Muscle spasms and PN
 

For the last year I have had increasing bouts of muscle rigidity, pain and soreness. It is not constant in a 24/7 way, but in the last few months it has been daily flashes to daily burden in scope.

Typically, to get going a shower will set me in the right direction. Yesterday, I was worse off for it. I called into work, knocked off a few domestic obligations, pulled up the ottoman and was. Today is the same fate.

I take cheleated magnesium 250mgx2 am x1pm
I eat one organic banana aday because the potassium beats back the negative of the sugar
Water throughout the day
I stretch for at least an hour during the day (lunch plus a burgeoning group stretch) and I spend hours at night with self massage and stretching.
I walk 2 miles a day m-f round trip to my car.


Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks,
Jon

Of course we are all different here. However this morning my right leg was spasming quite a bit. I need to go back on "ionic fiz" magniesium, recommended by our own Mrs D. When my condition started some years ago now. The spasms were bad and this seemed to take them away. It's what athletes use.
I also was woken up by the most intense itching on the bottoms of my feet. A gabipentin plus other combination cream took care of that.

Now I may have a bone spur in my heal on top of all this. As long as you can still move, keep moving.

I am on Baclofen 10mg x3 for muscle spasms and rigidity. It seems to help quite a bit. I have Valium in case I get severe spasms that persist, I use about ten per month.
With the progressive muscle deterioration I am finding that my range of motion is increasingly limited and mild movements increasingly bring on spasms.

Hi Jon,
I have had such similar symptoms for 30+ years, I have gone the banana route and the vitamin route too. Mine will come and go, like a few months back, I was walking down a short stair and the right calf just blew out, I couldn't put weight on it for days. I though I had tore a tendon, but it just slowly got better. My calf muscles are over sized, but they are not strong, they are like big knots... Like you said, massage, damp heat will help, try getting a heating pad that you can wet the foam and this might give temporary relief.
Jon

That also sounds like a myofascial trigger point. We've been getting them for years—related to spinal issues, but they can have many causes, be acute or chronic, etc. The good news is that they can be released with the right (kind of) massage techniques. But if the correct trigger points aren't addressed in the correct order, they can be difficult/persistent/troublesome.

myofascial trigger point

Doc

I was on baclofen, 1-2 x 10 mg, but when I reported limited usefulness my neurologist discontinued it. Last Wednesday-Saturday were the exception, not the 'norm' of my muscle spasticity/rigidity issues. That being the case I find that 'flare ups' are happening more often and the 'norm' is different.

Doc, I am definitely looking into trigger points. I was trying a few things I found online along with annoying pay to see more resources. I don't begrudge people making money off their expertise. I do mind the bait and switch tactics that can take place. The internet can be so Mos Eisley.

I am fairly certain that the muscle issues play into some of my sleep issues. I'm learning to accept I can't do everything I want to depending on the day

Jon

If you take a statin for cholesterol now
Would be the time to discuss muscle side
Effects with your doctor.

Also consider acetyl carnitine to improve
Muscle energy production-- start at 500mg a
Day and May increase to 2000mg a day in
Divided doses.

Sometimes methyl folate form of folate
Helps if you have the DNA methylation
Genetic errors.

Have you had CPK blood work done to show
Any muscle damage/breakdown?

I was very briefly on a statin in 2012. At the time I already had what in hindsight appears to be very mild muscle issues. I was already starting to take charge of nutrition/food issues at the time and my cholesterol has been improving every quarterly test for almost 2 years.

Acetyl carnitine- gotcha, heading to the store later for some. What sort of time frame is reasonable to expect some relief?

Further inspection of intake is 800 mcg of Folic acid. Would this be what I want to take in methyl folate or is that entirely something else?

I just reviewed the blood tests that were ordered two months ago. I didn't see anything that looked like CPK in name or per short internet investigation. I will bring it up at my next appointment in August.

Thank you for the insight,

Jon

My understanding is that it is often necessary to take a total of 30-60 mg. per day to reach an effective dose. It is possible that your neuro gave up too quickly. I did not really notice any help until I reached 3-10 mg. pills per day. Now I notice if I forget to take it.
I believe it helps with the rigidity and tightness as well as the frequency and strength of the muscle spasms, but my major reason for the doctor suggesting it were these rib cage squeezes that were happening very often, what MSers call "hugs". The Baclofen has helped a lot with those.
I have also never been able to do any of the yoga positions that required straightening the legs, not even as a child. The muscles in the back of my legs have always been tight, even though I was very flexible otherwise. Now I am finding that any position that twists my leg muscles off center even a little is painful and can lead to spasms.

800mcg of Metafolin should be enough.
Avoid taking folic acid if you can because
Some studies imply that folic acid may
Block methyl folate at the blood brain barrier.
An affordable one is by Solgar brand.. At I herb
Or Amazon.

If the CPK (sometimes called CK) is
Not elevated that implies that the muscles
Are not damaged and therefore it might
Be nerve related.

muscle pain too
 

hello there, just came back into the NeuoTalk forum and noticed your post.
are you indicating PN as Peripheral Neuropathy or Pain....I have been waiting for a diagnosis since 2012...MS is still up in the air...when they did my EMG and Nerve conduc. studies....there was a small finding in my right calf and butt ...that was one year ago....I have had everything from fasciculations, cramps, spasms, foot and leg drag...tingling and numbness in tops of my feet and hands...now going up my legs.....the past few weeks, I see my neurologist every 3 months since. nov.2012...I next see him in august...how long did you wait for a diagnosis.
do you use a walker ? ...as far as..medication....I have tried them all, gabapentin/amytripelene...with a plant food diet only....I lost 16 pounds in two weeks, but I found the drugs to strong...and couldn't stay on that food plan..and yes...lyrica ....gave me carb. cravings ! bread bread bread ...I stopped it...also, Cymbalta...gave me the same reaction...now I only use Tylenol Arthritis , heating pad and I keep a 'hot' water bottle...'filled and frozen' in my freezer at all times......hope you keep well , I know its hard!

Recently I have had increase pain in my left leg and muscle spasms.

Its to the point where I want to cut the leg off.

Neurontin and ultram have not been as effective as they once have been.

Stretching and exercise have helped but when resting it comes back with a vengence.

My leg will spasm up to my waist when sitting and the leg will have me fall if it gets fatigued from walking.

In a no win situation.

I take neurontin and ultram with a tylenol chaser every six hours to keep the pain at bay.

My pcp can give me stronger meds, but I would rather find another way if I can.

My leg has had PN since 2009, I need a knee replacement, been diagnosed with RRMS and OA. My chiropractor visits have increased to two x a month and I have recently started with a licensed massage therapist.

I have changed my diet and removed myself from pop as it has sucralose in it.

I know that I am over 50 and I have a very high tolerance of pain. I have lived with this for a long time and its now not livable or tolerable anymore.

Neuro and pcp agree that going on a stronger maintenance drug could be my next step.

Any suggestions on how to live with chronic pain. Hubby is not as understanding as he once was as I am cranky more than ever, lol.

But I am nervous about any new meds

Hello terig,

PN as in Periphrial Neuropathy but I have pain with it also.

Dx for PN was in 1999, RRMS in 2012, OA since I was 35.

Pain has been a life long friend it seems. But its a friend that I would like to kick to the curb, lol.

Praying that you find relief soon.

PCP and neuro are talking about baclofen for the spasms and for the increased pain oxycodone.

I have noticed though my sleep has been off a bit. Not getting the 8 hours like I should. I wonder if the isn't a factor.

I was "unofficially" referred to myofascial trigger point therapy by a pain management clinic. The therapist we found is certified, and an instructor, and I urge folks to seek certified therapists; their education/training is in the hundreds of hrs (vs. hrs or tens of hrs for PTs & other types who claim they know/do the therapy—IME they don't, and can sometimes do more harm than good.)

After a couple of sessions, she told us it didn't make sense for us to keep paying her for what she could teach us to do at home for ourselves. It's rare to find a professional with that kind of candor/integrity.

Doc