Does anyone have any ideas on what to do about muscle spasms??? Other than medication, I mean.

They drive me NUTS! Every night when I go to bed my legs start, and soon after my arms.

I was talking to my physical therapist about it, and he said that usually excercizing would help (ie... walking), but since when I go to bed I have just been doing that, and since I have tried walking more... that he'd suggest I try doing heel slides, to get my legs movin', so that would hopefully do the trick. I'm gonna try that tonight, but was wondering of any of you had other ideas???

These muscle spasms are driving me crazy. I know, another *fun* part of RSD.

Does heat help? epson salt baths? or - do you drink tonic water? it contains quinine which is a muscle relaxant!!! (and adding Gin might help too!!)

Sorry - I have had the spasms for years and have found nothing really that helps apart from keeping warm.. I used to wear my "legs" in bed, but they tend to make the spasms worse.....Several people I know have found quinine very useful - and love it cos it's not a tablet.

Let me know if you find anything!!

Love

Rosie xxxxxxxx

I don't drink tonic water. I will try that. Thanks! I wanted to try something other than meds..

I haven't tried heat too much... I have to get a heating pad, and I'll try that. The blankets are driving me buggy... I cannot STAND them on my legs, but I am trying to keep them on because I have to learn to tolerate them, and because it really IS cold! But I am wearing leggings along with my skirt and that is helping maintain my temp. a little better. My feet and legs were/ still do some go ICEEEEEE cold and meanwhile I think I am burning up. Argh...

I am doing epsom salt baths for my feet, and so now I'll try that for my legs. Maybe it'll help. Thanks!!

I appreciate the help.

Dear IHH -

I don't know if you are using narcotics for your pain, but if so, please read on.

My pain mgt. doctor is collaborating with another colleague at his institution, in which they have tentitively shown, in a "proto-study", that the long-term use of opioids can trigger a bacterial bloom in the small intestine, which in turn creates neuro-toxins. I know that as soon as gas spectrometry found elevated level of hydrogen in my breath, I was given a serious round of a major GI antibiotic (Xifaxan) and the cramping went away!

Now, a week after the antibiotic trial ended the cramping came back. Since then I have had probably 4 or 5 rounds of the antibiotic, and while each has helped, it hasn't been as spectacular as the first round.

I do, however, do a few things, and please bear with me when I mention drugs. First, I've been given the generic version of Narcan, an old drug which - when given iv or im - immediately shuts down opioid receptors throughout the body for people who are overdosing, sometimes with violent results. However, I'm being given it orally, just to shut down the opioid receptors in my gut, every time I take any ocycodone/oxcycontin, and I don't feel a thing. Secondly, I'm being given truly infant sized doses of the antibiotic Erythromycin to speed up the movement of material through the gut, the very action that the narcotics suppress. I also use a good over the counter "natural laxative" called Senokot-S.

While the GI effects of narcotics have been known for many years, it is my understanding that no published research (to date) precisely supports this treatment at the present time, yet it works. And while I suspect that even the Senokot-S, standing alone could make some difference, I wouldn’t bet on it. Then again, I also use Zanaflex, Neurontin and Baclofen, and while I know you said "no drugs," I have to tell you that I have no idea how I would manage without them. (By example, a couple of years ago I had to go off of what was for me Neurontin's predecessor -Trileptal - without the opportunity to taper off gradually as I ramped up with another medication, because I had developed a dangerous side effect, and 10 days later I was having scalp cramps. You haven't lived until you've had a good scalp cramp, believe me.)

I hope this has been helpful, even though I know it's not exactly what you were asking about.

Mike

I'll second frogga's heating pad suggestion - I was trying all kinds of things, and my doctor suggested muscle relaxers, because I was getting spasms that were starting to look like compartment syndrome - obviously not positive.

If you can - even sometimes - I've found that implementing a stretching regimen helps. I've got ridiculous ankle and knee ligament contractures, so I worked with a PT to develop a slowly increasing stretching regime. However, even to do that, I usually have to apply heat first.

A heating pad is great, and Thermacare is now making heated wraps for most parts of the body - you can even wear them under your clothes so if you're bothered during the day, no problem!

With any kind of heat, though, I've found that I have to be careful of burns - if you've got decreased nerve function at all, you might not notice! I know that may sound obvious, but I didn't think about it until I took my heating pad off one night and found heat rash!

Good luck!

I have the same problem with my feet as well, especially in the winter. Have you tried hunting socks? I know that sounds completely insane, but they make special socks for hunters - some are just really thick, made to stand up to -40 F, and some are basically little electric blankets. I've found that those are great at night.

add some magnesium into the diet?
If on Meds check for any interactions before trying these suggestions.
interaction checker in our stickys.

[Leg Cramps & Supplements-
The first suspected cause is a mineral imbalance, says Jacqueline Jacques, N.D., a naturopathic doctor and specialist in pain management in Portland, Oregon. That’s not the only possibility, though. Cramps can also be caused by strenuous exercise, excess salt loss from sweating, or sitting or standing too long.

When you get a cramp, stretch and gently massage the muscle immediately. This should relax the muscle and provide you with some much-needed relief. If you find that you’re having muscle cramps every night, your doctor is likely to prescribe quinine, but only for a limited time. This often-used treatment for leg cramps can quickly build to toxic levels in the blood and can cause nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and deafness. It can even damage your eyesight.

A safer way to eliminate that knot of pain in your muscles is to try a combination of vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements, say natural healers. ]
continued here-
http://www.bodyandfitness.com/Inform...h/legcramp.htm

the link below has a variety of info on cells/nutrition/supplementation-
[Following are examples of medical conditions and their intracellular chemistry, as measured with Acu-Cell Analysis.
These disorders are not intended for self-treatment (supplements still have to be matched on an individual basis), but to
compare conventional, pharmacological intervention to the therapeutic and preventative aspects of nutritional medicine.]
continued-
http://www.acu-cell.com/dis.html

[What can high-magnesium foods do for you?

* Relax your nerves and muscles
* Build and strengthen bones
* Keep your blood circulating smoothly

What events can indicate a need for more high-magnesium foods?

* Muscle weakness, tremor, or spasm
* Heart arrhythmia, irregular contraction, or increased heart rate
* Softening and weakening of bone
* Imbalanced blood sugar levels
* Headaches
* Elevated blood pressure

Excellent sources of magnesium include Swiss chard and spinach. Avoid overcooking to minimize loss of magnesium. ]
more-
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?t...trient&dbid=75

Thank you all for your responses to my question.

I have been trying to do some heel slides, leg/heel extensions before bed, and believe it or not, that does seem to help. But,other times they do persist.



Jo55- I am actually supplementing quite a bit with magnesium (and calcium), as I understand that to be helpful with bones, and high blood pressure (which has become a problem since RSD came on).

Thanks for posting that info/ the links. They were helpful, and gave me some more understanding.


I also doing some epsom salt baths, which, if I understand correctly aid in giving calcium to your body.


(Dr Hooshmand, http://www.rsdrx.com/pt%20_and%20_crps%20-part%20II.htm )


Mike- I am using narcotics to help in pain relief. I am also on Neurontin, Amitriptyline, Lidocaine patches... I wasn't implying that I don't use medication, I was just asking for suggestions on muscle spasms, other than medications. I don't think I could manage with out at least some form of pain relief... RSD pain is so wicked!

What you posted was rather interesting. I haven't been on narcotics long term though, so I don't know if some of that would really apply to me. I am glad your combination seems to be helping you.


BroadwayBaby- Thanks for the sock suggestion. I would try that, if I *felt* cold... the thing is, inside I feel like I am BURNING up, while on the outside (to someone else) my skin tempature is actually freezing COLD.

It's like this- the other night the tempatures were around 15 degrees and I was so hot and felt like I was burning, and yes, I really did walk outside without my coat for a minute. Everyone thought I was crazy, but I was so hot!

The Epsom salt soaks really help my with these. I take a bath and soak in 2 cups epsom for 20-30 minutes

Good luck
Gentle hugs Rain