Today's Drs. Appt.

I asked about the TENS unit. She said it could help, or it could make no difference, or it could confuse my body even more.

She gave me a new muscle relaxer to try called Dantrolene. It's used in patients that have chronic spasticity (spasms) due to nerve disorders. (Like Cerebral Palsy, MS, that kind of thing)

Has anyone here ever been on it? I'd never heard of it before today. If so, what are your experiences with it?

Lexi,

I, too, would try the TENS. It's something that is easy to try.... and it could work.

I've never heard of that muscle relaxer either.... will be curious to see how it works for you.

I sure hope it helps you :)

--Tina

I use mine everyday along with an electrical blanket (20 minutes) and it helps a lot!!! I have cervical dystonia.

Well the muscle relaxer isnt used JUST for people with CP or MS, it just targets receptors that are helpful to those with nerve issues or disorders or those that have spasms chronically versus every once in a while. Since it seems like quite a few people here have nerve issues I figured I would ask if anyone else has had experience with it
.

My doc is going to look into the tens to see if she feels like it would help or hinder my specific case. It's still on the table for possible treatment.

Today was just my first time asking her if she thought it would be a possibility for me.

splash,

may check into that, I am for anything that might help me.

david

All I was trying to do was help you get to more people who may have heard of this medication...

So that is why I suggested the MS board on here as well as your friend DangerDash or others you all know with CP. It's just not a med that most of us have ever heard of...

Just trying to help:)

I don't mind being mentioned, but I'd like to *kindly* point out that just because Lex & I are "buddies" and just so happen to have CP, doesn't mean we're the exact same case. I haven't even heard of the current medication she's speaking of.

We have often been in similar situations to each other, but that doesn't mean we're surrounded by a buncha' Palsy patients. That's like assuming every brunette knows every other brunette. Cerebral Palsy isn't MS, and MS isn't Cerebral Palsy. The closest matching subject we have on here is "Chronic Pain", so this is where we fell.

Anyways...

I'd let the doctor think it over about the TENS unit. Glad to see it's on the table though. It would kinda' suck if you jumped into it and it 'confused' your body more. Did she elaborate on that any?

- Rainy/DD

I love my TENS, but it can cause crazy spasms as well. I was originally prescribed one to use for chest wall pain. I was in PT at the time but kept the unit when discharged. I've been in PT for over 2yrs straight at this point and we've used the TENS for various problems and locations. After the jaw replacement surgery, the dr and pt thought it might be helpful for the muscle spasms. I'd had Botox injections, been on Klonopin, and there was little improvement. We tried the TENS on a very very low pulse and HOLY COW-crazy muscle lock down. My whole head was turned sideways and chin forced down. Pain was nuts. PT got the machine off and electrodes removed and then massaged the muscles go they could relax enough for me to lift my head back up. PT said she'd never seen such a crazy quick reaction/spasm.

So-YES love my TENS unit and it is beneficial for most patients. It works by using the Gate theory. The brain can only receive so many signals at one time. The pulse from the TENS travels faster than a pain pulse which provides some relief. But-if your dr is concerned about the twitching and jumping becoming severe, definitely use it for the first time around someone who can help you out if an HOLY COW type of spasm should occur.

I'm curious about the new med. Please let me know if it helps. The only muscle relaxer that has provided any measurable type of relief was Klonopin, and that was pretty minimal. I wasn't comfortable taking it longterm. I hope you are able to get some relief.

Well I might as well give my two cents worth in this discussion, I have never had very good results with the TENS, for one thing if you have oily skin, or sweat allot you might have a difficult time keeping the electrode patches on. I have that problem especially in the summer. Of course you can use tape to hold them on, but I am allergic to most tapes as they make my skin blister. And I just never had any luck with them relieving my pain. Now I am not saying they do not work, as they do for some people just not for me. But they are pleasant if you like a nice muscle massage, and you have it set right. I guess the best thing to do, is try to rent one and try it out and see if it works for you.

As for your new med for spasms, everyone is so different and what will work for one person might not work at all for another, for the longest time Baclofen was use primarlily for MS patients, and now it is being used on allot of other patients that suffer with muscle spasms, they are also finding out that Baclofen is also extremely good at helping control pain, as a side benefit of taking it. I know I have been on allot of different antispasmodics and Baclofen has worked the best of any of them for me. LexiRae I will be curious to here how this Dantrolene works for you, so many times they find that medications that are used to treat certain diseases or conditions, also work very well in treating other conditions in other people. A good example of this is Mirapex which is actually a Parkinsons medication, but is very effective in the use of treating Restless Leg syndrome. So LexiRae I do hope you keep us informed of your progress or lack of it taking this medication! I do hope it works well for you!

White Beard