Every four weeks for the past six years I have visited the same pain mgt doctor and have always been in compliance with monthly drug tests. I'm on a low dose of time released morphine and 5/325 norco as needed for breakthrough pain from RSD in my shoulder and arm. The only true relief I get is from heat and use a heating pad about 12 hours a day and a battery operated shoulder brace with heat while working and away from home. I have tried all the blocks, spinal cord stimulator and other treatments with no luck. I wasn't diagnosed for three years after a major fall which resulted in three open shoulder surgeries. I'm too young for a total shoulder replacement which they won't do until I'm in my 60's for fear of wearing it out and you only get one good shot at securing it to your scapula. I want to know if anyone has had any luck with Soma (Carisoprodol), for muscle spasms and cramps. I have tried Flexeril and Baclofen. The Flexeril wiped me out and the Baclofen gave no relief. When I asked my doc about Soma he brushed it aside by saying it was habit forming.....like the opiods I'm on are not? I have an upcoming appointment and am seeking advice on how to persuade him to at least let me give it a try. On med refill days he runs everybody through the clinic as fast as possible because he has a lot of patients. Has anybody out there had any luck with Soma? My shoulder feels like it is in a total cramp all the time which is why heat helps. Thanks

Hi Poppop,

I too found Flexerial to be a nightmare. The side effects were complertely intolerable and hile it was supposed to help me sleep, instead I had awful nightmares all night.

I am currently on both Baclofen and Soma. I only take 20mg of Baclofen a day so that's probably a problem. With a higher dose, maybe I wouldn't need the Soma.

I have been on and off Soma for almost 2 years now and honestly, I don't have a problem with addiction or withdrawl from i. I don't know if people say it's addictive just to scare you off from it or what but as I said, changing doses and going off it for weeks at a time and then back on was never a problem for me since it is treating a true muscular problem, not being used for some sort of "high".

Maybe others react differently, I don't know but I would call your Dr and ask to at least try it?

hi i have rsd in both shoulders and arms just had a shoulder replacement done in june 2010 i was told to wait but since i had it done my left side is better the best thing they did was find out that thry hook up a block and left it in for 3 days i was getting spreading to my legs and it has comed down a lot it took me a 1 year tell the doctor i could not take anymore and i will have the right done next year if you want to talk let me know but good luck

finally somebody else with RSD in a shoulder! not that I'm glad, it's just that you're the first person close to my diagnosis and you've been through what I'm facing. Did they do a traditional shoulder replacement or the new "reverse" with the ball attached to you scapula and the socket placed at the top your arm? I bet you're like me where you can only sleep flat on your back....never thought how frustrating that would be. Glad you have some relief with your new shoulder. Thanks for sharing your experience. PopPop

Hi Pop,

Have you considered Skelaxin? It is stronger than Soma (which did NOTHING for me - it is really a very mild med - and I am a small woman), but not as mind bending as Flexeril. I take it at bedtime.

I also have RSD of the shoulder - I tore my rotator cuff in Nov of 2006 and had two arthroscopic repairs in the spring of 2007 and a year later in 2008. But my RSD spread beyond my shoulder....

Good luck to you. XOXO Sandy

I should have been more clear. My RSD is in my shoulder tho throughout the left side of my body. My left neck and shoulder are the worst. Soma is very helpful as is Ativan and Toradol. I do constantly use heat, never ice. I do use pain patches such as Durogesic, lidocane and when unable to use those, I use icy-hot patches which I buy off Amazon.com for less.

I do also find my $59 TeNS unit to be quite helpful. Feel free to PM if you have any questions.

Dawn

Sandy, thank you so much for that suggestion. I will look into it. PopPop

Soma works GREAT for me, in fact, I had a three level, 360 degree cervical fusion and my neurosurgeon said Soma was the only drug that he had ever found that truly gave relief from muscle spasms........and I found that to be so true. Now to the problem. I am also on a slow release Morphine and an Immediate Relief Morphine for breakthrough pain. These medications together provide me with adequate "pain" control ..... HOWEVER..... since I have recovered from my surgery & am no longer seeing the neurosurgeon, I can not find a physician that will write a prescription for Soma. I am so confused as to why the physicians will write for MORPHINE ---- but Soma is too "habit forming"! What do they think Morphine is??? IF you can find a physician that will write it for you, Soma 350, One Four Times Daily works like a charm for me. I can not praise it enough. It is also priced fairly reasonable if that is an issue. I also have taken Flexeril & Baclofen ...... Soma is SO MUCH BETTER. BUT, it will take you a few weeks to level out on Soma. At first you will be sleepy & groggy until you get used to it, but if you will bear with it, and if it works for you like it does for me - you will not have to live with the heating pad OR the muscle spasms. I wish you the best.....but I fear you will have the same problem I have in finding a physician to continue writing the Soma. GOOD LUCK!

How frustrating for you when you know what works and are unable to have it prescribed. Unfortunately Texas is one of a handfull of states that won't allow internet sales of Soma (there are many online US pharmacies that provide this service with an online consult for certain classes of drugs, muscle relaxers included). This may be why the doc's in Texas are tough on Soma. Good luck and keep searching because sooner or later you will find a compassionate doctor.

Hi PopPop, So sorry for your shoulder issues. My first sign of RSD was frozen shoulder following breast surgery and another tumor in arm pit. I wasn't diagnosed with RSD, but was sent to physical therapy to get range of motion back. Very painful, taking pain meds before therapy and it took a year of therapy, and I also did massage therapy prior to physical therapy. I did have spasms and was put on neurotin for nerve pain. I also practiced stretching exercises at home every day. One tool was a styrofoam cylinder 6 inches round by 4 ft. would lay on it and move from side to side for stretching between shoulder blades. Also used those thin rubber bands about4 inches wide to do stretching.
About 6 months into physical therapy and massagae therapy, my Rehab Dr. sent me to Orthopedic Surgeon, who wanted to operate and break things open to speed things along-I said no thank you and after another 6 months, had nearly full range and was in 'remission' (Didn't know I had RSD for 4 years)
The therapist told me it might go over to the other shoulder. Had remission for a year plus, then it did go into opposite shoulder. More therapy and another remission. While water skiing my hand nerves pulled and was misdiagnosed, then diagnosed with RSD -therapy, but only got 50% usage of hand. Now have full body and internal, but mobile except partial one hand. I still stretch every day and exercise and hope my mobility continues.
I have not had Soma so can't comment on it. Something that helped me besides heating pad, was those bean sacks that you put in microwave and heat up.
It's been 15 years now and I use vicodin and lorazepam. Lorazepam is an anti-anxiety med and it relaxes me and rarely have spasms. Also use 2 high blood pressure meds, seroquel xr for sleep and cymbalta for anti-depressant and nerve pain.
Have you ever used the machine that warms up wax and is used for hands and feet. Could you use it on shoulder and arm. When it cools, it peels of easily.
I still love massage therapy,even use it on myself during a sinus infection to release the swollen sinus and swollen lymph glands.
Hope this helps a little. I did take 3200 mg of neurotin when I was having electric shocks, jerks, spasms. It did stop the symptoms. Didn't like the weight gain and sleepiness, and gradually went off. For the most part, don't have the symptoms any longer.
Take care, loretta