Muscle stiffness
 

Hello everyone

I just wanted to ask you all if any of you get muscle stiffness in your legs? I find (especially when I am walking, or stand up after sitting for a while) that the back of my left calf is really stiff (like I have run a marathon using only one leg).

It makes walking really painful on that leg, but it doesn't seem to be like a spasm, it only hurts when I am using it. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Everywhere else if fine, sometimes it only starts hurting after I have been walking discomfort free for a while. It is worse in the heat. When I was first Dx'd, the doc said I had spasticity in my left leg, but that was 10 years ago.

I don't just want to label this as an MS thing - but I can't think of any other reason.

I would appreciate your experience.

Thanks

Lyn

It is an MS thing, Lynn, sorry. Your muscles are overworkin. Doing the jobs of the nerves and the muscles, so of course they're going to get sore and tired.....just as though you have run a 20 mile marathon, after only walking for a mile or less.

You are doing pretty darn good after 10 years of this..:) Keep it up!!:hug:

Thanks Sally

It has only been happening in the last couple of weeks, and only in my left calf. Yes, I have been well for a long time, Tysabri has been so good for me.

So, you think it is probably not due to an exacerbation or inflammation in my brain, but just secondary fatigue??? That would make sense I think.

Cheers

Lyn

Yes, I get that. I ignore it and treat it as though it was a hallucination.

Sounds like spasticity to me...my legs start to stiffen after a few minutes of standing or if I take the pup for a walk. It hurts!! Not like a knot-like spasm, just tightness and pain.

I go home and try to stretch the legs out with a yoga strap or by pushing against the wall doing an achilles' stretch. It seems to alleviate the tightness.

Hugs, dear:hug::hug:

I hate to blame everything on MS too but in your case, I agree with Debbie - it sounds like spasticity. I get it there too sometimes and it hurts and is annoying. It does feel like you've ran a marathon when you've only walked maybe 25 feet at the most or, as I call it, it feels like a 1/2 Charley horse that gets stuck like that for hours/days. Stretching the calf muscles out helps. Stand by a wall and do lunges (they help me out).

Thanks so much for your replies. Now I can add pins and needles in my feet at night to the mix - maybe something is going on. I have started doing some stretches - not sure that they are helping much yet.

Cheers

Lyn

Lyn, are you on any muscle relaxants? I'm on a large dose, and I still get this...one of those symptoms that I feel is the worst...until another one seeks my attention:rolleyes:;)

Lyn: I had botox injections in both my left and right calf and it is helping a lot.
Nora

Spasticity is one of my biggest issues and I take baclofen every day. A calcium/magnesium tablet helps too.
On a good day in the spring or fall I can go for a walk......sometimes (very quickly) I will feel my legs start to weaken. If I stop and rest then the stiffness sets in IMMEDIATELY and I can hardly get going again.
So what do I learn??

Once I start going don't stop or I'm doomed.

there's a good calf stretch i know. you can even do it in front of a tree. you just need a surface to lean your arms against:
1. say it's your left calf that hurts. step close to but not against the tree.
put your right foot close to the tree. put your left foot behind you but not
too far. the Lt foot should be flat on the floor. with back straight lean into the
tree. you will feel your calf start to stretch. do this for about 10 seconds.
stretch only until you feel a slight pull. don't overstretch. if it's painful back
off the degree of stretch. repeat 2-3x's and you should have some relief.

hope this isn't too complicated.
you could also try one of those thermocare things that you can put on your
calf before you start a walk. that may help.

i get a lot of muscle tightness and heat is my best friend.
let me know if this helps.

Judy - I do those stretches every day, sometimes more than once.:p It does help. I use the wall though. ;) Somedays I can do a larger stretch and others just a short one.

How are you doing, Lynn? Is it getting any better?

I think it is easing off a little, but definitely still there - esp when I have been walking a while, taken a break and then try to start again.

I am doing the stretches that NurseNancy suggested - they do provide some relief.

Thanks

Lyn

BTW the NMSS has stretches for MS patients on it's website. My neuro's nurse had it printed up and passed it out to us at one of his lectures...very, very helpful-when I remember to do them:rolleyes:

Ok, so now it has advanced right up my left leg, first my calf, then to the back of my knee, and now I can really feel it in the back of my thigh as well. It has gotten worse over a period of a few weeks. Anyone else??? I don't know whether to go and see a general practitioner (think a lot of you call it a PCP) or whether to call my neuro, since I am now three-and-a-half years on Tysabi.

They live a long way apart and to be honest, the thought of explaining all this to yet another GP doesn't thrill me. I will have to put up with stupid comments like 'So, what makes you think you have MS? ....' - which I was asked nearly 10 years after my RRMS D'x. Having said that, I don't want to call my Neuro in case it is something really simple and not MS related. I am so paranoid about being labelled a hypochondriac!

So, if this has happened to you, please tell me!

Thanks

Personally, I ALWAYS vote for the most cautious choice. I'd rather go see my neuro than wish I had six weeks later.

I would give your neuro a call and see what they have to say, especially since it is progressing up your leg. And, yes, I have experienced that as well.

Ditto...sounds like you are having spasticity issues...your neuro is the first place to call, IMO...
let us know-keep us updated.:hug:

muscle spascity and botox
 

Nora

I get really bad spascity in my left calf and left uuper arm and hand. Would like to hear more about the Botox. How long and often have you been getting this? How long does it work for? Any side effects? I tried the spascity meds to many side effects and made my right side weak.

Thanks

MaryK

Spasticity is a constant with me to some degree. I can't take Baclofen, and I do take 1000 mg of magnesium a day (in divided doses, at lunch, dinner) and 1000 mg calcium at a different time than the magnesium, plus D3 to help metabolize. This way I never get a severe spasm, but I am always somewhat stiff and it's not just in my legs. Shoulders are a prime area, back.

Hello

I am still experiencing pain and stiffness in my calf, and it often goes into the back of my knee, and up the back of my thigh.

I explained the situation to my neuro, and he said it was most likely a spinal cord pathway that was to blame. My spinal lesions were not active, but they were there to be seen on MRI.

He offered me Baclofen to take at night (I wake up with cramps but not all that often), but I told him that I would go and see a physiotherapist first to see if that helped.

The Physio told me that she thought I had torn muscles in my calf and has been treating me for that - but still, it goes on - and although it is usually sore and stiff, it varies and comes and goes with its severity. So.....next step is an ultrasound to check out what (if any) damage has been done.

Soooo....I think it might be a combo deal.....started with MS, then I have damaged the muscle trying to stretch it out too vigorously..... now, it is back to being MS.

Not sure, and sorry to ramble.

Cheers

Lyn

If it's MS, does not mean you can't try the aids suggested. I too do that calf stretching exercise which a couple of us recommended on p. 1 of this thread. I don't have to do it all the time, but it's great of a round of spasticity threatens. And magnesium helped me more than Baclofen, although you may be able to get help from Baclofen. Because I have Porphyria I have to stick with the "safe" drugs for that, and Baclofen proved itself unsafe long before Porph dx. Magnesium has literally made me able to sleep. Without it, not a chance. It's that big a difference. B1 helps potentiate magnesium. Sorry to be a broken magnesium record.