I know we all get them, so thought I would start a post on them so we can share information as to how we deal.

Mine seem to come out of the blue .. I don't particularly have to do anything, but I guess because I favour my right hand side, it's causing particular stress on the right side of my body.

Mike took me supermarket shopping this last week when he was off. I normally just let him do it as he does most of the big meals. He wandered off and I was up and down the aisles looking for him when I felt my right hip starting to go into a massive spasm. It got so that I couldn't even put one step in front of the other and some nice people asked if i was ok. (though the tears streaming down my face told them that there was something wrong I guess .. Lol)

Ended up being wheeled out in a wheelchair. Oh lord, that chair was a blessing I can tell you .. Once I'd got into it that is.

How do you guys manage your spasms? I felt I'd been kicked by a horse for hours after and any movement started my side flaring up again, so I just ended up in bed with some diazepam and a good book.

I look back and I'm so embarrassed .. I don't want to go back to the store again. Lol

35 views and not one reply. Why view a thread on back spasms if you have no experience them or no constructive advice?

But here is my back spasm reply, and it is the only thing that has ever helped with the multitude of episodes of spasms I have endured. Flexeril. That is it. Spasm is not something the stim can address, no way, no how. Flexeril is what I have had to use.

Now, I used to have spasms every single day and multitudinous episodes throughout a day which would invariably cause my back to wrench because the whole idea was muscular contraction. Spasm. Toward the end before I had the first big invasive back surgery 1/6/06 the spasms were coming so swiftly, like hundreds of episodes per minute, it is in part that which provoked me to scream so much outloud at that time. My neurosurgeon prescribed Flexeril as a relaxer which, for me as to this singular issue, became the saving grace for spasms.

My supply is now small, and I guard it carefully in case spasm occurs I cannot tolerate. It does happen every once in a while, but now, it is mostly the nereve pain managed by my cushion and my SCS.

Yup,
There you go, Saf,
A responsive post,
Hoping and praying you are over the spasm,
Mark56

z
I have been having more muscle spasams, my doc and I have tried multiple medications..... Seems like they either "snow" me or do nothing I seem to do best with a heating pad or if I can A soak in warm water with epsom salts in it. I have had my electrlytes (sp)checked and they are all fine. Hope this helps
z

Did you know we were having a dance partiy in your barn, by the way? You should have heard the noise by NOW!!

Epsom Salts, yeah, my Grandma always used to suggest soaking in that... I dunno why I forgot. Glad your Electrolytes are good! ALSO glad to see you reply to Saffy!

Be well in Nowhere,
Mark56

Thank You, both of you. Well, i always knew one of you guys would reply! I'll ask my doc about that Mark.

Hi Karen,
This is a good thread to start, I'm only seeing it now. Like you I too have been caught in the supermarket and I've had to grab a strangers trolley on many occasion to stop me just dropping to the floor with the spasm, the strangers trolley like that would see the tears in my eyes and I just hope that it eases for a minute and the stranger would help walk me to some chairs.
Thankfully my husband usually does the shopping and I tag along. I usually end up in bed for the rest of the day with some Diazapam and a book or TV and pray that it goes away by the next day.

Everyone hates the spasms and there's very little we can do about them but I've been on medication for them too and they've worked for me. I find one of those heat pillows on my back great.

That's my story I hope it helps.

All the best

Sinéad xxx

I'd like to explain about the 35 views Saffy.

This number does not mean that 35 NeuroTalk members viewed this thread. Did you know that it's not necessary to be a member here to read? Also, if you look at ''Who's Online" you'll notice pages of guests reading the forums at any time of the day.

Those 35 views may not have even been by people. There are thousands of bots constantly searching the net, and these are necessary if you ever wish to look something up using a search engine.

I hope that explains why the views showed up but you weren't getting the replies that you were hoping for.

Everytime I hear the word 'bots' I get a picture in my head of a bunch of those little see urchens (sp?), you know with those little spikey things coming out of them......creeping thru cyberspace, landing on links..............I wonder if they help 'pollinate' the web.

Anyway, I agree, this is a great thread. Just now logged on and saw it.
Geeze Karen, picturing you (and Sinead ) in the grocery in that condition.
My hubby does all the shopping, thank God.

Isn't it crazy how meds work so differently on us? Flexeril did me zilch. Baclofen is what seems to keep the spasms at bay for me. I recall Sinead saying this didn't work for her.

Wouldn't it be NICE if there was a 'ONE-DRUG-FITS-ALL' medication

Thanks Koala for explaining this to me.

Getting the drugs right is SO frustrating .. it is to me, it must be to the Doctor who is treating me too.

I feel so low at the moment .. I've not had a spasm as bad as that for a good while. I'm usually able to tell when one is coming on and either get the valium/diazepam out, or get on the bed and rest and read. This one took me by surprise and I guess I felt sorry for myelf. I was so piddled off with Mike for walking off with the trolley too .. he does sometimes get so impatient at having to walk at my speed as he's always walked fast.
This just makes me feel a bit of a failure and a bit useless ..

Just the mood I'm in at the moment I think.

I guess I'm getting ready for Thursday and my pre op and the meeting with my new surgeon.

xxx and hugs