Donna and Ampyra.....Re: Re: klonopin or baclofen

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Donna! That's great that you already see a difference with the Ampyra!! Let us know each day what improvements you are experiencing. How exciting!!hugs SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects. To: MSersLife Sent: Fri, May 6, 2011 8:22:02 AMSubject: Re: Re: klonopin or baclofen

DQ,

I actually take two anti-seizure meds (Gabapentin & Keppra)

as well as the baclofen...

I never realized that I was having "nerve pain", until I

described a "burning sensation" on my foot to the neurologist.

She then told me that was "nerve pain".. I expected nerve pain

to actually BE pain.. 300mg 3 times a day has taken care of the

burning sensation, and my great toe playing what I call "reach

for the stars".. The toe would just start trying to poke through

the top of my shoe for no reason. The Gabapentin also relieved

some of the "tingles" I have in my fingers and toes...

Then I started to experience, what I would call a spasm or

cramping in my leg, just above the ankle, maybe about 4 inches

or so.. When it got really bad, I could actually run my finger

down the divet between the shin bone & the calf muscle on

the outside of my leg.. That's when the neurologist prescribed

the Keppra... And that med took care of that.. Though he

prescribed up to 2,000mg per day, I can only get away with 1,500

(500mg tablet 3 times a day).. if it's really really really bad,

I will take the 4th before bed so it will relieve the pain so I

can sleep, but I don't want to make a habit of taking that 4th

pill often... Otherwise nobody wants to live with me.. and

everyone is afraid to even speak to me.. I guess I get pretty

nasty..

When told my neurologist that this muscle thing still

continues somewhat, but that if he told me I had to take that

4th Keppra to alleviate that problem, was going to bring me

to his house to live!.. LOL.. doctor upped my Baclofen to 60 mg

per day.. taken 10mg, 20mg, 10mg, 20mg... and that has actually

taken care of the problem without my having to take the 4th

Keppra..

I've not noticed too many of the side-effects, other than

wanting to nap a bit more often than usual.. but these too will

pass with time on the meds... The benefits of these three drugs

far outweigh the side-effects..

I'm not one who likes to take a whole ton of drugs.. I'd really

prefer not to be taking any of them, but I can't live in pain

every day all day either, so have given up on not taking them

and trying to get by without... Being pain free is much better

than the way it was before.. even if I get a little fuzzy from

time to time.. or want to take a nap more often.

Just a couple of days ago I started on the Ampyra.. and yup,

I've noticed the headaches and the back pain, BUT.. I've also

noticed, in the few days that I've been taking it, that I am

able to stand upright for longer and longer each day.. and

before too long we will be working on getting the muscle tone

back so that I can once again be walking, at the very least with

my walker, and at the very best without assistance once again...

I'll live with the headache and back pain.. Tylenol helps

control that (and I think part of the headache might be sinus'

problems with the cold I have right now as well)..

I am sooooooooo looking forward to being able to stand at the

kitchen sink and wash a few dishes again (and I hate washing

dishes!), and possibly keeping the house a little cleaner than

it is now.. tries, but it's hard to work 40 hours a week,

then come home and take care of the house, by yourself.. as well

as cook the meals, feed the critters, do the laundry and all the

stuff that goes with... so I'm not complaining about the mess..

but I am also looking forward to being able to help more and

more around the house.. and possibly even going back to work if

the Ampyra works as well as it does for some, and seems to be

working for me already...

As much as I dislike being dependent on these medications, and

would much rather not be taking any of them.. I will continue to

take them, and deal with the side-effects that might come with

them [they do pass eventually, and even if they don't, the

results of taking them are much better than being without them -

life quality wise]..

This is going to sound crude.. but... it's a matter of.... live

20 years miserable and in pain, or live 15 years being pretty

much pain free and enjoying life.. I'll opt for the 15 years..

Hope this helps, and didn't put you off too much...

HUGS

|)onna

I looked these up, wow, not appealing. I

have to suppose that one has to weight the issues the meds

are suppose to alleviate against those it will initiate. I

know they all have side effect warnings that may not occur,

however, not a fan of meds here. I took Thorazine during

both my pregnancies for extreme hyper-emisis (?) and have to

say it changed my life and left me quite traumatized from

the experiences. I won't go near any meds with "zine" in the

name, nor will I give them to my pets which is often

prescribed for them for anxiety. I found they are more upset

at the lack of control they feel than if they just endured

the stressor to begin with. bad stuff. could we hear from

someone who's taken either of these? what exactly is

spasticity with regards to ms? I think of a muscle spasm,

like an eye twitch and not a cramp...perhaps my issues

relating to tendons binding are actually spasms and I'm not

using the right terms...