Hi guys. I tried a little Baclofen once but it was useless. I'm already so weak and fatigued that I'm not prepared at this time to take what would probably be a large dose to be effective. The Dr has also suggested injections of Botulinum toxin directly into my legs. Anyone any experience of this? Apparently it takes a few weeks to reach peak relief but can last 3 months?I. I think this would be better for me. I've endured leg spasms for probably almost two decades. For the most part they have been more akin to twitching but are much worse last year or so. Quite jerky and more powerful. Certainly disturbes my sleep. Not painful as such but really irritating and annoying.
sup from a newbie; T5/T6. i have had these ever since i have been disabled and there are a few things that i Must do to keep them down. if you have run through the common reasons spasms flare up you might want to think about these:
if you can lift weights do so. i have to lift weights, there is no option. of course the only really heavy compound movement i can do is the bench but the heavier and intense the workout the more relaxed my legs become. working out keeps my UTI's at bay for up to a week or even more if i'm not cheating on my diet; cuts down the over night leaks as well. that is my main stay with working out but i have routines for back, shoulders, arms, etc.
the next is shaving my entire lower body... everywhere. i was having spasms/pains in my legs and was rubbing them and the hair felt like a wire brush as i ran my hand across them. i grabbed a razor and after shaving my legs fail right to sleep it felt so good. when i woke up i thought if it felt that good why not finish the job.. been shaving ever since. as soon as the fire-up feelings start i shave and it calms them down; strange but those hairs are irritating your legs like folded sheets, blah blah. that being said you have to be careful for obvious reasons. yet, it works for me and might be an option worth pursuing for quality of life.
when it's cool your skin dries out so rub lotion on your feet and legs. if you are having pains etc. look at your feet, if they are white put some lotion on. i do most everyday but will skip if i can. i don't like doing it but those pain/spams are worse.
next is keeping them toe nails clean and short. that is a oldie but if you haven't done so, clip and clean them toe nails.
cut off the buttons, belt loops, and pockets off your pants. might work well for those that have to wear pants for work, school, etc. i wear cheap slacks because the material is softer.
there are other things that i do but are more related to diet and everyone is Way different in that area. hope this helps someone.
the next is shaving my entire lower body... everywhere. that being said you have to be careful for obvious reasons.
I have Remington electric razor with an odd, pop-out thing on it that shaves longer hairs without having to shave super close. Your solution makes sense to me and must have been one of those inspired, intuitive moments. You seem to be doing fine with your present strategy.
sup from a newbie; T5/T6. i have had these ever since i have been disabled and there are a few things that i Must do to keep them down. if you have run through the common reasons spasms flare up you might want to think about these:
if you can lift weights do so. i have to lift weights, there is no option. of course the only really heavy compound movement i can do is the bench but the heavier and intense the workout the more relaxed my legs become. working out keeps my UTI's at bay for up to a week or even more if i'm not cheating on my diet; cuts down the over night leaks as well. that is my main stay with working out but i have routines for back, shoulders, arms, etc.
the next is shaving my entire lower body... everywhere. i was having spasms/pains in my legs and was rubbing them and the hair felt like a wire brush as i ran my hand across them. i grabbed a razor and after shaving my legs fail right to sleep it felt so good. when i woke up i thought if it felt that good why not finish the job.. been shaving ever since. as soon as the fire-up feelings start i shave and it calms them down; strange but those hairs are irritating your legs like folded sheets, blah blah. that being said you have to be careful for obvious reasons. yet, it works for me and might be an option worth pursuing for quality of life.
when it's cool your skin dries out so rub lotion on your feet and legs. if you are having pains etc. look at your feet, if they are white put some lotion on. i do most everyday but will skip if i can. i don't like doing it but those pain/spams are worse.
next is keeping them toe nails clean and short. that is a oldie but if you haven't done so, clip and clean them toe nails.
cut off the buttons, belt loops, and pockets off your pants. might work well for those that have to wear pants for work, school, etc. i wear cheap slacks because the material is softer.
there are other things that i do but are more related to diet and everyone is Way different in that area. hope this helps someone.
Good first post ezcondition, I lift weights also, makes a huge difference.
I have Primary Progressive MS, lost the use of my legs and in a powerchair 24/7. Spasm is a part of life now. My legs are very sensitive to touchdown or movement, they stick out straight and very hard to bend. PT seems to worsen them due to my sensitivity, but I need the movement. Stopped taking bacofen, didn't like.
I take 10,000 units of vitamin D3, magnesium, and multiple-vitamins, and Advil. A small amount of chocolate helps as well. Fried foods, Chinese food, soy sauce and salt worsen my spasms. Eating salads, fruit, fish and vegetable diet helps. Cold and hot weather effect my spasms. But nighttime lessens my spasms. Seasonal change my legs swell where I need to use a lymphedema compression machine.
Chocolate? I like you!
I take a muscle relaxer, but I do think that once we have been on a certain medication for a while, we build up a resistance to it. Pass the chocolate please!
Ladylimpsalot1, that's funny, I am a bad one for chocolate too. Although I did do my part, I only eat the dark chocolate now. I use to love the chocolate covered peanuts and raisins.
www.fast-growing-trees.com/Chocolate-Cocoa-Plant.htm "Aside from its visual beauty, there are many reasons you'll want to include the Chocolate Plant in your garden or landscape design plans. To start, there are numerous health benefits derived from the plant's fruit.
Studies suggest that eating chocolate every day can have a positive impact on lowering blood pressure. And cocoa powder, made by fermenting the plant's cocoa beans, is said to help ward off heart disease. Not only that, the bean can be used to make cocoa butter, a rich moisturizer that helps skin stay hydrated and look younger."
Post by fishkybizniz on Jul 7, 2017 10:25:36 GMT -8
Yep, I'm a member of the spasm club. Wow! That's a lot of Baclofen! Keep in mind muscle relaxers work on all muscles. Involuntary like heart, lungs, bottom of esophagus etc. Less of that with signal blockers like AMITRIPTYLINE, VENLAFAXINE, GABAPENTIN work well. OXYBUTYNIN is good if you have bladder spasms. LIDOCAINE Topical 4% Cream is good. A powerful long stem massager so you can reach back muscles without help and lastly, do you live in a State that's legalized medical marajuna? If so, try Cheba Chew CBD (purple box). Chop into 8 squares and take with your medication schedule. CBD will not get you high. I'm so sorry you're suffering through this. It's coming from the same area of the brain that stirs up labor pain to have a baby, so believe me, we spastics genuinely care you get it smoothed out. ❤️
Just 3 months since my injury and I am enduring spasticity. For me it is through the night. Every time I change sleeping position my back and arms go into spasms, sometimes it travels into my legs. They can be painful especially if the spasm forces my wrists back too far. I get up and out of bed in the morning just to stop the spasms. I also experience them if sitting in one position for a long time and then getting up.
I’m not on any medications for spasticity. I appreciate the different remedies posted here. I think the stretching and exercise is a good place to start.
Treeguy, if you want to go a non-prescription route, take Kratom. One level teaspoon of this powder in a half cup of water, let stand a few minutes, then stir and drink. In about fifteen minutes it kicks in. Stops most pain and I think it reduces spasms. I have clonus, a very annoying, involuntary kicking. In my case, it's my stump that kicks. With Kratom, ithe stump sort of forgets to kick. Buy Green Malay or Maeng Da to get started.
I am a c4/c5 incomplete quad. I'm on 40mg of baclofen 4 times a day, 4mg of zanaflex, and 25mg of dantrolene 4 times a day. So a pretty substantial amount of meds for spasms. Lately my spasms have gotten a lot more frequent and a lot more violent. I don't have a UTI and I'm not constipated. I don't have any sores (thank God). So, all of the obvious culprits have been checked out. What are some other reasons you guys have increased spasms and what are some ways you guys help to control them? Thanks in advance!
I recently had a setback much as you describe. My doctor said it was a flare up. He had me take Baclofen 3xday for a couple of weeks. I think a project I was working wherein I repeated a twisting movement caused it. Keeping my muscles stretched,ice packs or my massager are my non medication remedies.