Sorry you are in pain. From what I understand if baclofen tablets dont work they wouldnt look at pump as last resort.
I would be looking more along the lines of gentle physio & more so to hydrotherapy if you have the warm water pool near you. Just walking & doing gentle leg lifts etc makes a huge difference. I find it lots easier to exercise in hydrotherapy pool for sure.
Check out some gentle stretches & movement, in time that will help rather than more drugs etc.

No answer for you, but if you find one, let me know. I have been in excruciating pain for 1 1/2 months now. Screaming pain. Such sever spasms. Mostly in my thighs. But the calves and forearms get real bad at times. And my hands and feet spasm too. My Achilles heel is so very tight, like it is a tight rubber band.

I am up again tonight in pain. I took a Valium and a baclofen plus a tramadol, all to no avail. The meds used to help but I am in a bad spot now.

I hope you find relief soon.

I was just checking our the neuro I am consulting and found info from a presentation he gave on spaticity.. U could goggle him and find the info..his name is Dr. Matthew McCoyd from Loyola

I agree it would be nice to not take anymore meds. Warm baths, soaking my legs are my friend and I do stretches but not enough and I am inconsistent with it. This week I have been using two heating pads and some otc pain spray. I guess we're always looking to be pain free. I don't that happens in MS :((

For my calves, I have found wearing AFO's help by keeping the muscles stretched without me having to do the work.

I do like the sound of that. what exactly is AFO?

Hi, as much as it might hurt, STRETCHING, hold each for five seconds, do them before getting out of bed in the morning and thru the day while sitting. My daughter never gets up without stretching and also thru the day. So do I. Even at Dr office while waiting, I stretch. Remember with spasticity you want to keep exercising otherwise we can end up curl in bed. It's like a daily battle which we will fight with stretches everyday, to keep useful muscles for a longer period of time. Not easy, scream, cry, but do them. Love Alma

Before I get outta bed each morning I hug my knees and hold that pose for a while. That stretches out the back nicely.

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) has helped my hubby's urinary spasicity at night.

If you are low on calcium, potassium or MAGNESIUM this can cause spasicity. I am NOT saying this is for sure your problem. I am just saying it my be worth a shot to check into what your levels are with a doc and get them to healthy ranges. I know walnuts, etc have quite a bit of magnesium. Bananas and potatoes have quite a bit of potassium.

I wish you luck working with your doc to find something that helps alleviate your symptoms.
EP

good post!! i have had where-leg locks- and i dont have the key!!
cant bend it- it will finally give- but they put me on baclafen again and no flexareel- i think that started it- no flexareel?

I have had bouts of leg spasticity- mostly when I lie down to sleep. I talked to dr about some muscle relaxers and he said they relax everything so I looked for an alternative. I started taking a magnesium-potassium taurate supplement and it has helped. It did come back again few months ago, but only one night and not as bad as it was a couple years ago. Good luck finding something to help.

Two main types of spasticity:

1.) Clonic- involuntary muscle spasticity / movement
typical tx- Baclophen, etc

2.) Tonic- Tightening of muscles
typical tx- magneisum, calcium, B vitamins,etc

Please disregard reply #12
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Two main types of spasticity:

1.) Clonic- involuntary muscle spasticity / movement
possible txs- Baclophen, magneisum, calcium, B vitamins,etc

2.) Tonic- Tightening of muscles
possible tx- exercising and possibly magneisum, calcium, B vitamins,etc

My suggestions:

1. Try magnesium 400 mg 2-3 times/day

2. Next can try Baclofen up to 20mg 4 times per day (max limit)
and/or xanaflex (pretty sedating)

3. Stretching at least twice a day for min 15 minutes is essential and healthy for anyone MS or not. Helps to have partner and do full range of stretches

4. Possible valium or flexeril but these don't work on CNS where root of the problem is.

5. Stay as mobile as you can. Definately helps.

6. Baclofen pump trial to see if it will work. I have problem with Clonic (jerking inward) spasms and tegretal was suggested - tough for me to tolerate. 2nd suggestion was spinal cord stimulator (used for pain) as it has a secondary effect stopping spasms by inhibiting brain signal. (This is a last resort step I have not yet investigated)

7. Aquatic Therapy helpful. Warm baths and pool ok but most people with MS can't tolerate them. They were helpful to me.

8. Botox injections can help. More success found with upper body than lower body. Medicare covers, other insc may not....very expensive ($4000) Lasts 3 months

9. Yoga can help, possibility daily meditation and acupuncture also.
Biogen the makers of Avonex have a free Yoga CD see:

http://www.msactivesource.com/experts.xml ((to order)

You are fighting your brain's control over your CNS and it is a struggle. Spasticity is treated best by a neuro and Physiatrist working together. (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Doctor who knows spasticity - usually one who treats spinal cord injuries as part of their practice.

Any neuro should have this info and if you are still suffering without relief discuss these ideas or find someone more knowledgeable.

I know how miserable this is. I hope you all find relief soon. It is out there--- you have to find the right practioners.

Good Luck.

Melanie

carolinagirl123 I do like the sound of that. what exactly is AFO?

Link to a very good read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankle-foot_orthosis#Ankle-foot_orthosis_.28AFO.29

Partial Quoting
An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is an orthosis or brace (usually plastic) that surrounds the ankle and at least part of the foot. AFOs are externally applied and intended to control position and motion of the ankle, compensate for weakness, or correct deformities.[9] They control the ankle directly, and can be designed to control the knee joint indirectly as well.[9] AFOs are commonly used in the treatment of disorders affecting muscle function such as stroke, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, polio, multiple sclerosis and peripheral neuropathy. AFOs can be used to support wasted limbs, or to position a limb with contracted muscles into a more normal position. They are also used to immobilize the ankle and lower leg in the presence of arthritis or fracture, and to correct foot drop; an AFO is also known as a foot-drop brace..

I like the gentle continuous stretch and I also like that my custom AFOs are tall enough that they nicely hold the upper part of my calf. This is so nice for a muscle that is always very sore and stiff. I do not get this cradle affect on my calves from the generic AFOs, but they at least help stretch the ankle. Below is a link to generic AFOs. They are relatively inexpensive, especially compared to custom AFOs. I have a pair of these. They only come 2/3 of the way up my calves, but I am tall.

http://www.alimed.com/freedom-swedish-afo.html