[363636]

Hello Everyone

I am currently suffering from SEVERE muscle spasms that have gradually gotten worse since I left the hopsital 2 months ago while my tailbone wound was healing. I have been prescribed, Marijuana, Baclafin, Valium, but none of them have helped. Now they want to prescribe Vicodin and I don't think it will help either.

1.) Can anyone recommend any other options?

2) I want to try accupuncture but Medi-Cal is currently looking for a provider for me. I live in So Cal so if anyone knows of anyone in the area that performs accupuncture locally AND takes Medi-Cal, please let me know.

Thanks,

Brenda

[The Quadfather]

Are You stiff all the time or do you just get bad spasms out of nowhere? Do You do range of motion. I know a lot of times when I start getting stiff if I stretch really good I'll loosen up. The more active I am the more loose I'll get too. Try a nice warm bath or shower too. But explain exactly you mean by bad spasms and I'll be more helpful with your exact symptoms. Are you getting a lot of swelling in your feet? Sometimes if you have too much edema you may get bad spasms due to your body trying to say HEY I'm hurting and you need to do something to stop this!!

Let me know what you are going through and I'll try to see what I can come up with for you. I hope I can help.

This post has been edited by The Quadfather: 29 September 2008 - 07:28 AM

[363636]

The Quadfather, on Sep 29 2008, 07:26 AM, said:

Are You stiff all the time or do you just get bad spasms out of nowhere? Do You do range of motion. I know a lot of times when I start getting stiff if I stretch really good I'll loosen up. The more active I am the more loose I'll get too. Try a nice warm bath or shower too. But explain exactly you mean by bad spasms and I'll be more helpful with your exact symptoms. Are you getting a lot of swelling in your feet? Sometimes if you have too much edema you may get bad spasms due to your body trying to say HEY I'm hurting and you need to do something to stop this!!

Let me know what you are going through and I'll try to see what I can come up with for you. I hope I can help.

Thank you so much for responding, Quadfather!

I get bad spasms as soon as I start moving. If I move in my chair to go to answer the phone, my body's jumping and it takes me a long time to get there. When my assistant tries to lift me, transfer ,dress me, changing my catheter bag (anytime I move), the spasms go off. The assistant still does the range of motion with no problem. When I take a shower (can't take a bath cuz I am tied to my chair), the spasms are bad, whether it is warm or not. I have to tie my legs and waist to the chair in order to sit OK in my bath/shower chair. It still does not work, as I start moving and I am out of my position. I have no swelling in my feet at all. I don't know what you mean by edema..do you mean enema?

Bad spasms means that the legs are jumping so that it's like a jolt and so severe that it pushes me out of my chair and I end up on the very edge of my cushion. Thanks again for your responses and I am hoping you ( and anyone else out there) can help.

[Califanna]

Have you gotten your urine checked? Bladder infections can produce these types of spasms. Also, if you have a hidden sore some where on your body. Anything, that disrupts your system will make your body react this way. We all have spasms, but I know in my case, it is usually telling me that something isn't right. One time I found out I had a kidney stone and sure enough when it was gone, everything went back to normal.

This post has been edited by Califanna: 30 September 2008 - 02:44 AM

[RONBATES#88]

TRY A BAKLFEN PUMP IT DRIPPES RIGHT ON YUR SPINAL CORD

[363636]

Califanna, on Sep 30 2008, 03:41 AM, said:

Have you gotten your urine checked? Bladder infections can produce these types of spasms. Also, if you have a hidden sore some where on your body. Anything, that disrupts your system will make your body react this way. We all have spasms, but I know in my case, it is usually telling me that something isn't right. One time I found out I had a kidney stone and sure enough when it was gone, everything went back to normal.

Thanks, Califanna! My urine has been checked and there's not a problem. As far as a hidden sore, it's probably a good idea that I get that checked out so thanks for the suggestion!

RONBATES#88, on Sep 30 2008, 04:27 AM, said:

TRY A BAKLFEN PUMP IT DRIPPES RIGHT ON YUR SPINAL CORD

Thanks, Ronbates for your suggestion. I will have to think about this one. Thank you very much, though.

[The Quadfather]

You basically need to check for anything that may be wrong or causing pain to your body. Ingrown toenails, bladder problems, bowel impaction, sores of any kind, cushion problems. If you use a ROHO make sure it is inflated properly. Think about anything you can. Have some one check out where you had the sore before to make sure it's not coming back. As far as drugs go, if it turns out you have no problems and your body is just getting spasms with out any of the above reasons you may need to explore the Baclofen pump option. Let me ask this? When you were taking Baclofen before how many mg were you on, how many times a day were you taking it and long did you try it for? If you want I will call you and talk to you about it. Just send your phone # to me at Plsegal@juno.com and I'll get back to you right away.

[noles1984]

363636, on Sep 28 2008, 06:46 PM, said:

I was prescribed Vicodin (hydrocodone) and it works for me by relaxing some pain which spasms cause. Trying hydrocodone is an option. It doesn't make me sleepy or slow and may help until you find a better remedy.