Please excuse my ignorance in this matter, but I need to find out exactly what a 'spasm' is!

All along I would have said that I dont get spasms. I do have constant pain in my legs and burning also. Plus I have back pain...BUT .............on TWO occasions I have had some kind of 'turn' (thats the only way I can describe what has happened to me)


Last week, after lounging on the couch all evening and it was time for bed, I got up and all of a sudden I was doubled up in two.....across my back both lower and in the middle, I had this searing pain, bit like a cramp in your leg!!! It hit me for six, I couldnt breathe with the pain, I was stuck in a bent position and I felt like I was going to faint. My poor husband thought I was having a heart attack, must admit I did too!!! I couldnt move. I tried to lie down but the pain was so bad all I could do was just stoop over. My husband got me a cold towel and put it on my neck and face as I was sweating so much with the pain. Evenutally I got into a sitting position and then I lay down. It eased a bit once I was lying down and didnt move. As the night wore on it settled down.

Then this morning......wham bammmmmm........I got another 'turn' thats all I can call it. This time it was slightly higher up, not as severe as the first one, but it took my breath away all the same. It had me in a stooped position again....gosh it was worrying. And the pain I had when I took a breath in was awful. I took some pain relief and I had to put some patches on. It eventually subsided. I still have some discomfort, but nothing like I had this morning.

Sorry didnt mean to go on so long.....but my question is, is this similiar to a spasm or has anyone else ever experienced anything like what I have?

Thanks guys

Jackie

[Saffy]

I'm on my I pad so it won't be a long answer, but spasm is like cramp .. But the cramped muscles stay there and don't ease. It's chronic. From what I've read, I think you are having those dreaded spasms. Xx

[Rrae]

Dear Jackie! That sounds very intense! VERY intense!

I would venture to say that's what it is. I wonder what on earth would cause these out of the blue. You weren't straining or anything.
I agree with Saffy, it does sound like spasm, only very very intense ones! I didn't know they could get that bad.

Mine come on when I've been standing for over 10 minutes. Before I was put on Baclofen, I'd get them even just sitting at my desk at work. It felt like a knife was in my back. I didn't have problems breathing, but the pain was so bad I'd lie on the floor in tears.
I know Mark will have good explanation. I recall him saying he used to scream into a pillow from the horrid pain.

I'm glad you started this thread Jackie, because I too wondered how other people would describe these nasty things.
Definately bring this up to Dr!

Huggs,
Rae

[Mark56]

.... have discovered the agony of spasm. The herky, jerky, unplanned, uncontrollable JOLT of muscle tissue by the "misfiring" of an angry nerve. Been there, know them all TOO WELL. They were coming so rapidly between Christmas 2005 and January 6, 2006 that I could do nothing more than scream for all I was worth. Then the angry nerves in my case really took a turn for the worse as the lower half of my body shut down. Bad stuff, that. When you cannot even eliminate. So, spasms all alone and spaced apart can really be an annoyance, and are the stuff of therapy to attempt working out assuming the nerves are not whacked out as mine.

It is these nasty things I still notice when I am quiet on the bed and turn my device WAY down. Then I notice the spasms are still occurring. But then I have permanent nerve injury. Maybe, just maybe, you were experiencing something brought on by the way you were sitting, and I hope and pray this is your situation. You do not want to be in spasm..... but then you know that.

Rest, walk, exercise as the Doc has said. Take care not to overdo, and likely spasm will not be something to fear much at all.

Prayin for a restful weekend for you,
Mark56

[Rrae]

Maybe ask your Dr for something to have on hand for when this occurs. Benzodiazepines seem to help alot of people and they are fast-acting.
Xanax or Klonopin have worked wonders for me. They help relax the muscles and every other part of your body, especially your peace of mind.

I sure would like to know what the heck sparked these!

Hi guys......thanks so much for the response.............

Its strange how its only happening now!!! I cant think what would have triggered it off. The first one happened when I had been resting all evening watching tv and it was only when I got up it hit me. Second one was in the morning, which I thought 'have I turned awkward' .......that second one has left me very sore today though!and its higher up than the norm!

Rae I did get some tablets from the Neurologist when I first met him, Valium, he said I might need them if I got spasms!! did he put a curse on me. But to be honest I dont want to start on Valium. Im going to see how this pans out and hopefully it wont come back again. If they do I will have to go and see my Dr's again. Its strange that Ive now got a back problem for nearly 7 years and its only now that this is happening! I hope its just a one or two off....Dont want these things to continue......God help any of you who have to put up with these on an ongoing basis!

Thanks again

Jackie

[Mark56]

That was a post surgical use for me.

Rae is very much on target with her thoughts, and I have been prescribed the same for the spasm thing.

May you be given a means of handling this both effectively and to give you peace Jackie.

Prayin,
Mark56

[Rrae]

I've posted a thread over on the PN forum regarding spasms because I recall they've got some good feedback regarding these things and I know there are certain supplements to combat spasms.
So, we'll see what they have to say

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Jackiey

Rae I did get some tablets from the Neurologist when I first met him, Valium, he said I might need them if I got spasms!! did he put a curse on me. But to be honest I dont want to start on Valium.

For spasm, you likely won't need to take them long enough to develop any kind of dependence. The spasm should resolve within a matter of days (if not less - sometimes hours). Dependence would typically take much longer.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000556/

Depending on what kind of spasm it is (smooth muscle or skeletal) your doctor may prescribe either a muscle relaxant or antispasmodic (can ya b'lieve it? ). Some of the more common/often prescribed ones include Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), Robaxin (Methocarbamol), and Soma (carisoprodol).

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antispasmodic
See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_relaxers

Supplements can help your body with resistance, but you can still get the occasional spasm, and if you do, I don't know that any supplement will release it, so it's probably be a good idea to have something from your doctor around anyway.

Google: spasm supplement

Doc

[Mark56]

Yep, it is special and so helpful for you to chime in here given Rae's clarion call on the PN forum! I have had all of the above, Flexeril being the most effective in my situation when I would resort to those little pills.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Mark56