5 replies to this topic

[hannibal]

So its been over a little 2 months since my spine surgery. I have gain movement back but feel my spasms and spacisity have gotten worse. My legs will often shake in the morning or when I get dress, this did not happen when I was in rehab. Often when I go lie down its hard for me to get my legs down. Im wondering if I have encountered more problems. Looking for suggestions. I already take baclofen and zanaflex.

[Vanessamaee]

I have severe spasms. To the point where my legs would lock up while I was rolling causes me to fall out, stick straight out during a transfer causesing me to fall and anytime I change positions... from sitting to laying down or any thing of that sort they absolutley freak out. Also if some besides myself touches them, they spasm bad as well. I recently have developed clonus too. Everytime I take my foot of my foot plate and out it on the floor is starts up really bad. They will get worse (trust me Im 7 months in! I NEVER had spasms while I was in the hospital). I refused to take anything for them. I wanted to be all natural and not use any drugs. I took showers, I streched, I rode the fes bike (would gave me relief for a couple of hours, but then they came back just as strong if not stronger) and would even massage them. I finally gave in a listened to my doctor and pretty much everyone else, and started taking Zanaflex. I now take 6mg at night and 4mg in the morning... but this is just because my body poorly tolerates medicine and when I first started at 2mg a day, it knocked me out lol so Im slowly building up. Zanaflex is not as potent as Baclofen (atleast thats according to my doctor) so maybe you need to increase your dose of Baclofen? or Zanaflex... but remember the most zanaflex your suppose to take is 36mg (once again, according to my doctor) a day.... I also know lots of people see relief with baclofen pumps. and I believe there is a couple of other prescribed medications you could take... like Gabapentin (but dont quote me on that one because Im not exactly sure. Talking to your Neuro would be a good idea

[hannibal]

Yea I have been back and forth about the pump, not sure if I wanna have another surgery. Do you know serious the surgery is for the pump?

[Vanessamaee]

I have its not very serious... but I am not for sure. I think it may just be a couple of days in the hospital??? But from what Ive heard it is nothing extreme...

[randomryan007]

I have bad spazums. I hate it. but happens. I really try not to move my legs in public because they will spaz. I use to punch my legs out of fustration. when I lay in bed and relax they seem to get worse. I was on gabapintin and ended up in the hospital. althou I know many people who take it and have no problems. talk to your nuero and see what they have to say.

Edited by randomryan007, 15 December 2011 - 12:24 AM.

[Zack]

I only had minor spasms that didn't start until 4 months after my SCI. They stayed minor until 1 year after SCI, when out of no where my knees would fly at rapid speed right up to my chin, then shoot my legs straight.
I was taking every spasm medication they knew of, Max dosage with no signs of them helping.
One night the evening Head nurse got the idea to get 2 more nurses to hold my legs down straight while she tied a bed sheet to the left & right bed frame going across my knees to hold my legs down. After she tied a tight enough knot, she said ok, you can get off his legs they were laying across while she tied the sheet. Less then 10 seconds after they had their body weight off my legs I had a spasm. With knees tied, unable to rise up, my abdomen tightened up with enough force that I did a sit up and fell over sideways to be caught by 1 of the nurses. End of tying my legs down!

It was about 4 1/2 years after my SCI that they settled down enough for me to lay on my back for the first time since my knees first started kicking me in the face!

My only suggestion is to be patient!
Stay strong minded!
Your spasms should calm down with time. How much time varies from one SCI to another!

Sorry I couldn't really be of help!