Increase in spasms and spasticity

[SlomoScott]

Over the last 6 to 8 weeks I've noticed an increase in my spasms and spasticity.
I haven't changed my medications and there are not any obvious physical conditions that might cause increased spasms.
I notice a few more throughout the day, but the most notable increase in number and intensity is in the morning. During the night and first thing in the morning, my legS move violently. For the last 2+ years I have someone perform 15 minutes of range on m y legs in the morning to loosen them up. Lately, any touch will cause violent spasms and there is a definate increase in tone when the range is started. After a few minutes of motion, the tone disappears and most of the spasms subside, but not all. The spasMS seem to be triggered more when my leg is forced into a straight position (stretching the hamstring).
At night when I first go to bed, any touching of my legs will cause violent leg spasms.
Also, the leg spasms trigger another type of spasm in my abdomen. It causes my belly to shake and usually requires pressure from someone's hand to stop.

I am currently taking 2 flexeril before I go to bed.

Is an increase in spasms "normal" as an injury gets older?
Could it indicate sOmething else?

Are there any other muscle relaxants that may last throughout the night?
It is becomming a regular occurance to wake up with 1 leg off of the bed.

any insight would be appreciated.

[SCI-Nurse]

SlomoScott - do you have a SCI doctor? When were you last seen by him? The rule of thumb in SCI is any time that there is a change from your normal function or pattern that does not have an iobvious cause, you should be seen by your SCI doctor. Increased spasticity can be a signal to you that something is not right within your body.

Some things to question include whether you may have a hairline fracture, developing heterotopic ossification, developing a syrinx among some that immediately come to mind. I would strongly urge you to see your doctor as soon as possible.

Is flexeril the only thing that you are taking for the spasms? If so, and if there is no obvious cause for this change, you may want to discuss with the SCI doc the use of one of the antispasmodic meds. CRF

[mike bauer]

I too have nearly the exact same symptoms. I have chose to do nothing because gong to a Doctor is?? well pointless in my mind. If I tell my doctor who claims to be well versed in SPI' he says.. uh huh!!! and we move on. My legs are really freaky lately. They jump and kick like a mule at night and early AM. I had an MRI about 4 months ago...and all looked good. I cant afford to get MRI's and all that stuff, cause this nasty injury has bled me clean of money. I wish I could run out every time something change... that is Blue Ski however. I have been battling UTI's and I think it is possible somwething in my bladder maybe casueing the increased spasticity. At any rate, I live in a small town, the Doc's here know more about welding trailer hitched than SCI's... Just an FYI. Thanks, Mike (Florida)

[SCI-Nurse]

Mike Bauer - it sounds like it is time to find a new doc!! Are you familiar with the Florida SCI Resource Center? They may be able to help you find someone who has the expertise and the compassion to care for you in the correct manner. You can reach them at info@flspinalcord.us or 1-800-995-8544.

It is really important that you become a strong advocate for yourself and obtain the healthcare that is your right! CRF

[rollin64]

same here...pm/am spasms have been really intense the last couple of months. wake up in the mornings curled up like a crab, fingers an all. i figured most of the blame could be put on the hemmorhoids but i have been noticing some lower back pressure. ive been to quite a few dr's here...all useless. we have a neurology clinic here. my first neuro quite her practice altogether. hooked up with another one here that put in my baclofen pump. i got staph from that an nearly died. he give me to an infectious disease dr. and moved his practice to another state before i even got well. tried to get an appointment with another neuro up there and he wouldn't even accept me as a new patient. hmmm, wonder why i have no faith in the medical profession right now? haha. the shepherd center is the nearest rehab i know of and its 4 1/2 hours drive. okay....i'm through complaining. wonder if anything goods on tv.......

[JAYCUE]

I have similar symptoms. Thought it was from a pressure sore I had. It wasn't. Went to a sci doctor and all he told me to increase my Baclofen. I asked if we should run some tests or something and he just asked how I felt otherwise. Told me to just try the baclofen and if it didn't work, consider the pump. He notified my general care doc who agreed with him. So I went to the hospital hoping for some results. They called my doc, then told me to do what he says and released me. So I just try to live with them.

[in8]

I have similar problems with spasms , mine seem to ease if the temperature is kept low . Anything over 76° and my spasms seem to increase . They also seem to increase during infections.

P. S. the belly jiggling thing is annoying as heck , I feel your pain .

[mangomyday]

Spazzzzin' is supposed to decrease after time, but after 20+ in the chair, mine lately are radical. Almost flipped me out of my chair one day and keeps me from sleeping. Massaging, arranging, everything you all have listed....baclofen the works. I wish I could find a doc in Ft Myers who had actual hands on with SCI. I'm so sick of being passed around doc town with the same results. I've been on baclofen for the time I've been in this chair. Does anyone have any other remedies, suggestions? Doc refferals? It's 3 hours to Miami Project for help and it's more than ........well it's a last resort. Is there a network for docs with refferals from SCI patients in certain locations? If not shouldn't someone start one?
Enough venting.

[cali]

i was told spasms have potential to increase later on in injury.

mine have been worse lately, but right after therapy they're dead. yay

fes cycling did the trick for me but now i don't have access to one regularly. almost no spaz med and very little spasms.

*sigh* i miss those days.

[paramoto]

Originally Posted by mangomyday

Spazzzzin' is supposed to decrease after time, but after 20+ in the chair, mine lately are radical. Almost flipped me out of my chair one day and keeps me from sleeping. Massaging, arranging, everything you all have listed....baclofen the works. I wish I could find a doc in Ft Myers who had actual hands on with SCI. I'm so sick of being passed around doc town with the same results. I've been on baclofen for the time I've been in this chair. Does anyone have any other remedies, suggestions? Doc refferals? It's 3 hours to Miami Project for help and it's more than ........well it's a last resort. Is there a network for docs with refferals from SCI patients in certain locations? If not shouldn't someone start one?
Enough venting.

I dont know if this will help, but I did my inpatient rehab at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. The doctor that headed the rehab department (not therapy but medical care for inpatients) was Dr. Banovack, he had been there for decades, was very knowledgeable and over his many years of seeing sci patients had seen just about everything. I rehabed 2 1/2 years ago. You may try to see if he is still practicing and where.