Spasms that never end, any suggestions

Hi Rose,

I just wrote you a little note on the Survivors thread... but I'm sorry about your spams. I get those too and it's so dreadfully painful. Is the flexeril helping you at all? My muscle relaxer does help - but not completely.

I do all sorts of things for these darn spasms. Sometimes heat and/or ice helps me. I have lidocaine patches. When it's super painful... I pay the younger boys to rub my back, lol. I've been known to roll around on a tennis ball (or other hard ball) - because it helps break up the spasm a bit..... hey, it looks crazy - but when you are hurting - you do what you have to do, right? :)

I will pray for you Rose... I know how painful those spasms are... and I haven't had surgery on my back. I can only imagine. Let us know how your surgeon appt. goes.

Take good care - Tina

Hi Rose, something to consider is trigger point injections, those work great for me when I get where you are. I also use hot packs and get husband to put Tiger Balm on me then put the heat pack over it.

There has got to be a way for you to get some relief. Take care....Susie

I forgot about trigger point injections, Rose. I get those, too - like Susie. I've had them work wonders... other times, not so much. But worth a try!

Hi Rose,

I know you are suffering so and I am so sorry to see that!!  I had hoped you were going to be our best success yet.

Anyway, I had the same procedure done and I UNDERSTAND the spams.  I had them when I had my surgery done, 4 or so years ago, and I have them now.  For me, Soma was the BEST overally muscle relaxer. It really worked, however, it is not FDA approved for long term use.  So, now I use Robaxin, which helps some, but no where near as well as the Soma.  The Soma, does give a "high" type of feeling occasionally......so I'm glad they pulled me off of it before I decided I liked it too much to just put down the bottle I had left.

Anyway, I use Biofreeze.  You can get it from your local PT or can buy it online or over the phone.  Don't bother with the drug store variety because it is NOT the same.  Even the lidocaine patches that helped one of our members would not touch the spams, but the biofreeze will.  I ordered the gallon jug because it was way cheaper in the long run and I promise it helps more than my tens or anything else!

Lastly, the trigger point injections have worked surprisingly well for me.  I was honestly a non-believer, but did the injections to "please" my PM.  Turns out they were right.  The NP explained it to me by saying the Marcaine they inject breaks the spam in the specific muscle.  I can honestly say that has been true for me.

Until you can get to the Dr (and having your hubby drive is honestly essential IMHO), please considere a warming blanket (like Sunbeam).  They get as hot as my heating pad and cover more area.  I use it almost every morning to break the morning spasms and then again at night to ease the muscles down before sleep.

Good luck my friend.

oops....forgot the reflux..

zantac 150 (OTC) is a really good med. I use dexilant (prescription) and suplement with zantac 150 per my Dr's instructions. I did have the surgery for the reflux, but it failed....imagine that :(

Anyway, you can take two different kinds of acid relievers (so long as the Dr Ok's it) and it will work on different areas of acid. We were going to have to do more surgery until I started on the zantac at night, with the dexilant daytime and tums as needed.

Retiredmom,

I think - as w/ all meds - the effects of soma vary from person to person. I've been on it for a few years now... and can take up to 4 a day (although I frequently take less). For me, it's the one medication that actually works the best for my muscle spasms, w/out the side effects of drowsiness, a drugged feeling, etc.

The FDA "recommends" that it be used for short-term use, as it "can" cause (quoting) - "dependence, withdrawal and abuse". That being said... the FDA website says the same thing regarding a whole slew of meds.

As White Beard said - give me flexeril, though - and I'm as drugged as can be. It's funny how we are all so different....

Anyway, I know many people do experience the side effects you describe from it... but just wanted to share another perspective.

--Tina

I am home again and the surgeon said all the hardware is exactly where he put it. The spasms should go away as soon as I start PT. He said the flexerel is a good med he felt I needed something more to help. He prescibed liquid valium but my pharmact said they can not get it so subbed diazepam.

Susie my pharmacy said they can not get it at all. By the time I need a refill I will call the pharmacy right under my surgeons office to see if they have it.

I tried half a pill 4 hours ago and I fell asleep and my body wants more sleep so I might have to give in. Thank you

oh and Valium IS diazepam that's it's real name lol.

I am sleeping a lot, glad to know that Valium and diazepam are the same thing so the only diffence is they gave me 10mg and dr said 5 in liquid form so I am cutting the 10's in half as per pharmacy instructions. My spasms are gone but as soon as the med wears off the spasm begins again. It's kind of strange but my daughter suggested lemon juice in water for the heartburn and that seems to be working.

Momto8,

I just got a chance to read the thread again. Please don't think I was knocking Soma. It works great, but my PM recently got audited and changed EVERY patient that was on it to Baclofen/Robaxin and then others as they were able to take them. The didn't even give the patients warning and when I asked, they exact statement made was that the FDA does not recommend long term use of Soma, so the Dr was changing everyone to another medication. Apparently it was due to the audit.

I am happy that Soma helps you and I agree that the other muscle relaxers don't touch the spasms like Soma did, but was saying that it was a medication I would have a great deal of difficulty doing without. It was honestly quite difficult to just stop taking it cold turkey. I even have a large bottle of it left here in my safe....just in case there is an emergency when nothing else helps. So far, I've just been able to live with my spasms using other methond and other muscle relaxers. Zanaflex is another that works wonderfully, but I can't use it because it makes my throat feel like it's closing up. Otherwise, I would be asking for that one.

I would sincerely suggest that you be as prepared as possible about the PM pulling Soma from your meds. I was also told by one of the nurses that they are "after" Soma like they were with the Oxycontin. I personally never took oxycontin (just oxycodone) but she was just talking and I hope you will never have to face loosing a med that works so well for you.

Good luck my friend.

Steven....What type of therapist are you? A licensed one that performs Physical Therapy or Psychology?

Considering you say you were injured on a construction site...I am curious about this.

Or are you calling yourself a "therapist" who does this EFT for others?

You have been asked a few times to post your own thread with an introduction so that we can get to know you better if you are truly wanting to be a part of this community.

And being part of this community means not trying to keep luring people off this site to promote this EFT as you've mentioned it in every single post.

You have also not respected others with their choice of medical treatment.

I have no problem with people who find things to help with their pain....what I have trouble with is when people throw around medical "terms" like therapist which is insinuaiting that you have actual medical knowledge.

Obviously your herniated discs were not that bad that they didn't need surgical intervention to take the pressure off the spinal cord which is great. And that all of your issues have been helped just by "thinking them away" with positivity.

This is not going to be the case for most people. As I wrote earlier on another thread...having a positive attitude will absolutely help emotionally "deal" with chronic pain...But it doesn't "cure" anything. Everyone should always seek an actual Medical Dr. to get proper diagnosis and treatment.

We are just asking that you please stop telling people they are somehow "weak" or wrong by doing this.