I suffer from spasticity quite badly. If I forget my Baclofen, or even when I do take it, my spasms are crazy. The problem I have is that 75% of the spasms I get are tonic spasms, the kind where your muscle tenses up and doesn't let loose for up to 30 minutes. They're very very painful especially if I get one in a hypersensitive spot. The only things I have found to help eliminate these spasms are an activator (a device the chiropractor uses to get muscles to relax), hitting the muscle with my fist softly and quickly, and putting pressure on it with my hand or a wrap. Spasms are possibly the worst possible pain to have to endure, and they can be dangerous if they are clonic spasms. I've been thrown out of my chair a couple times and broke a toe because of them. I just thought I would share some of the little things I do to manage my spasms when my Baclofen is ineffective.
Post by kilg0retr0ut on Jun 23, 2014 5:26:19 GMT -8
Thanks Knight, I'd been calling them charlie horses. I've only had them bad once, and they sound different than those you describe. One night I was laying in bed and suddenly had six charlies in one leg and eight in the other, unlike a regular charlie they lasted longer than most. Very unpleasant.
Spasms are damn painful...i get them in my ankles..they twist and lock tight and my thighs...they are sooo painful. I normally have to get someone to help straighten my ankle for me until it releases and my thigh always happens in bed when im asleep
I had several spasms in my legs and feet this weekend that felt like something was crushing my foot and pulling up on the top of my big toe. No amount of rubbing the muscles or hot packs would break the spasms. They lasted for 30 or 40 minutes then stopped just as sudden as they started. I had to take double my usual flexeril dose to get things to calm back down.
Wow, seems like we all had quite a spastic weekend! truwrecks, Lαrα, & kilg0retr0ut, maybe you have been having sympathy spasms since I've been so nervous about my surgery!
Wow, seems like we all had quite a spastic weekend! truwrecks, Lαrα, & kilg0retr0ut, maybe you have been having sympathy spasms since I've been so nervous about my surgery!
I have both clonic and tonic spasms. The clonic are pretty well managed by low doses of Baclofen, but the tonic ones can keep me from getting out of bed for up to 2 hours. I use a Theracane to work out the tonic spasms, and it is effective in the shortest time with least exertion. www.theracane.com/
I have been prescribed Valium for my tonic spasms and can I say, GODSEND!! I always thought Valium was just for anxiety, but it does wonders on the meanest spasms I've ever had!
Using a Theracane does not require hard grip, just correct placement of body mass through placement of hands. Really, pretty intuitive how to use, but there are many YouTube vids to assist. It works literally in seconds once you get the hang of it. When my legs spasm into a locktight position, it does take more time to hit all the spots and unlock them. An amazing tool!