EL18
09-27-2007, 09:01 AM
HI, I was hoping someone could help me out here.
I seem to be loosing all my muscles definition/size in my legs, mostly in my calves which have been driving me mad with cramps and spasms. They constantly seem to ache too. I found out yesterday I had a raised level of CK muscles enzymes, I am still trying to figure out what that means. But my questions is could the 2 be related? I can walk etc so I don't think the muscle wastage is due to non use.
Any advice would be great...thanks
:confused:
I seem to be loosing all my muscles definition/size in my legs, mostly in my calves which have been driving me mad with cramps and spasms. They constantly seem to ache too. I found out yesterday I had a raised level of CK muscles enzymes, I am still trying to figure out what that means. But my questions is could the 2 be related? I can walk etc so I don't think the muscle wastage is due to non use.
Any advice would be great...thanks
:confused:
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MSJayhawk
09-27-2007, 09:51 AM
I do not know how old you are, but after 35 years of age, the body generally loses muscle mass. If you are walking, that is great. For calf muscles, use toe raises or an exercise bike. These two exercises are very good for calves.
If you have a support bar, hold on to it and practice leg squats. These will help define thighs (the exercise bike will too). If you are still able to do so, a leg press machine will help.
It is very important to determine your muscle fatigue limit and to stop long before that limit is reached. MS patients generally have a longer recovery time required for muscles. If you are sore after exercising or the following day, you have gone over your limit.
You may wish to checkout a workout designed for your particular condition. A rehabilitation nurse or rehabilitation specialist can assist you in designing an exercise program.
If you have a support bar, hold on to it and practice leg squats. These will help define thighs (the exercise bike will too). If you are still able to do so, a leg press machine will help.
It is very important to determine your muscle fatigue limit and to stop long before that limit is reached. MS patients generally have a longer recovery time required for muscles. If you are sore after exercising or the following day, you have gone over your limit.
You may wish to checkout a workout designed for your particular condition. A rehabilitation nurse or rehabilitation specialist can assist you in designing an exercise program.
glamour girl
09-27-2007, 10:23 AM
I was going to the gym 4 times a week and felt fantastic, tired , yes. But at least it was from doing something. I woke up muscles i forgot existed. After my relapse, i felt i lost my fitness. A physio said to me . You can lose yr fitness just over 3 weeks, if you don't exercise. Maybe that s true. Not sure but MSJayhawk said. Get into some kind of exercise. I'm no doctor but, It might actually help with those spasms i think. I've been doing physio for a few months now and feeling sooo much better, ready to go back to the gym.
EL18
09-27-2007, 12:41 PM
Hi you two and thanks for responding.
I have been referred for physio now, just waiting for appointments etc. I have tried to do exercise but it just made everything worse. Before this happended I was swimming 1 to 2 miles a night so I thought swimming would be a safe bet. Hardly did anything but my muscles went crazy, at the moment even walking up stairs or standing for too long so sets everything off. I know this could be because I haven't donw any significant exercise and have tried to 'push' through but I seem to suffer for days afterwards at the moment....let's hope that will improve. I have spoken to my doctor since I posted this question and she explained the whole ck, spasms/cramps and muscle wastage. She said something is damaging my muscles, this could be due to the nerve problems etc but they are keeping a close eye on the levels.
Thanks again for your advice, I really appreciate it.
:)
I have been referred for physio now, just waiting for appointments etc. I have tried to do exercise but it just made everything worse. Before this happended I was swimming 1 to 2 miles a night so I thought swimming would be a safe bet. Hardly did anything but my muscles went crazy, at the moment even walking up stairs or standing for too long so sets everything off. I know this could be because I haven't donw any significant exercise and have tried to 'push' through but I seem to suffer for days afterwards at the moment....let's hope that will improve. I have spoken to my doctor since I posted this question and she explained the whole ck, spasms/cramps and muscle wastage. She said something is damaging my muscles, this could be due to the nerve problems etc but they are keeping a close eye on the levels.
Thanks again for your advice, I really appreciate it.
:)
taosdaphne
09-27-2007, 02:31 PM
I identify. My left quad looks like it's ready for a triathalon, but the right looks as if it just left the polio ward. I've been told to sigificantly decrease my time in the pool, but I'm doing core exercizez and leg exercizes--2x as many reps on the right side, where the MS is significantly worse. Looking for a PT with MS experience, but no luck yet. I just think enough myelin or nerve has been destroyed that the muzcles aren't getting the message to bulk up.
EL18
09-27-2007, 04:17 PM
Hi taosdaphne
Thanks for replying. I love your sense of humour..great.
Do you think that the muscles wastage could be because of the damage which is somehow being caused to my muscles, as shown by my elevated CK result. If so, what on earth could be damaging my muscles???? The plot thickens...!
El
Thanks for replying. I love your sense of humour..great.
Do you think that the muscles wastage could be because of the damage which is somehow being caused to my muscles, as shown by my elevated CK result. If so, what on earth could be damaging my muscles???? The plot thickens...!
El
duttin
09-27-2007, 11:14 PM
After my last to attacks and steroid infusions ,I lost muscle mass and had weakness.Once this occurs it takes months to rebuild.
I had went to weeks of PT and they were not MS informed,I finally joined a fitness center and do light work outs there.The muscles are slowly rebuilding.
When the myelin on the nerve sheath gets damaged beyond repair the muscles don't get the proper signals and can cause atrophy.
I had went to weeks of PT and they were not MS informed,I finally joined a fitness center and do light work outs there.The muscles are slowly rebuilding.
When the myelin on the nerve sheath gets damaged beyond repair the muscles don't get the proper signals and can cause atrophy.
EL18
09-28-2007, 03:40 PM
Hi Duttin,
Thanks for replying. Would you mind if I ask another question as you seem very informed and clued up.
When I was seeing my ms dr this week he said I had delayed responses, particularly in my legs. He did the 'which way I am pushing your toe' thingy, on the right foot I was fine, the left foot I didn't know.When I first started having problems I was told that there were problems in my thorasic and lumbar spine getting signals through..hence the total leg numbness I experienced. So could this current bout of muscles wastage be caused by this problem? I'm a little confused as I have constant cramps which have been in my calves now for 3 weeks without let up, however I also get spasms and twitching. Surely if my muscles (calves) are constantly cramping and having spasms this would be building up muscles due to the constant movement and not reducing them.....sorry if that sounds really thick!!!
Thanks again
EL
Thanks for replying. Would you mind if I ask another question as you seem very informed and clued up.
When I was seeing my ms dr this week he said I had delayed responses, particularly in my legs. He did the 'which way I am pushing your toe' thingy, on the right foot I was fine, the left foot I didn't know.When I first started having problems I was told that there were problems in my thorasic and lumbar spine getting signals through..hence the total leg numbness I experienced. So could this current bout of muscles wastage be caused by this problem? I'm a little confused as I have constant cramps which have been in my calves now for 3 weeks without let up, however I also get spasms and twitching. Surely if my muscles (calves) are constantly cramping and having spasms this would be building up muscles due to the constant movement and not reducing them.....sorry if that sounds really thick!!!
Thanks again
EL
duttin
09-28-2007, 04:28 PM
EL,
It can be a very good possibility that this is extending from the thoracic and lumbar region.Test to confirm this would be a EMG/NCS, a MRI and a MYELOGRAM.
The muscle spasms can be controlled by meds are you currently on any for the spasms?
A good stretching program can be an added benifit done daily.Sometimes more than once a day.The therabands work great.
A delayed response can be caused from the brain not getting the message as in central,it could be the nerves as in peripherial or pinched nerves in the back.
It can be a very good possibility that this is extending from the thoracic and lumbar region.Test to confirm this would be a EMG/NCS, a MRI and a MYELOGRAM.
The muscle spasms can be controlled by meds are you currently on any for the spasms?
A good stretching program can be an added benifit done daily.Sometimes more than once a day.The therabands work great.
A delayed response can be caused from the brain not getting the message as in central,it could be the nerves as in peripherial or pinched nerves in the back.
EL18
09-28-2007, 04:39 PM
Hi Duttin,
On my first mri it showed something about enhanced changes (T2). My dr has now ordered an emg/ncs, so just waiting for appointments. Was put on quinie and amitrypiline (sorry about spelling) yesterday so not seen full benefits yet.
So could the raised ck reading be so high because of the muscles cramps/spasms or because of something damaging my muscles or because the signals aren't getting though? So confused...
I try strengthing which does help for about 5 mins but I'm thinking about going for a massage at my physio's...what do you think?
Thanks again for everything...and sorry for all the questions.
EL ;)
On my first mri it showed something about enhanced changes (T2). My dr has now ordered an emg/ncs, so just waiting for appointments. Was put on quinie and amitrypiline (sorry about spelling) yesterday so not seen full benefits yet.
So could the raised ck reading be so high because of the muscles cramps/spasms or because of something damaging my muscles or because the signals aren't getting though? So confused...
I try strengthing which does help for about 5 mins but I'm thinking about going for a massage at my physio's...what do you think?
Thanks again for everything...and sorry for all the questions.
EL ;)
duttin
09-28-2007, 05:57 PM
The ck could be raised by many things,auto-immune and muscular disorders.The ck represents a muscle enzyme which can be full of inflamation.
Keep trying to stretch the muscles it does reduce the spasms.
Quinine should help,its an old remedy but effective the amitrypiline (sp) should help with calming the nerves to the muscles,hopefully in a few days you'll get some releif.
Keep trying to stretch the muscles it does reduce the spasms.
Quinine should help,its an old remedy but effective the amitrypiline (sp) should help with calming the nerves to the muscles,hopefully in a few days you'll get some releif.