14 replies to this topic

[Tyra]

So my bf gets spasms a lot. Not sure if medication is being used for them, but usually when there is anxiety or he is laying in bed, he gets them. Anyways, how do you "stop" them from happening or lessen them once they occur? They kinda freak me out!

[pelle]

Good one! Im kinda new to this (5 months post injury) and recently ive experienced more spasms. They happen when im doing a lot with my upper body.
Last weekend i fell out of my chair when i was reaching at something. Im a T1 so i have very limited trunk control and i landed on the floor. Not sure why this happens..

[Smileyblue]

Spasms are a curse! Sadly, there's nothing you can do to "stop" them from happening.. Unless the medications work for you (tablets or a pump), or you undergo a successful DREZ surgery, they're gonna be there.. You just have to learn to get used to them..

There are some things that can lessen or ease them, like warm showers and stretching.. There have been quite a few threads on how to ease them a bit.. Perhaps also try the search function.. ;-)

[pinkcloud]

Tyra, on 19 July 2011 - 01:47 PM, said:

So my bf gets spasms a lot. Not sure if medication is being used for them, but usually when there is anxiety or he is laying in bed, he gets them. Anyways, how do you "stop" them from happening or lessen them once they occur? They kinda freak me out!

Hi Tyra

I agree I know others see me legs going mad and they are like 'ohhh good shite', I say 'hey they dont hurt, just look scary and they are keeping me muscles strong'.

In fact...I do spaaz competitions with some of m friends and me kids...see who can 'shake that thang' the fastest, we go into fits og giggles..no one wins me and they have to shake their whole body, arms flapping everything'.

On a serious note, they have a nasty side...evil pain that i can only describe to you as 'when you as an ab gets stitch after running too quick or when swimming'. Except much worse. Only a cold compress, a massage, can help..i too find anxiety sets them off..why I aint got a clue.

Medication like Baclofen can help..other tablets i have is clorazepam but man..these knock me out and i dont like them. but do take them at major spaz time or else i sit there sobbing like a baby. And that takes a lot.

Botox is also a god send.

I suppose spaz is really one of the few major ways that show the extent of how nasty sci is in our body, the rest not very visible.

Please do mention them to the doctor, mine are so bad me toes are all bent up like they are broken and or as me friend essslouis says 'move like piano keys'.

And hey..its ok to be scared about sci..its a scary thing...yet together you can comfort each other and as terrible texan says...'dont let what you cant control, control you'.

[esslouis]

i can feel for him - i'm having bad muscle spasms and mine also are at night. i've kicked and flicked the dog that often he can now stay asleep while it happens!!! i use baclofen and last night i had a spasm free night which was a blessing. as pink says the frozen veg approach works quite well just remember to change the veg before it defrosts otherwise you will be eating a lot of veggie dishes!!!!! my toes are like playing the piano at 100mph and nothing stops them once they start and i can even scissor kick which i can't usually!! all i can say is put some padding on and go for the ride. good luck and def see the doc esslouis

[Jeanette]

I was at dentist yesterday, I had horrible spasms in my left leg is went crazy
I thought it was related to the novacaine the dentist gave me 5 shots of it because my mouth kept waking up while he was working on my tooth.
But today while at PT my left leg was shaking like a leaf and didn't stop. Then it started going to my right leg
Now I don't think it was related to the novacaine.
I ha e appointment with my rehab/SCI specialist on Aug 24.
Has anyone had a reaction to novacaine or spasms or is this just part of my injury.
Jeanette

[Apparelyzed]

Spasticity can be triggered by anxiety, stress and lack of sleep.

It doesn't always mean there is some impending health issue, but that is something you are able to read as you get to know your body over time.

Simon

[Millard]

Jeanette, on 17 August 2011 - 02:54 AM, said:

I was at dentist yesterday, I had horrible spasms in my left leg is went crazy
I thought it was related to the novacaine the dentist gave me 5 shots of it because my mouth kept waking up while he was working on my tooth.
But today while at PT my left leg was shaking like a leaf and didn't stop. Then it started going to my right leg
Now I don't think it was related to the novacaine.
I ha e appointment with my rehab/SCI specialist on Aug 24.
Has anyone had a reaction to novacaine or spasms or is this just part of my injury.
Jeanette

Hello Tyra and Jeanette,

Tyra: Please don't tell your boyfriend he freaks you out with spasms. From experience I can tell you, the harder we try to prevent them, the worse they will be. He is under a superhuman amount of pressure as he struggles trying to live daily with the pain and aggravation of spasms. He also wants to be a good mate for you which creates a great deal of pressure in itself. I know because I got married 3 years after my injury. Someone mentioned about kicking their dog... I used to do the same with my wife but she soon learned how close to "not" get when sleeping.

Jeanette: I went to a dentists in Atlanta about 3 years post. He was using a pick and "hurt me" big time. My knees came up and kicked all his tray with all his instruments on the floor and triggered spasms in my legs, hands and abdomen. I must have been his first SCI because it scared him badly and he thought I was going to die. He finally put me on nitrogen which did wonders to settle me down. Every visit after that, even if he was doing no work and just looking, he would put the mask on me with nitrogen. Yes, pain will and still results in severe spastic reaction.

Welcome to our world!!!

PS: Ditto on what Simon said above!

Edited by Millard, 26 August 2011 - 10:01 PM.

[Jeanette]

Apparelyzed, on 17 August 2011 - 09:09 AM, said:

Spasticity can be triggered by anxiety, stress and lack of sleep.

It doesn't always mean there is some impending health issue, but that is something you are able to read as you get to know your body over time.

Simon

Thank you Simon.
I am trying to learn to read my body and And thank you for fixing the website!
Jeanette

[Jeanette]

Millard, on 26 August 2011 - 09:59 PM, said:

Jeanette, on 17 August 2011 - 02:54 AM, said:

I was at dentist yesterday, I had horrible spasms in my left leg is went crazy
I thought it was related to the novacaine the dentist gave me 5 shots of it because my mouth kept waking up while he was working on my tooth.
But today while at PT my left leg was shaking like a leaf and didn't stop. Then it started going to my right leg
Now I don't think it was related to the novacaine.
I ha e appointment with my rehab/SCI specialist on Aug 24.
Has anyone had a reaction to novacaine or spasms or is this just part of my injury.
Jeanette

Hello Tyra and Jeanette,

Jeanette: I went to a dentists in Atlanta about 3 years post. He was using a pick and "hurt me" big time. My knees came up and kicked all his tray with all his instruments on the floor and triggered spasms in my legs, hands and abdomen. I must have been his first SCI because it scared him badly and he thought I was going to die. He finally put me on nitrogen which did wonders to settle me down. Every visit after that, even if he was doing no work and just looking, he would put the mask on me with nitrogen. Yes, pain will and still results in severe spastic reaction.

Welcome to our world!!!

PS: Ditto on what Simon said above!

Millard,
Thank you for sharing your story. It makes me feel better. And I understand why things are happening and knowing I'm not alone in my body's reaction to pain and how spasms fit it.
Thank you
Jeanette

[Muskie]

Does any sort ot accupressure work on spasms? When my son gets them in his hands he presses his thumb of the opposite hand into his palm directly below the middle finger and the hand immediately relaxes, also I notice if I massage above his knee when the legs start the tremors seem to not be as intense. anything to this or am I just peeing into the wind.

[Canuck Jason]

I was told I had completely severed my spinal chord but I get muscle spasms ALL the time (Weird, I know) I actually like getting them, not so much when my legs fight me, but I truly think they have helped keep from losing all of my muscle mass. Is it in my head? I have been injured for almost 15 years and I still have a butt and my legs still have some muscle to them.

[megatrig]

Spasm is an odd one!

Some spinal injuries get spasms some don't!

You can use them. They can help with transfers. They maintain tone in muscles. Lots of things are "ok" about them. Or not a problem.

If they become to severe. Meaning you can't move or transfer, etc then it usually means drugs to "relax" your legs.

You can find other ways of dealing with them without drugs................ kind of!

Positioning. So spasm kicks off. Yo twist to one side or another. You bend your leg slightly.

I recal becoming stiff and uncomfortable so I used to flick my legs off my fottplate, stretch out and spasm a tad. Then sit up in m y chair properly. A bit like someone having a good stretch after sitting still for a long time. Which is basically what we do!

Just take time to see how it goes. DON'T RUSH FOR DRUGS IF YOU CAN AVOID IT!!!

[Rdaysha]

Robaxin 500 mg has helped me tremendously. I was taking baclofen which was not compatible with me functioning. Baclofen side effects ate nasty and it did not help my spasm.

[InkyPinky]

I've just been given 750mg of robaxin to take 3 times a day. Is that a really high dose to start off with? I don't want to feel spaced out constantly!