RE: Doctor's visit number 1 and a question about whether it's spasms or spasticity

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Tina I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

Hugs

nne

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world""May the Lord Bless you and keep you,May the Lord Make his face shine upon you, and give you Peace...Forever"Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Lifehttp://breastcancerpatientssoulmatesforlife.bravehost.com/ Anxiety Depression and Breast Cancerhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AnxietyDepressionandBreastCancerAngel Feather Loomerwww.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.comThe Cancer Clubwww.cancerclub.com

-----Original Message-----From: spydre74@...Sent: Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:43:46 -0500To: mserslife Subject: Doctor's visit number 1 and a question about whether it's spasms or spasticity

Okay, so at my doctor's visit Friday, she prescribed me a triptan for my migraines - I didn't have the heart to tell her I've tried one triptan and it didn't work for me - she followed up on my stomach issues. Because I'm still having a gnawing type pain, she ordered me back to get another upper endoscopy. She still had concerns about my high pulse rate....we know I have mitral valve prolapse and the tricuspid valve regurgitating, but the last ultrasound was 2 years ago, so she ordered another one before putting me on beta blockers - she'll start those once I get the result of the ultrasound. I asked her about the muscle spasms, whether it could be from the fibro, or from the MS, and it was her opinion that it was from the MS.My question is about these muscle spasms....and I see my neuro on Monday. I get them in my back bad enough on my left side that it pulls on my shoulder and neck and make them hurt - a new symptom from these is I get a twinge in my neck and it almost feels like I can't move my neck - it's one of those spasms that take your breath away. And then I get spasms from my left butt cheek on down that makes my leg feel weak. It's been giving me problems in my ankle and in my knee. All of this is on my left side - my "MS" side, so to speak. And then, like I mentioned before, I get very bad muscle cramps in my feet when I wear shoes - and since I don't wear my shoes that much, there isn't 6 months of wear in them. So, I guess my question is, what is the difference between spasms and spasticity? I can see I'm going to have a lot to talk about to the doctor when I get there Monday.Tina

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Hi Tina, sorry you are having so much pain. I truly can relate. From my understanding a “spasm” is like when your muscle twitches for a few minutes and then stops, but spasticity is when it grabs on so hard it takes longer for it to release. That’s been my experience anyhow. I have to keep a muscle relaxant in me all the time to help control the spasticity I have. Mine is on my right side, and will start in if I don’t move for a while especially after I sleep, and try to get up too fast. Steve helps me get up now. JI don’t wear shoes because I have foot drop on that side too, and I need to wear a slipper that I can shuffle. I’m having a hard time finding slippers with leather soles, they all have either rubber or plastic, and those don’t slide very well. I keep inserts in them for added support. I tried a beta blocker because I have a heart issue too, but I didn’t like how it made me feel. My pulse gets high when I walk across the room, but I think it’s from congestion I almost have constantly now. Not sure if its allergies or heart related. Probably allergies because my nose stays stuffy a lot too. Let us know what the neuro says.Hugs Jackie From: MSersLife [mailto:MSersLife ] On Behalf Of Tina SchmidtSent: Saturday, September 17, 2011 8:44 PMTo: mserslifeSubject: Doctor's visit number 1 and a question about whether it's spasms or spasticity Okay, so at my doctor's visit Friday, she prescribed me a triptan for my migraines - I didn't have the heart to tell her I've tried one triptan and it didn't work for me - she followed up on my stomach issues. Because I'm still having a gnawing type pain, she ordered me back to get another upper endoscopy. She still had concerns about my high pulse rate....we know I have mitral valve prolapse and the tricuspid valve regurgitating, but the last ultrasound was 2 years ago, so she ordered another one before putting me on beta blockers - she'll start those once I get the result of the ultrasound. I asked her about the muscle spasms, whether it could be from the fibro, or from the MS, and it was her opinion that it was from the MS.My question is about these muscle spasms....and I see my neuro on Monday. I get them in my back bad enough on my left side that it pulls on my shoulder and neck and make them hurt - a new symptom from these is I get a twinge in my neck and it almost feels like I can't move my neck - it's one of those spasms that take your breath away. And then I get spasms from my left butt cheek on down that makes my leg feel weak. It's been giving me problems in my ankle and in my knee. All of this is on my left side - my " MS " side, so to speak. And then, like I mentioned before, I get very bad muscle cramps in my feet when I wear shoes - and since I don't wear my shoes that much, there isn't 6 months of wear in them. So, I guess my question is, what is the difference between spasms and spasticity? I can see I'm going to have a lot to talk about to the doctor when I get there Monday.Tina

[Guest guest]

I'm generally taking my Flexeril three times a day (max dose) and it does nothing to keep it at bay, which is why I want to ask my neuro for Baclofen.  Part of it may very well be from where/how I'm sitting - I don't know.  Yesterday son had his first band competition, and we stayed for maybe an hour - long enough to see son's band and the division the band is in perform, and I was okay from sitting on the bleachers, a bit of spasms but not bad, but when we got in the car to come home, it got so much worse.  Once it starts, it seems there is no backing off of it - it will stay at least at that intensity.  Luckily, the weather has gotten cooler, so I don't have as many problems with hot showers as I did during the summer. 

I'm sorry you have so many problems with it is as well.  Just a thought for something to wear on your feet, since you have problems getting the right kind of slipper - have you thought about sandals - maybe like a birkenstock?  Okay, birkenstock is probably a bad example since they are so expensive.  Just a thought, though.

My biggest worry about a beta blocker is what happens if it lowers my blood pressure.  My blood pressure is very good, although there have been times where it's measured low - when I had my first Tysabri infusion, it measured 85/49 - but normally it runs somewhere around the 100 - 115 range.

Tina

 

Hi Tina, sorry you are having so much pain. I truly can relate. From my understanding a “spasm” is like when your muscle twitches for a few minutes and then stops, but spasticity is when it grabs on so hard it takes longer for it to release. That’s been my experience anyhow. I have to keep a muscle relaxant in me all the time to help control the spasticity I have. Mine is on my right side, and will start in if I don’t move for a while especially after I sleep, and try to get up too fast. Steve helps me get up now. J

I don’t wear shoes because I have foot drop on that side too, and I need to wear a slipper that I can shuffle. I’m having a hard time finding slippers with leather soles, they all have either rubber or plastic, and those don’t slide very well. I keep inserts in them for added support.

I tried a beta blocker because I have a heart issue too, but I didn’t like how it made me feel. My pulse gets high when I walk across the room, but I think it’s from congestion I almost have constantly now. Not sure if its allergies or heart related. Probably allergies because my nose stays stuffy a lot too.  

Let us know what the neuro says.Hugs Jackie

 From: MSersLife [mailto:MSersLife ] On Behalf Of Tina Schmidt

Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2011 8:44 PMTo: mserslifeSubject: Doctor's visit number 1 and a question about whether it's spasms or spasticity

 Okay, so at my doctor's visit Friday, she prescribed me a triptan for my migraines - I didn't have the heart to tell her I've tried one triptan and it didn't work for me - she followed up on my stomach issues.  Because I'm still having a gnawing type pain, she ordered me back to get another upper endoscopy.  She still had concerns about my high pulse rate....we know I have mitral valve prolapse and the tricuspid valve regurgitating, but the last ultrasound was 2 years ago, so she ordered another one before putting me on beta blockers - she'll start those once I get the result of the ultrasound.  I asked her about the muscle spasms, whether it could be from the fibro, or from the MS, and it was her opinion that it was from the MS.

My question is about these muscle spasms....and I see my neuro on Monday.  I get them in my back bad enough on my left side that it pulls on my shoulder and neck and make them hurt - a new symptom from these is I get a twinge in my neck and it almost feels like I can't move my neck - it's one of those spasms that take your breath away.  And then I get spasms from my left butt cheek on down that makes my leg feel weak.  It's been giving me problems in my ankle and in my knee.  All of this is on my left side - my " MS " side, so to speak.  And then, like I mentioned before, I get very bad muscle cramps in my feet when I wear shoes - and since I don't wear my shoes that much, there isn't 6 months of wear in them.  So, I guess my question is, what is the difference between spasms and spasticity? 

I can see I'm going to have a lot to talk about to the doctor when I get there Monday.Tina

[Guest guest]

I'm generally taking my Flexeril three times a day (max dose) and it does nothing to keep it at bay, which is why I want to ask my neuro for Baclofen.  Part of it may very well be from where/how I'm sitting - I don't know.  Yesterday son had his first band competition, and we stayed for maybe an hour - long enough to see son's band and the division the band is in perform, and I was okay from sitting on the bleachers, a bit of spasms but not bad, but when we got in the car to come home, it got so much worse.  Once it starts, it seems there is no backing off of it - it will stay at least at that intensity.  Luckily, the weather has gotten cooler, so I don't have as many problems with hot showers as I did during the summer. 

I'm sorry you have so many problems with it is as well.  Just a thought for something to wear on your feet, since you have problems getting the right kind of slipper - have you thought about sandals - maybe like a birkenstock?  Okay, birkenstock is probably a bad example since they are so expensive.  Just a thought, though.

My biggest worry about a beta blocker is what happens if it lowers my blood pressure.  My blood pressure is very good, although there have been times where it's measured low - when I had my first Tysabri infusion, it measured 85/49 - but normally it runs somewhere around the 100 - 115 range.

Tina

 

Hi Tina, sorry you are having so much pain. I truly can relate. From my understanding a “spasm” is like when your muscle twitches for a few minutes and then stops, but spasticity is when it grabs on so hard it takes longer for it to release. That’s been my experience anyhow. I have to keep a muscle relaxant in me all the time to help control the spasticity I have. Mine is on my right side, and will start in if I don’t move for a while especially after I sleep, and try to get up too fast. Steve helps me get up now. J

I don’t wear shoes because I have foot drop on that side too, and I need to wear a slipper that I can shuffle. I’m having a hard time finding slippers with leather soles, they all have either rubber or plastic, and those don’t slide very well. I keep inserts in them for added support.

I tried a beta blocker because I have a heart issue too, but I didn’t like how it made me feel. My pulse gets high when I walk across the room, but I think it’s from congestion I almost have constantly now. Not sure if its allergies or heart related. Probably allergies because my nose stays stuffy a lot too.  

Let us know what the neuro says.Hugs Jackie

 From: MSersLife [mailto:MSersLife ] On Behalf Of Tina Schmidt

Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2011 8:44 PMTo: mserslifeSubject: Doctor's visit number 1 and a question about whether it's spasms or spasticity

 Okay, so at my doctor's visit Friday, she prescribed me a triptan for my migraines - I didn't have the heart to tell her I've tried one triptan and it didn't work for me - she followed up on my stomach issues.  Because I'm still having a gnawing type pain, she ordered me back to get another upper endoscopy.  She still had concerns about my high pulse rate....we know I have mitral valve prolapse and the tricuspid valve regurgitating, but the last ultrasound was 2 years ago, so she ordered another one before putting me on beta blockers - she'll start those once I get the result of the ultrasound.  I asked her about the muscle spasms, whether it could be from the fibro, or from the MS, and it was her opinion that it was from the MS.

My question is about these muscle spasms....and I see my neuro on Monday.  I get them in my back bad enough on my left side that it pulls on my shoulder and neck and make them hurt - a new symptom from these is I get a twinge in my neck and it almost feels like I can't move my neck - it's one of those spasms that take your breath away.  And then I get spasms from my left butt cheek on down that makes my leg feel weak.  It's been giving me problems in my ankle and in my knee.  All of this is on my left side - my " MS " side, so to speak.  And then, like I mentioned before, I get very bad muscle cramps in my feet when I wear shoes - and since I don't wear my shoes that much, there isn't 6 months of wear in them.  So, I guess my question is, what is the difference between spasms and spasticity? 

I can see I'm going to have a lot to talk about to the doctor when I get there Monday.Tina