Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group muscle spasms? trigger points? what to do?

i have a new sort of problem. yes, i've dealt with muscle spasms for years, have the muscle relaxant, have the heat, have the ice, have the ultrasound. they all help so much, always have.

but this is much more troubling. whenever the upper back (probably trapezia) muscle has any pressure on it, unless its on ice, it goes into spasm. and since i can't sleep on my sides because of my SI and sleeping on the front, well, everything gets acted up. so must sleep on back. and when i try to sleep, i can get to sleep with muscle relaxants, a hot bath, and going to bed with gel ice packs on my back and a hot water bag on my spasming neck (the upper part of the trapezia), but then wake within an hour or two and can't get back to sleep because of the pain and this electrical storm going on inside my muscles (feels like creepy crawlies at first, then tightening, then like being stabbed with a knife (been getting up before that kicks in for the most part, now that i'm sleeping on ice, before ice, it was the stabbing that woke me up, now just the "electrical storm"). last night i actually got 4.5 hours of sleep, WOO! HOO! (not said sarcastically, honestly, that's how i felt when i woke).

having the same problem in my right glute medius, but that's easier to control with the ice.

and still not sure if its inflammation of something damaged (as i've had the same sort of pressure makes it painful in things like a torn rotator cuff or a bad wrist) or if its just confused muscles?

i haven't been able to go to work, haven't been able to sleep. the pain is nauseating at times and is messing up my stomach.

life has become very myopic. living moment to moment.

i'd pull my hair out from the frustration of it all, but don't have the energy.

has anyone ever had this problem? and more importantly, how did you break this cycle?

thanks,

Sue,
I'm sorry things have gotten so bad for you. These newest symptoms sound troubling, indeed.

Meanwhile, it sounds as if your usual methods of coping aren't cutting it for this new pain. The only idea I have to suggest is TENS. For me, it short-circuits the spasming. It might or might not help you.

I hope you can find a solution for this. Meanwhile, I can't help but hope this could be a trigger for you finally getting a diagnosis and treatment.

Karen

oh Sue!!! that's horrible... obviously you've tried flector patches? A professional massage? trigger point therapy not working? you maybe should go get a shot? Do you have a tens unit? I'm so sorry it's a holiday weekend... I have found in my worst spasms as much time in a hot tub as possible... (are you close to Dow's? )... and there is a big difference for me that you have the bubbles, some how a hot bath isn't hot enough. And a really killer frozen margarita so you don't get hot;

cc's frozen ritas;
fill a pitcher with ice and 3/4 a small container of frozen limeade
8 oz of Patron or Conmemorativo tequila
2 oz straight lime juice or key lime juice
optional 2 oz gran marnier

turn the blender on for a full 5 minutes... technically you shouldn't stop until a thick bubble of lime sort of pops at the top (will look like lava).

good luck!
cc

thanks karen and CC

for now, some blue menthol gel is helping confuse the muscles just a tad, so trying to take advantage of this and get some stuff done.

more later,

Probably silly of me to mention it as I'm sure you've thought of it, but do you take magnesium regularly or get enough magnesium daily? Can't say that it will be a panacea, but it might provide some aid to help settle the spasms a bit.

HI Sue
I am probably not a help, but in addition to this problem I have pelvic neuralgia and I take valium, it helps with the spasms.I also used to be in PT where she did trigger point therapy. Have you ever had a deep tissue massage? I think I have permanent spasms in my legs as I have had leg pain in the back of my thighs for 3 months. I understand where you are coming from.
Wish I could be covered head to toe in a heating pad sometimes! I hope you feel better soon.

Awww...Sue. I wish I had an answer for you! Have you tried acupuncture?

Sorry to hear you are not doing well. Hopefully you can find an antidote because I know if I don't get my sleep I feel like I'm going crazy. Another way to get magnesium is by soaking in a warm bath with Espon salt. Also vinger with the mother still in it is suppose to be helpful. I will send prayers up for you.

Blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Sue

I'm sorry you are going through this. I get the tightening feeling, then it burns and then it just gives out, rendering my whole arm useless from the trapezius down. I don't know what to do for it. I'm thinking that it's the inflammation running crazy in our bodies. What meds are you on? Do you think you could add another med?

Sorry you feel so badly.
Jewelz

Hi Sue,

Sickofit's suggestion of deep massage sounds like a good one. I was going to an amazing deep massage specialist (therapeutic massage). She could deal with spasming muscles amazingly. She basically straightened them out. I used to go monthly as a preventative therapy after she had fixed my muscle spasms in my back and neck. I only stopped going to her when my inflammation got as high as it did because of her concern about not wanting to risk increasing the inflammation any further. I'll be going back to her when I get my CRP and Sed rate a bit lower.