Severe calf spasms
 

Last night I had two severe calf muscle spasms that were without a doubt the worst I have ever had. I couldn't get the second one to release for almost an hour.

When I tried to get out of bed this morning, my leg would not hold my weight. I looked down at my right calf and it is bruised. I have a bruise about 5 inches in diameter mid-calf.


I hobbled around the house this morning getting ready for work and my foot kept spasming and warm water helped.

I talked to my neighbor, who is a doctor, and he said heat. And stay off it as much as I can today. So, as soon as I get finished with an MS function today, it's home for me.

OUCH....

you think double checking to make sure its not a clot? might be a good idea? or are you sure and its happened b4? be careful

I never knew spasm could cause black and blue marks, hope its nothing, just be safe

Things get much worse for me in colder weather.

Heat and EASY stretching exercises are the two things that help the most for me, Cheryl. It usually takes a few weeks before I notice a difference when doing nightly exercises . . . but they work every time (so far).

Cherie

Cheryl, If I remember correctly you have Klonopin? Did you try taking some?

The dorctor was right. I use heat this time of year. I wore out my last electric throw blanket and bought a new one online at JCPennys about a month ago.

Muscle spasms hurt, no doubt about it. Hope your doing better soon :hug:

Cheryl,

I hope you'll get this checked out at the doctor's office. Try to take it easy if you can. Have you been overdoing it with the new business? I know that my legs get very bad if I do too much. Keep us posted. :hug:

Aw Cheryl, spasms are the worst. Never heard of one so severe that it would leave you bruised!

I take Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) for my muscle spasms and it seems to do the trick, I just can't take it and plan on doing anything for hours, so I take it when needed before bed. ;)

Awwywww Cheryl...I sorry..:(

A bruise???? Yes, be sure and check, to make sure it is not a clot!!!

Feel Better..:hug:

Oweeeeeee! Wow, hard to believe that would leave a nasty bruise!

Yep, I think you should get it checked out, too, just in case. I know you are tough, but do it anyway. :)

Cherie, sometimes the cold weather bothers me, but it hasn't been that cold here. Although, the new shop is COLD. I have been doing a lot of walking lately ....

Snoopy, yes I take Klonopin and Sinemet. I have reduced the Klonopin from 1.5 to 1.0 and I have noticed that the spasms have increased in frequency, but this is first time I have noticed the increase in severity. I have one of those electric throws as well! I love it!!! It is wrapped around my leg right now!

Yeah, Wiz...working more hours than I probably should be...staying in bed for the rest of today and tomorrow.

Yes, there is a definite bruise on my calf. Think I am going to take a picture of it for the Clinical Trial Doc...he never seems to believe me about stuff that happens anymore and I am most definitely going to send them an email about this...

If I am not better tomorrow, I am going to the ER. Or at least have my neighbor look at it.

Thanks everyone:hug:...I think adjusting to the "not being on anything" but symptom management meds right now is an adjustment for me...:confused::rolleyes: And I have to get permission to take anything that I am not already on so I can't play around with meds...

I will get this checked if I don't get better. Bruising with a muscle cramp is not normal. :(

owwwweeeee cheryl,

it's too bad you can't self medicate.
watch that you don't do too long with the heat around your leg.
20" on, 20" off. you can dry your muscle out.

or, if you have a really warm moist towel, that's good. moist heat is better than dry.

i sure hope this improves for you.

good idea Judy, microwave the towel heats it up real well be careful not too hot

Thanks good idea. :hug:

Cheryl, I am sorry for just seeing this. I hope you get some relief. The bruising doesn't sound right unless you broke a vein somehow while walking or standing too much. I broke one in my leg and it hurt like the dickens. It burned like crazy too.

Whatever it is I hope your better fast! I say go with moist heat. :)

:hug::hug::hug: I think mints might help. :D Just checking in on ya.

COmputer is down at home so call if you need anything.

We have similar weather patterns (only a few hours apart on the same coast) . . . and my body thinks it is too COLD. Actually, anything under 60 degrees, especially if it's raining, is TOO cold for me. It's been like that a lot over the last few weeks, even if it does warm up during the day.

Walking is great, but can also exacerbate spasticity for me. I can hardly walk at all in the winter. Stretching is the best exercise.

Cherie

Well, my friend, I've had bruising like that too from a really bad muscle spasm--but it only happened twice ever for me. That was back in 2003 when I was getting spasms where it felt like the muscle was ripping off the bone.

:hug::hug:

I feel for ya.

And WHO told you you were working to much and had to be careful????? :rolleyes:

Warm, damp compress would be good. Have you considered an epsom salt bath?

Hope you get some relief.

I am so sorry about this, Cheryl.:hug:

-Vic

I had a couple more spasms last night, but they weren't as bad as the night before. I had my calf wrapped in warm moist towels off and on during the night and it did help. This morning my right leg is so stiff I feel like Frankenstein walking!

Bath? Me? Surely you jest!!!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I did up the klonopin last night.

Flygirl! :hug:
I feel for you, truly I do! I never got any bruises from spasms but sometimes it feels like it could rip a vein! I swear it gets bad enough for me to just want to rip the offending leg OFF and get it over with...GRRR

I hope you find something that works to ease your pain! Remember what our Mary said now: "better living through chemistry!" Manage those symptoms with some good drugs!

:D Need a brownie? :p

Brownies???

I am going to stay with the higher dose of klonopin for a few days and the heating pad off and on. I am also going to take my space heater to the shop. It's freezing in there and we don't have control of the temperature.

I am thinking that the increase in walking I am doing, the drop in temperature, and decreasing the klonopin (and maybe some additional work related stress) are beginning to catch up with me.

Spasticity is one of my symptoms that has been hard to manage. Does anyone ever really manage it? I can't take any of the usual meds and Sinemet does work but...who knows what else is going on!

Today I am also noticing my hands don't want to do what I want them to...

I may sound totally ignorant here, b/c I do not have MS, I have MG, but when my meds, etc., caused terrible muscle spasms, my neuro recommended potassium. Again, I do not know a whole lot about MS, but am hoping that (maybe) this will help!

Did your neuro want to do a doppler on your leg? When I had my calf problems, he was worried about blood clots and made me go in that day............

Hope this helps!
Take care!:D
Erin

Same here. It may get up to 65, but my bones are saying it's October, and it's cold out there somewhere.



Erin - that's not a bad idea, potassium.

*sprinkling a bit in Flygirl's brownies*


I think you're right about stuff catching up with you. If you don't want to go back up on the meds, can you try cinamon or ginger? Once I get to my med limit if I still have problems, I'll do one or the other of those and they help.

Good luck.

:eek::eek::eek:

I will get leg spasms in the am, but nothing like that and not that long.

Holy freak'n cow!:eek:

Say...have you been eating you bananas and drinking your OJ?

Glad to hear you will be in touch with your Clinical Trial Doc.

Let me know what they think.

Try to rest!:hug:

(eat a banana)

I do eat my bananas...not oj tho...doesn't agree with me. But I drink a lot of cranberry juice.

:eek:I thought you was going to say you mixed OJ and something to make something. :Scratch-Head:I think there is something out there like that!

Yep....orange juice.. can give me hives! (itchy....itchy!)

Stop calling me Shirley!


Are YOU KIDDING??? :eek::eek::eek::eek: The woman's allergic to EVERYTHING (including special ingredient brownies)!!!!


Betty Crocker made by the package instructions ONLY! (unless you're adding extra chocolate chips)


:D:D

can't call you anything if you don't call me back! .... tapping foot waiting....



I have scones and lemon bars...no brownies!

Oh I'm SURE that's never stopped you from calling me things. :D


Gimme a chance. I ate dinner, watched NCIS, and am now gonna brush my teef. You don't wanna talk to me with soup breath now, do you?

;)

OUCH FG!!!!

I get leg cramps/spasms in my R leg and they are so painful, but I've never had bruising. Please don't mess around and self DX yourself. I say, Get thyself to the Dr if it's not considerably better in the morn.

SMACK!

No cramps last night. Leg is still very sore from the previous two nights and I am not going into the shop today. Yes, you all heard that right. :p

I emailed the doc. I received a reply. An rx for Baclofen. LOL! My reply back was I cannot take it nor Zanaflex. Waiting for a response. He wanted me to take 5mg 3 times a day...woohoo! That means I get to sleep all day long! Just call me Zombie FG!!!

Hmmm...I do have a wallpapering job I need to do! :eek::D

She called me...:D Guess they are looking for some alternative. I am just a challenge! :rolleyes:

Aw, I hope the doc can find an alternative med you can take to get some relief!

We are going to try Klonopin .25mg twice during the day, 6 hours apart in addition to the 1.0 mg that I already take at night.

I thought you said they were stupid...sound pretty smart to me :p

Hope that spasm and bruise get better! :hug:

Watch it Shappy! :p

Got new drugs coming! :D

Thats HRH Shappy to you....got a title change see below! :D

Let us know how this new dosage helps. I am going to ask Jim's doc about Klonopin and Sinemet. Your our test patient. lol

FG the Lab Rat!! :D

I have an appt with my regular neuro here at home tomorrow! Yippee!!!

:smileypray: Please no wallpapering!

Oh.. Shappy, what is HRH?:confused: