a while to kick in as meds! The faster acting meds for such infections? Also have s/e's that are worse than those cures tho. Baclofen If I recall correctly, is slower? But effective w/fewer long term s/e's.

You need a ! too!!! As I'm sure you are worn out by this whole thing! I hope things truly work out for the best? For all! Hugs and hope truly! - j

Hi dahlek, and thanks for the quick response!

Nope, for the back spasms the doc says are the problem.

Baclofen is a muscle relaxer, which makes sense. But most of the MRs I've heard of act right away like most pain meds do.


Did, but not finding this mentioned.

This happened suddenly, on her first occasion of taking this drug last night.

No...but that's a great idea! I will suggest to doc. You rock!

Yes, I plan to, but I want all my ducks in a row first. And you know I won't actually get to talk to him until I've gone through the first lines of defense. And maybe not even then, so I want to know what I'm talking about.

Will do, and sorry you are going through similar problems.

Yes it is RXed when there is urine retention, but this was RXed for back spasms. I'm guessing it relaxes bladder muscles, which is why I'm suspecting it here.

Thanks dear! She's actually been a handful for a while now but she's my mom and I still love her.

And thanks for all of your thoughts!

Baclofen is a strange drug. Some people cannot tolerate it.
It is hard to discontinue off of.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1121408/

I would really consider using a magnesium supplement. This can relax muscles considerably. And low magnesium may be the CAUSE of muscle spasms! One has to have good renal function to use magnesium supplements however. But this can be considered and may work. If your mother uses diuretics for blood pressure, these drugs deplete magnesium! Also diabetics become low and the drugs used for reducing acid in the stomach, diminish magnesium absorption from food.

Magnesium is used by OBs for severe Braxton Hicks contractions during later pregnancy for women. It works very well. Estimates are that about 70% of Americans do not get the RDA of magnesium any more from diet.

I have a magnesium thread here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

You want to make sure your mother is not having a Cauda Equina event from spinal stenosis. This leads to incontinence too and severe back pain. It is considered a surgical emergency.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/791613-overview

Thanks mrsD. She already does supplement with magnesium, but I'm not sure of the dose. I will find out.

For this morning, I just want to see if I can get her some short-term relief from her suffering. That takes priority over the bladder problem, which I still think is caused by the drug, given the timing.

I will ask about the Cauda Equina Syndrome, but since it's certain that this conversation will be second-hand, there's no telling when I'll get any response for reconsideration of the DX. She does have stenosis, so you may be onto something.

I have been acting as her advocate with the MDs for a while now, and have my work cut out for me this morning. Gotta go, but I'll let you know what happens.

I took baclofen and it worked immediately.

I am not on it now, but am pondering if it may help, but, honestly, it knocked me for a loop. It was pretty strong, more so than valium, which is a good muscle relaxant.

Thanks again, cy. I did get to convince her pain doc's nurse that it wasn't working for my mom and got another type of muscle relaxer, which mom says might be working a little better. I can't recall the name...this week has been such a blur for me that once my brother took over for the weekend, I left it in his hands. He's staying there with her (brother).

This morning I woke up, and all the mom stuff and PN and mealy bugs on all my houseplants and my unemployed @$$ and megagigundo oil slick in the Gulf (not necessarily listed in order of importance) fell in on me and I started to do what I usually do: cry.

But then I stopped mid-sob and got mad. Really mad.

And I went outside and started throwing rocks. And then I went to Lowe's. And when I got home, I threw more rocks. And I then I did some less dramatic (boring), but essential (behind-the-scene) things and then threw more rocks. And this is what happened:



In case you can't tell, it's a waterfall with a bed of impatiens at the base in our tiny, city front-yard. Oh, and a blue spotlight on a timer.

Now I hurt more than I have in I-can't-remember, but it was worth it. I like the new, improved, Mad Joan. Where did I put my electric chainsaw?

Now explain more? There have been times, it seemed like a solution? But it really isn't? Ask any veteran w/phantom pain syndrome! Then when the 'problem' is gone? The nerves simply don't seem to KNOW THAT! Easily nixed concept in my HMO.
Having gone thru this w/ a similar aged relative? How's she in the constipation dept? IS THAT what's really causeing the 'lady' lots of concerns? Rightfully so, but, there are a slew of medical and dietary options that can help in the quarter.. so talk to your docs AND your nurses! Nurses in senior facilities know about these things! AND can do good things w/diets that docs don't have to 'prescribe' meds for! And older ladies, are less likely to complain...except to you! Just be alert to the word "THEM" or 'they are out to do...' I'd always ask WHO 'THEY' Are and she'd just go...YOU KNOW!!!!!
That happens at that age? Frustrating, yet, communicating w/caretakers about such 'attitude'? Can help avoid problems in the future...

Your waterfall is perfect in my eyes! I bet the sound is so soothing! And yes, life beats on us from all directions? But we do survive! Better so for seeking advice from those here wiser than I am! [Actually I'm kind of jealous of that waterfall? ;}]
Keep faith and hope and a sense of some of the 'sillies' you will see during this course of your life...and, beleive me? There are a heap of silly things going on! Hugs 's and hope for now? But SPEAK UP! Please? - j

Jeeze Louise, dahlek! I meant to use the chainsaw to cut down a pile of broken boughs from the wind! Oh well, I will admit to dark thoughts of my own at times--just not this one.

Constipation doesn't seem to be a problem for my mom...usually the opposite, but thankfully still continent with that part. And so far, I haven't heard anything about "them", but she quite emphatically insisted the other day that I've gotten taller, not that she's gotten shorter.

Thanks for saying nice things about my waterfall. The actual falls is a resin thingy I had in the backyard where it looked stupid. But I had to build a rock base for it and the little wall for the flower bed.

Sort of OT, I throw pot holders when I am really, really mad. I can't break anything with them, but I don't get a pretty waterfall in my yard either! TeeHee