8 replies to this topic

[gsp23]

I didnt want to hijack the other post on bed restraints for spasms in bed, so I figured I would start a new one. My problem isnt a concern for kicking off the bedsheets so tying the legs together wouldnt solve my specific problem.

The issue that I have is when I am sleeping and have spasms, sometimes my legs somehow end up bent funny at the knee and that seems to cause me excruciating pain in my hip and lower back. I wake up with them bent and have horrible pain that does not go away all day which causes me to end up taking more pain medication. If I can manage to get a good nights sleep where they dont bend up funny like that then I am fine the next day. I dont know if its just some weird angle when they bend up that is causing some pressure that leads to the pain or what but I have this happen a couple times a week. The pain is not simple muscle pain, it is that horrible nerve pain (if it was muscle pain I could just deal with it probably) I keep telling my boyfriend that I just need braces or something on my legs to keep from doing this. Anyone else have this problem or have any thoughts on how to prevent my legs from getting all bent up funny?

[exojam]

I used to use the leg brace that folks with knee type of injuries use. Not sure how to desribe it but, it is white, sometimes it has a little hole where the knee cap is, usually four velcro straps that go around it. Try to picture a brace that maybe you would see someone wearing outside of their pants. I will see if I can find a picture online and put a link in.

Edited by exojam, 20 November 2006 - 12:10 PM.

[gsp23]

 exojam, on Nov 20 2006, 05:09 AM, said:

I used to use the leg brace that folks with knee type of injuries use. Not sure how to desribe it but, it is white, sometimes it has a little hole where the knee cap is, usually four velcro straps that go around it. Try to picture a brace that maybe you would see someone wearing outside of their pants. I will see if I can find a picture online and put a link in.

Thank you, if you find a link I would really appreciate it.

[Joed]

I have a problem with pain when I've slept with my body out of alignment. Even a slight twist in my body will cause excrutiating rebound pain when I get up. Typically, rebound pain doesn't hurt until you move out of a particular long-held position....then look out! And often that pain will stay with me throughout most of the day....it starts a slow, deep burn.

So even though I don't have the leg spasms in bed, I think I understand what you're talking about....it's just caused by different reasons. If my legs continually spasmed into a bent-knee position, and I tried to turn, even slightly, in my sleep...then it would cause a twist in my hips/spine. Titanium doesn't like that much, apparently.

I use a big bolster pillow to help keep my shoulders aligned with my hips...it doesn't always take care of the problem, but it does help. I can only lie on my sides, however, as it's too painful for me to lie flat on my back, due to the pseudomeningolycele.

I'm sorry I haven't been much help in trying to solve the leg spasm problem. The one suggestion I have would be to try and sleep on your stomach as much as you can tolerate it. (?) But I suppose that could still cause twisting, but maybe not as severe.

[gsp23]

 Joed, on Nov 20 2006, 10:27 AM, said:

I have a problem with pain when I've slept with my body out of alignment. Even a slight twist in my body will cause excrutiating rebound pain when I get up. Typically, rebound pain doesn't hurt until you move out of a particular long-held position....then look out! And often that pain will stay with me throughout most of the day....it starts a slow, deep burn.

So even though I don't have the leg spasms in bed, I think I understand what you're talking about....it's just caused by different reasons. If my legs continually spasmed into a bent-knee position, and I tried to turn, even slightly, in my sleep...then it would cause a twist in my hips/spine. Titanium doesn't like that much, apparently.

I use a big bolster pillow to help keep my shoulders aligned with my hips...it doesn't always take care of the problem, but it does help. I can only lie on my sides, however, as it's too painful for me to lie flat on my back, due to the pseudomeningolycele.

I'm sorry I haven't been much help in trying to solve the leg spasm problem. The one suggestion I have would be to try and sleep on your stomach as much as you can tolerate it. (?) But I suppose that could still cause twisting, but maybe not as severe.

Thanks for the tips, I might have to work with pillows as well. I actually do sleep on my stomach most of the time but my puppy sleeps with us now too (starting when i went into the hospital, I think my boyfriend was lonley without me in the king sized bed all by himself) and the sleeping position of her often pushes me onto my side. The spasms themselves dont really bother me all that much since I'm sleeping and dont notice it, but the resulting angle of the knee is the real killer.

[exojam]

This is pretty much what I was referring to. I just did a google search for knee brace.

http://cgi.ebay.com/...7QQcmdZViewItem

Edited by exojam, 20 November 2006 - 09:34 PM.

[gsp23]

 exojam, on Nov 20 2006, 02:34 PM, said:

This is pretty much what I was referring to. I just did a google search for knee brace.

http://cgi.ebay.com/...7QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks, that is along the lines of what I was thinking. I guess the bottom line is just to make sure that it is stiff enough that my knees wont continue to twist around in my dreams. For example, an ace bandage would be of absolutely no use since that has no resistance like the one you mentioned and link to. I will see if I can find any of these in local stores before I stat to scour the internet for pricing. Thanks again, this might be exactly what I was looking for.

[exojam]

The style I had, had three metal shafts in it. So it did keep my leg straight. I no longer use though since after my second flap surgrey I am either on my side or stomach when I sleep. Hope it works out.

[Shiraz]

 exojam, on Nov 21 2006, 01:06 AM, said:

The style I had, had three metal shafts in it. So it did keep my leg straight. I no longer use though since after my second flap surgrey I am either on my side or stomach when I sleep. Hope it works out.

I was in tears after going trough your problem question, at times I was thinking the world in which I am, does not exist anywhere else in the world. I am so much in pain day and night, by the way this are burning pains, which are very hard to tolerate. It has been 20 months since my injury, but everyday of my life feels like it has just happened yesterday, can anyone tell if this experience might suffice with time.

I am standing on my two legs, but can tell you now, its not an absolute feeling only an imagination of what life could have been with a paralyzed body, that does not endure pains. I keep my head high everyday, and thank almighty for I am not using wheelchair anymore.