Something to ponder
 

I just came across a video the other day while looking for fibromyalgia information.

The chiropractor was saying , or his theory, was that for many of the muscular/skeletal problems and related conditions people will have some sort of muscle relaxer rx'd but no one looks deeper into why the mus/skel problems developed in the first place or the cause of the pain/sx.

His theory was that the muscle relaxers make the problem worse.
by loosening up the muscles too much and allowing the joints and ligaments too much freeplay and that equals more damage and no healing.


It just made me wonder if, what if half of those on muscle relaxers really are making themselves more prone to additional or chronic injuries, instead of the meds helping them to heal.


I'll have to re find that vid it did give me something to think about.

update-
well I haven't found it yet.. many other DC's with vids about FM is a brain disorder and not a muscle problem... the vid I saw was different from these others that I'm seeing today - these are practically the same script..ppfftt.

yea, makes sense, but what about the painful reasons I took them to begin with. without muscle relaxers, I don't know what I would've done, and I didn't take the strongest ones, not even strong enough for me at the time, but I do know the RELIEF I got when I realized after I would drive for an hour and a half, if I just took 1/2 or that Flexeril, I didn't hurt in my forearms as much. That meant a whole lot at the time. Pain pills didn't give me that kind of relief. a nerve pill would help some too.

I'm not as bad, so if I do take any it's a half or 1/4.

It may, in fact, loosen joints, but too much pain makes you :mad: :confused: :mad: :eek: :p:(:mad:

I was better off with them for 8 to 10 years than I was trying not to take them for 3 months. then when I would take 2 a day, I got relief. what about the muscles being tooooo tight and not being able to do ADLs and all that. A dirty body is no fun. :D

Just ranting about it, not at you. I so appreciate all your info you give to us.

It makes me think too. It makes me want to fight to get stronger without any need for meds in my life. Probably not reality.


Getting a new low impact CircleGlide thingy off of HSN. for my lower body. it really needs it. Should be here the 12th. I'll let you all know how that goes. it will strengthen the core some too.

http://www.hsn.com/infomercial/tony-...&ccm=HF|ig0001

Can't wait to try it out. Boy, do I need it.

The muscle relaxer recommended by fibro expert Dr. Clauw is Flexeril. He said at our seminar that it works best on Fibro patients because it has SSRI effects as well.

Fibro is a central pain disorder. That is the new definition.
It is caused by over-reaction of nerves in the brain... which in effect ramp up signals that others do not feel or recognize as painful. There is an 8 fold incidence in families...very inheritable in other words.
And muscle relaxants(the anti-spasmotic ones) do not work at the muscle...they work centrally. I think many people are given this diagnosis when they have myofascial issues or something else.

If you look up the pharmacology of the agents you will see that.

More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_relaxant

I've taken many of them. I find Flexeril the best for me. But I no longer need it as much as I did when standing on my feet 10 hrs a day. For me one Flexeril lasts 2 days.

I just hate it when I kind of think about bookmarking something to look into more later on, and I forget to do it..:(

I totally realize that his ideas/theory wouldn't apply to all.
If your nerves are impinged, compressed or affected in other ways that his ideas of chiropractic therapy can't change or fix, then those pain/symptom signals are going to get sent out to the body. So you would need to take something to control it.

I didn't realized about the different types of relaxers and how they work, thanks mrsD.

muscle relaxers dont work for me usually but my sx are way different than most people here

if you take musc. relaxers and then go sit in front of the computer then yeah, bad idea.

if youre hypermobile in one aspect, like shoulders they would be a bad idea. but for someone whos just tight all over i would think theyd help.

Jo Mar -

Interesting theory.

Seems most muscle relaxers are "acute phase" pharmaceuticals and not meant for long term use. There are exceptions, but those haven't seemed to help me.

I can't imagine my quality of life without them and whether his theory is correct or not, I still have to function and have responsibilities.

I had a severe spasm recently in a non-TOS part of my body. With all the muscle relaxers flowing through my body, they did nothing for the spasm. I wonder if I've become immune with over use.

Anne