Has anyone experienced this?

In the beginning on and parathesis were my symptoms. I just had a bout of spasticity for the first time. I had experienced small isolated things prior to this.

It began with muscle cramps in my right leg making me jump out of bed. After about 3 days of this I developed a more defined or (extra) visible muscle on that leg.

Not the most horrible thing, but the next few days things changed greatly. I was watching tv one night when my legs from the knees down began to cramp and draw by the shins. My feet turned inward facing each other and it was a bit painful, but more scary than severe.

The next morning I awoke to excrutiating pain in my back, and not able to bend forward. Not even to sit on the toilet to (pee). I took a bacoflen to see if there was anyway this was a muscle thing and true to form i could finally ease forward. The pain was immediately gone and it really taught me how much a muscle in that area could hurt as much as the bone itself.

Then that day I spent with fatigue, legs cramping and this is the part I'm concerened about: with every muscle aching. Each one. Even my neck muscles in front of my throat hurt. By the next morning several muscles that hadn't cramped were sore like they were bruised. When I went to look at them , they were fine looking. Still feel like they are bruised. I understand I am in episode w/spasticity, however is it common to have that many muscles become involved? Even the ones in my stomach were much like false labor contractions.  I felt suddenly like I was neuromuscular and would of doubted MS except for the heat sensitivity and the On.

Is this normal or rather I mean is this some of the abnormal ways spasticity can do to you? Anyone else had this happen to this many muscle groups?

The ones that felt bruised were on forearm and underneath my arm before you get down to the elbow.

thanks

Kiera

Thank you, and yes it is continuing with an increase of symptoms not incurred before. Some of the fatigue and heat sensitivity are present as well as a dull ache behind the eye that has the paleness. This time the other eye has the dull ache.

We had agreed not to intervene unless the eyes were involved as far as steroids. The last time I saw him I asked him how much neurontin I should be taking as the larger hospital I went to for dignosis said that I was only on an 1/8 of the amount of meds that I could/should be on. He replied with No, you'll be admitted. The problem with this, is that I had also told him they had warned agains't the overuse of steroids unless the eyes became involved (may sound contradictary). The eyes are not what I would call full fleged, meaning they are not blurry.

I will contact him though to find out about an increase or proper dose. I was warned Id feel loopy on 1/2 of a 10mg bacoflen and to slowly decrease it. It took a whole one from the beginning to ease any of it.

Question for you? You mention the diaphram. I am finding trouble breathing as far as feeling as if Im having to take "voluntary" breaths. It really is tiresome and my chest hurts at the end of the day. It's possible that this is from my mind only I suppose. I will say that it's still Scary to me. Does spasticity hurt the diaphram to the degree of me not being able to breathe? Or is it more cramps that occur in this area it's usual presentation.Im r & r Ms.

I became used to going through the exacerbations at home and fail to recognize at times when it's a more severe one as symptoms with MS can be so intermittent through each day. So different from day to day. This has been going on for about 5 days and its never happened before. So I do see this as an exac.


Thanks for responding,

Kiera

You were right. I did call and report this after reading your post. The doctor will call me back and she (his nurse)  is pulling the chart to note that I'm in exacerbation w/spasticity. I'm actually relieved at your post as that is how I had begun to describe it. I'd said, "I'll end up going in for a heart attack" haha. Your right, with all the other spastcity it makes sense. It's one thing to read it but another to have felt it and then recognize it as such.


I appreciate you taking the time to answer this as I feel much much less afraid.


thanks
Kiera

it's nice to meet you Gretchen. I did see your post about your toes. Sorry to hear about it , Ive had some spreading of them and quite frankly its freaky looking.

How did you feel about the Botox? I've had it in my forhead for vanity reasons. I should've known that I'd need it later for playing with vanity uh? nah....jk.
I've read that it's pretty effective and they are trying to use it earlier in hopes of delaying some damage spasticity does to our stiff walking. Did you think it worked well?


Thanks about the evolution thread. I have my moments that I am frightened. Especially if they are new symptoms that I cannot at least identify. Once I know what they are I then know how I'll manage them and move onward.

I think keeping humor in your life is very important also. Uppity's example of Aunt Sadie cracked me up :grin:

Seems like a nice board with alot of good information. I'm glad to see that someone is using the botox as you can let others know if you feltl it effective or not. So much better when everyone can add ideas for managing what we deal with.


Thanks for the welcome.


Kiera

I do plan on speaking to my neuro about his feelings of botox. The reason is I wish to make sure that he is aggressive about his methods. They are (ive read) trying to handle it more agressively much earlier as I stated. They feel this may delay walking disability.

My neuro is learning as he goes and largely from me. The top hospital I went to taught me quite a bit which allowed me to update him about what they are doing now. He was very very open to all of it.

Have you ever had a toothache feeling in your leg from thigh down? I have a knee that has osteoarthritis in it, i'm not sure if that is causing it or a duel with spasticity and the bad knee. It's exactly like a huge toothache. Wasn't sure last night whether to take neurontin, or baclofen. I ended up waiting and it did leave thankfully. So it would of been a false idea had I taken one of the two meds. I would've thought they were the reason it stopped.

May I ask what medicines you are on daily? I'd just like to make sure that I'm aware of all that is offered for our condition.

I'm on 3x neurontin per day , 300mg ( I do not take this unless in attack). I see no reason and do not wish to develop a tolerance. It has no benefit when not symptomatic. I just began the 10mg baclofen x 3 per day. Copaxone sub q as you are also. Folic acid and B12 shots monthly. I was anemic for quite some time. Eye drops for genetic eye condition that flares when Ms does. Optho thinks that its due to corneas being very sensitive to nerve endings.

That is about all the meds other than ones i have prn for ibs, hiatial hernia, and im to take motrin when chostrachondritis kicks in. (cartlige where ribs meet in center of chest swells).


My last ekg was abnormal with a normal echo. They admitted me saying it was cardiac but released me the next day with belief that chostrachondritis was why i had chest pain. Ekgs have been changing but they explained this can happen due to chronic disease.

I insisted (they are not easily gotten) a pet scan as I was fearful of cancer. I had began having bone pain on top of all of this other. Now I have osteo that had not been symptomatic until the past 6 months. It basically put my fears at rest concerning cancer and with MS the pet scan shows metabolic changes consitent (sp) with chronic disease. When the cardiologist asked how I talked them into the Pet, I explained to him that when a person feels something moving through their body , most will wonder about cancer at some point. He agreed and thought it was wise to have that ruled out.
Seeing as how since we have MS that is no guarantee of immuntiy to anything else.

They explained to me that my ekg's change because of MS. It doesn't mean that they are abnormal but rather when compared to others they continue to change.


I will approach my doctor concerning botox. Since this was in so many muscles, I would have to pick the greatest one of hinderance or pain.

My voice is becoming hoarse and I speak lower (was told this was due to talking : tired ie, ms fatigue).
All of this had made me wish to begin classes. If I do not make it for Jan then I will begin in June. Id like to study neurology. I'll begin as if taking course to be a nurse and add other subjects that will align me for later degree.
It will be nice to do it online so I dont have to worry about the episodes bothering that.

I wish you a lovely day and several symptoms less than ever before!

thanks
Kiera

Good idea. I need that knee fixed to prevent falls anyway. So i think the muslces were kind of helping it along as well.


I take the D, zinc, mag, b6 and drink all green things...YUM? ugh.


I'll call Rheumy tomorrow.

thanks
kiera

P.S. mine's not everyday, this is the first for me with spasticity. it's every day for this episode.

Yes, a very odd feeling. No pain but you sure know where the muscle groups are! huh?...

I suppose we all will share in a little of everyone's symptoms to some degree. They say no two are alike. Some however, are close.

Thank you for letting me know that you've felt those too. Not that i wish that on anyone but I dont feel as alone.


Things will get better!

thanks and g'night
Kiera