Re: Physical therapy and leg spasms

[Guest guest]

,

As for myself, the improvement in bladder symptoms is well worth it to have LDN! I, too, have done the every 15 minutes during the night thing. It's no fun. Plus you don't get any rest.

I know stretching in any form is very helpful and is a must. I do the best that I can by myself, which isn't easy. Due to the no-count ex husband letting my health insurance lapse 3 years ag (which is partly why I divorced him 2 years ago) pjysical therapy is not in my budget. How I would love to have a therapist do the stretching! I try to stand up straight as much as possible. I can only do this in my bathroom with the grab bars or with my walker. Two minutes is the longest at a time that I can do this. I try to do this 5 - 6 times per day.

I don't know how one can tell anything for sure. I guess it's a gut feeling!

Spasms are terrible. I relate to the out-of-control feeling. I don't know why they would come and go like yours have.

Last, but not least, I'll NEVER accept the reality of MS! I just try not to make others around me feel my pain. I think I do pretty good!

Marcie (PPMS)

In a message dated 5/15/2004 10:44:18 AM Central Standard Time, CLANDAU@... writes:

I would appreciate feedback from anyone who's been in physical therapy. I know there's been discussion that only LDN should be the topic, but I am on LDN and I believe this is all related.

I began LDN in December and was doing pretty well. I began doing two minutes on a stationery bike in February and by the end of March was up to 20 minutes. My legs felt a lot stronger. Then I began physical therapy to work on my atrophied leg muscles; before doing so I ran it by Dr. Bihari who thought it was a great idea.

I have a terrific physical therapist. Her name is Carolyn Mazur and she has a place in the West Village called Fusion (for you Manhattanites). She does electrical stimulation and ultrasound, in addition to stretching my legs. I stopped doing the stationery bike, because the combination of PT--the waking up of muscles--and the bike caused me to have leg spasms, so I haven't been on the bike in a couple of month. As I've written previously, I went to my homeopath, who gave me a very potent remedy which turned out to be a disaster--much too much for my body. I relived all my prior symptoms and was in a lot of pain. Now that's better and last week I was able to resume my PT exercises, but I feel like I've lost over a month because I've had to start over in physical therapy. It's depressing.

This morning in bed I did my leg stretches--very simple, lifting my knees to my chest 30 times--and proceeded to have a leg spasm a few minutes after getting out of bed. Actually, I STARTED to have one, but took the stance Carolyn showed me and immediately applied liniment. So the good news is that I stopped it.

So after this lengthy message, here are my questions:

o Does anyone have an idea why a leg spasm would return at this

point? They really upset me, because I feel so out of control. o Has anyone had a positive experience with physical therapy?

o Has anyone else found PT to temporarily feel like a setback? I can't help but wonder if I'd be feeling better without it, since I was I was stronger and walking better before starting.

o My PT suggested on the phone this morning that sometimes with MS, legs will spasm again at the end of a cycle. Is this familiar at all or is she simply trying to make me feel better?

o Also, has anyone had this experience with LDN--reliving leg spasms before the LDN kicked in 110%?

o Regarding LDN, the greatest symptom improvement I've had so far

is diminished bladder urgency. I can actually go to bed at night and not have to get up five times in 15 minutes... (Though perhaps it's the homeopathic remedy too--I don't know of course.) The other is deeper sleep.

o I've been on LDN now for almost five months. How do you KNOW when it's really working without having dramatic experiences?

o And finally, I'm curious as to how long it's taken people to accept the reality of having MS. Last Fall, I thought I had sciatica, my internist thought I had sciatica, then I had leg spasms and tremendous hypersensitivity, and boom! MS.

Thank you for "listening." Though I don't respond to everything I read, I am very moved by your stories.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I have been using a stationary bike for many years. It is not unusual to

have spasms when a muscle is exerted to the max. The key to preventing the

spasm is to stop before the muscle is exhausted. I have not had positive

experience with physical therapists, however, I have had VERY positive

experience with exercise and stretching.

The therapists think they understand ms but they do not. They don't get the

fact that sometimes you can and sometimes you can't. What might have taken

5 minutes yesterday might take 25 minutes today. Don't let this stop your

exercise. It is so very necessary and helpful. Listen to your body and go

slow when necessary.

Regards,

Tom

----- Original Message -----

From: " carrie_landau " <CLANDAU@...>

<low dose naltrexone >

Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 10:41 AM

Subject: [low dose naltrexone] Physical therapy and leg spasms

> I would appreciate feedback from anyone who's been in physical

> therapy. I know there's been discussion that only LDN should be the

> topic, but I am on LDN and I believe this is all related.

>

> I began LDN in December and was doing pretty well. I began doing

> two minutes on a stationery bike in February and by the end of March

> was up to 20 minutes. My legs felt a lot stronger. Then I began

> physical therapy to work on my atrophied leg muscles; before doing

> so I ran it by Dr. Bihari who thought it was a great idea.

>

> I have a terrific physical therapist. Her name is Carolyn Mazur and

> she has a place in the West Village called Fusion (for you

> Manhattanites). She does electrical stimulation and ultrasound, in

> addition to stretching my legs. I stopped doing the stationery

> bike, because the combination of PT--the waking up of muscles--and

> the bike caused me to have leg spasms, so I haven't been on the bike

> in a couple of month. As I've written previously, I went to my

> homeopath, who gave me a very potent remedy which turned out to be a

> disaster--much too much for my body. I relived all my prior symptoms

> and was in a lot of pain. Now that's better and last week I was

> able to resume my PT exercises, but I feel like I've lost over a

> month because I've had to start over in physical therapy. It's

> depressing.

>

> This morning in bed I did my leg stretches--very simple, lifting my

> knees to my chest 30 times--and proceeded to have a leg spasm a few

> minutes after getting out of bed. Actually, I STARTED to have one,

> but took the stance Carolyn showed me and immediately applied

> liniment. So the good news is that I stopped it.

>

> So after this lengthy message, here are my questions:

> o Does anyone have an idea why a leg spasm would return at this

> point? They really upset me, because I feel so out of control.

> o Has anyone had a positive experience with physical therapy?

> o Has anyone else found PT to temporarily feel like a setback? I

> can't help but wonder if I'd be feeling better without it, since

> I was I was stronger and walking better before starting.

> o My PT suggested on the phone this morning that sometimes with

> MS, legs will spasm again at the end of a cycle. Is this

> familiar at all or is she simply trying to make me feel better?

> o Also, has anyone had this experience with LDN--reliving leg

> spasms before the LDN kicked in 110%?

> o Regarding LDN, the greatest symptom improvement I've had so far

> is diminished bladder urgency. I can actually go to bed at

> night and not have to get up five times in 15 minutes... (Though

> perhaps it's the homeopathic remedy too--I don't know of

> course.) The other is deeper sleep.

> o I've been on LDN now for almost five months. How do you KNOW

> when it's really working without having dramatic experiences?

> o And finally, I'm curious as to how long it's taken people to

> accept the reality of having MS. Last Fall, I thought I had

> sciatica, my internist thought I had sciatica, then I had leg

> spasms and tremendous hypersensitivity, and boom! MS.

>

> Thank you for " listening. " Though I don't respond to everything I

> read, I am very moved by your stories.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just a thought, /Marcie but I have found stretching to be the greatest. For whatever reason, heat doesn't bother me (although it did when I was in the West Indies). Therefore I can use a hot tub. It is gRRRReat. But be careful getting started as you may respond to the heat more than I do. I use the regualr pool too, aqua-therapy has been my life saver. Now along with LDN things are getting better all the time.!!! Hope they will for you too. Best of luck.

Tom from Edmonton

----- Original Message -----

From: marciemjm@...

low dose naltrexone

Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 4:13 PM

Subject: Re: [low dose naltrexone] Physical therapy and leg spasms

, As for myself, the improvement in bladder symptoms is well worth it to have LDN! I, too, have done the every 15 minutes during the night thing. It's no fun. Plus you don't get any rest. I know stretching in any form is very helpful and is a must. I do the best that I can by myself, which isn't easy. Due to the no-count ex husband letting my health insurance lapse 3 years ag (which is partly why I divorced him 2 years ago) pjysical therapy is not in my budget. How I would love to have a therapist do the stretching! I try to stand up straight as much as possible. I can only do this in my bathroom with the grab bars or with my walker. Two minutes is the longest at a time that I can do this. I try to do this 5 - 6 times per day. I don't know how one can tell anything for sure. I guess it's a gut feeling! Spasms are terrible. I relate to the out-of-control feeling. I don't know why they would come and go like yours have. Last, but not least, I'll NEVER accept the reality of MS! I just try not to make others around me feel my pain. I think I do pretty good! Marcie (PPMS) In a message dated 5/15/2004 10:44:18 AM Central Standard Time, CLANDAU@... writes:

I would appreciate feedback from anyone who's been in physical therapy. I know there's been discussion that only LDN should be the topic, but I am on LDN and I believe this is all related. I began LDN in December and was doing pretty well. I began doing two minutes on a stationery bike in February and by the end of March was up to 20 minutes. My legs felt a lot stronger. Then I began physical therapy to work on my atrophied leg muscles; before doing so I ran it by Dr. Bihari who thought it was a great idea. I have a terrific physical therapist. Her name is Carolyn Mazur and she has a place in the West Village called Fusion (for you Manhattanites). She does electrical stimulation and ultrasound, in addition to stretching my legs. I stopped doing the stationery bike, because the combination of PT--the waking up of muscles--and the bike caused me to have leg spasms, so I haven't been on the bike in a couple of month. As I've written previously, I went to my homeopath, who gave me a very potent remedy which turned out to be a disaster--much too much for my body. I relived all my prior symptoms and was in a lot of pain. Now that's better and last week I was able to resume my PT exercises, but I feel like I've lost over a month because I've had to start over in physical therapy. It's depressing. This morning in bed I did my leg stretches--very simple, lifting my knees to my chest 30 times--and proceeded to have a leg spasm a few minutes after getting out of bed. Actually, I STARTED to have one, but took the stance Carolyn showed me and immediately applied liniment. So the good news is that I stopped it. So after this lengthy message, here are my questions: o Does anyone have an idea why a leg spasm would return at this point? They really upset me, because I feel so out of control. o Has anyone had a positive experience with physical therapy? o Has anyone else found PT to temporarily feel like a setback? I can't help but wonder if I'd be feeling better without it, since I was I was stronger and walking better before starting. o My PT suggested on the phone this morning that sometimes with MS, legs will spasm again at the end of a cycle. Is this familiar at all or is she simply trying to make me feel better? o Also, has anyone had this experience with LDN--reliving leg spasms before the LDN kicked in 110%? o Regarding LDN, the greatest symptom improvement I've had so far is diminished bladder urgency. I can actually go to bed at night and not have to get up five times in 15 minutes... (Though perhaps it's the homeopathic remedy too--I don't know of course.) The other is deeper sleep. o I've been on LDN now for almost five months. How do you KNOW when it's really working without having dramatic experiences? o And finally, I'm curious as to how long it's taken people to accept the reality of having MS. Last Fall, I thought I had sciatica, my internist thought I had sciatica, then I had leg spasms and tremendous hypersensitivity, and boom! MS. Thank you for "listening." Though I don't respond to everything I read, I am very moved by your stories.