Hi all.... I have a follow up with my family doctor on Monday for prescription refills, my biggest issue I have right now is these darn muscle spasm from the neck collar. They are brutal.

Currently I have been taking Norflex (100 mg) as a muscle relaxer to ease the spasms, I was wondering if anyone can offer any other suggestions that may work better. How about anything that works without making you so drowsy (or is that a given since it's a muscle relaxer).

I want to go into my appt. with an idea of what to ask for, my family doctor is usually pretty accomodating when I ask to try new things to get relief. What's worked for others?

Thank you, Cathie

I am still having issues with muscle spasms, tightness and knots in my shoulders and shoulder blades. I usually ice the areas and still back with my head on the recliner until I feel better. Next week will be 4 months post ACDF. I am getting pretty frustrated. Let me know how you are doing.

I'm sorry to hear you're still having these dreadful muscle spasms at the 4 month mark. I also sit back with my neck supported (I usually alternate ice and heat) and I take my brace off for a few minutes to get some relief, but sometimes they just don't want to go away.

I'm doing a little better, I'm able to get around the house on my own and shower on my own, but I"m still on some pain meds and still quite sore and achy. I don't have my follow up with my neuro until 8 weeks post op, so we'll see what he says at the end of April about getting this brace off.

I thought the brace caused the muscle spasms, but it sounds like you're getting them still without the brace. That's poopy... I hope we both start getting some relief soon!!
Take care, Cathie

I get the muscle spasms because I am probably doing too much. They usually happen after working on computer at school with the kids or marking too many papers. Stress also adds to the equation. When I am more stressed it ends up in my neck and shoulders. The weather also seems to play a part in how I am feeling. On the weekends when I do laundry or cleaning I have to take breaks, but at least I am somewhat able to do those tasks. My son still carries the laundry down 2 flights of stairs for me.

I am glad that I had a dr visits at 2 or 3 weeks and then again at 8 weeks. It is nice to be able to get some professional input. You are still early on and sounds like you are doing well. Getting around the house and showering are important parts of feeling better. I was lucky that I only had to wear a soft collar for 3 weeks. I still wear it when I sleep or get very sore. I only take narcotics or muscle relaxer once a week otherwise it is extra strength Tylenol.
Hopefully the weather improves so that you are able to get out and either sit in the sun or take enjoyable walks. It was so cold, snowy and nasty that I wasn't able to do that. My surgery was 12/9/2010. Hope that you are doing better each day.

Hi Cathie,

If there is one, I haven't found it yet. I've tried (at different times of course; combining is potentially fatal!) cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, diazapam, & Soma. They all seem to work pretty well, but it may be, as you say, the nature of the beast. Also, these kinds of drugs all seem to interact strongly with other meds, so that may be compounding the problem.

I use myofascial trigger point massage whenever possible (which often requires someone else to perform, depending on location), using a relaxer only as a last resort.

Communicate with your doc; be specific. There are lots of meds in the category, and we all respond differently.

Doc

There is a very simple and effective treatment for muscle spasms and sore muscles in general-magnesium.
Modern diets are very low in this and it is absolutely vital for muscles.
Do a bit of research if you like.
I can strongly recommend magnesium oil/ chloride. I take it diluted in water and swear by it.
The 'oil' is in fact only concentrated deep sea water rich in magnesium-nothing scary.
You can also get a powder which is not as fast acting, but don't waste money on pills as they are too weak.

The best suggestion I have is ICE. Yes indeed. Something that simple can make a huge difference. Unfortunately the results don't last that long, but at least it's non-invasive and can make the spasms disapate for a time. Being that it's such an easy thing to do I personally recommend it highly. Just lay down putting the ice on whatever part of your back the spasms are stemming from for about 20 minutes. Hopefully you'll be surprised at the results. Best of luck to you and all of us!

You're right, I spend hours rotating my magic bean bags from the freezer, and I alternate them with heat when the ice isn't cutting it anylonger. It helps for a short while, but in order to put ice or heat I have to take my neck brace off and sit back against pillows (I'm still required to wear my hard collar for at least 3 more weeks - my neuro believes in wearing them from 8-12 weeks). So the ice is great, but sometimes I have to walk around and do stuff too... I have kids, house, hubby, life goes on.

You are right, but I need something that can take the spasms away for sleeping and walking and such. I have found that Flexeril seems to work pretty good if I take it in the early evening (just after making dinner when I'm really getting sore). The spasms are at least held at bay so I can eat with my family, and they don't make me very drowsy which is also nice.

Thanks for your input. Sometimes the simplest things do work best!

you may want to try trigger point therapy on your muscle, I have had neck pain for 7 months, and now after 2 weeks of intensive trigger point therapy, my neck is great. I was very dubious when I started this, but now I am pretty much sold. at first, it did not help for about 4 days, and then the pain slowly went away ... there is a great book called trigger point therapy workbook by clair davies, very complete. I do the self massage with tennis ball in sock on wall, 6 to 8 times a day. I have also ordered a thera cane.
the best, is the feeling of the muscle relaxing, especially at bed time.
virginie

sounds very interesting, I do see a very good massage therapist that works on trigger points, it's been a little less since surgery because she has to have me sit up and wear my neck brace, so I've been saving my remaining coverage. But I like the idea of being able to use a ball at home. I have a small ball given to me by my massage therapist.

I will look into that book, thank you for the tip!!
I'm all for trying non-medicinal ways to treat pain.

Take care, Cathie