Excruciating Muscle Spasms? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

mshatch · 02-03-2008, 12:32 PM

Hi Everyone

I was wondering if any of you have had to deal with muscle spasms so bad you couldnt stand it. I have had two neck surgeries, I have titanium in my neck but I also have ddd and narrowing spinal cord. Lately I have been experiencing spasms so bad I that I cant stand it. My dr has been injecting me right in the knots my muscles make but after about a week it comes right back. I am so tired of injections. I am gaining a horrid amount of weight because of the steroids. I am kinda at the end of my rope. I dont even know what type of dr I would go to for muscle issues. Can any of you help me out with this? I always appreciate the knowledge you guys have so if you can, please help me out here.

mshatch

rayefaye · 02-03-2008, 04:23 PM

Hi mshatch, I suffer from what is called cervical dystonia which is severe and uncontrolable muscle spasms in the neck. What causes them in really unknown and there is no know cure for them. Due to this condition and RSD which is nerve damage related, I have now been left permanently disabled by them. Some people are lucky and have had Botox injections which helps some. These injections are expensive and have to be done every 3 months for relief. A neurologists usually is the one who does these injections. For me they are no help so I don't even bother with them. I take Soma 350 mg 4 x a day to help with them but if the weather changes I will get them real bad and can last for 8 hrs. I have had plenty of prednisone shots for them which like you say don't last long. The only time I get them now is if the spasms get so bad that they run down my back and then I got to the ER and get a shot. Some people would probably suggest trigger points injection or maybe trying acupuncture, I never tried neither. For now with the Soma they stay pretty much under control until like I say the weather changes. I hope you can find someone who will help with the spasms because I know how bad they hurt.

PNo · 02-03-2008, 11:07 PM

Yes I too have same and have spasms. My knots can get like rocks. If the root cause of the spasms is organic (like something pressing or irritating or a bad disc can cause this as well) - or like stenosis or ddd they can inject those trigger points all they want, but they will continue to come back. If you are not getting PT along with the injections - they probably will just knot back up.

Not sure if you have tried this path follwoing: If the injections have some success for you although temporary , you could try finding a myofascial trigger point release specialist (PT or massage therapist). Instead of the injections have this massage therapy. If you can tolerate the therapy you might find it very successful. It isn't a one time thing, you need to go consistently for a while until they get the TrPs under control.

You could see a physiatrist - they are focused on physical medicine, they are board certified physicians who treat musculoskeletal injuries, pain syndromes, and sports injuries and many other rehabilitation and occupational medicine issues.

mshatch · 02-04-2008, 12:21 AM

Thanks for the advice. I will look for that type of doctor in my area. I have done massage therapy also but the knots just wont stop. They do go away but not for long. I am just so frustrated right now. I tryed to do the injections because I was sick of all the meds but more than that my family was sick of me being spaced out. I wanted these injections to work so bad and they didnt. So far I think the medical bill is 25k. I have had lots of them. I know my back is a disaster. I guess I am just upset that nothing is helping. I will let you all know if and when I go to the doc and what they say. Thanks for listening and for the advice. I would appreciate anything anyone else has to add to this.

mshatch

rayefaye · 02-04-2008, 07:17 AM

Hi mshatch, unfortunately where the root of the spasms are is also a lot of nerve damage. In other words, when it itches, I don't even won't to scratch it because of the pain that comes with it. The area is so sensitive to the touch that I try to touch it more than I have let alone anyone else. So I unfornunately can't receive any kind of massage because when someone touches it or presses down on the area it puts me in a lot of pain. I cannot raise either arm over my head because any activity of this nature will cause the spasms. My left arm in now locked in a permanent postion where my left hand touches my left shoulder and the only time I can stretch it out is to put my clothes on or go to the bathroom. I can type on the computer as long as I get close to it. I wish some of these techniques could work for me but they don't and the damage was already done before any one diagnoised me. So I have learn to live with the disability and try to stay away from any activity that brings them on. So the only other thing that brings them on is the weather and I have no control over that.