Friday I went and had a MRI of my Thoracic Spine. Then I saw my Neuro again. I told him what's been happening over the past 2 weeks since I last saw him and did the steroids. Bladder issue have cleared up. Swallowing issues still exist and of course the pain in my legs and inability to walk or move. The Fatigue and Exhaustion.
His Final Diagnosis yesterday? Spasticity. My entire body is just one giant spasm. When you have muscles in constant spasm who wouldn't have pain and be unable to move/walk. Baclofen/Gabapentin is not cutting it. So he gave me Klonopin. He wants me to take .5mg during the day and .5 before bed this weekend and see how I do. See if the spasms subside at all. My muscles are TIGHT all over, I can just sit here and feel it. I'm going to do stretches and yoga to assist as well. He thinks my swallowing issues are also throat spasms.
Spasms...sounds like something that should be easy to fix right? Well...from what I gather not. My Neuro said "When you were diagnosed with MS you lost all rights to control your own body. Your muscles will just do what they want now." I'm all to familiar with what spasticity can do to a body, I saw my mother go through it and it ended up leaving her so tight that her hands/arms were actually point the wrong way. I don't want to use the word deformed, but, it was close. So great news...NOT.
********************************
Definition: Spasticity is a constant and unwanted contraction of one or more muscle groups as a result of a stroke or other insults to the brain or spinal cord.
Over time spasticity prevents the normal voluntary contraction of affected muscles.
Examples:
In order to open your hand, its extensor muscles must become contracted at the same time that the flexor muscles become relaxed. Thus, flexor muscle spasticity in the hand can prevent hand opening when the extensor muscles can't overcome the involuntary contraction of the flexors.
*******************************
MRI RESULTS:
NADA. NO NEW LESIONS and no reason that would cause what's happening to happen other than spasms. WOO HOO! No New Lesions in my Thoracic spine...BUT, I have to see a speech therapist to get my swallowing issue checked out and maybe a MRI of my neck to check for lesions there if the swallowing issue continues. But he seems convinced this is all caused by spasticity.
NEXT STEPS:
I get to take a few weeks off on Short Term Disability and recover, try some new meds to control the spasms. See him again in 3 weeks.
Of course in the meantime, I will try to learn anything and everything about controlling spasticity. So by all means share your tips and tricks for controlling body spasms...share all you know please!
Thanks for all your support these past few weeks!!!
4 comments:
lanette, spasms suck more than most people can imagine!! i had speech therapy years ago...it did help a little.i hsd an mri pn my throat when i swallowed...she gave me some hints...look down when swallowing, tske small bites, baclofen quit helping me after awhile, when i tried to walk, it just msde me 'floppy', so now i just take 1 zanaflex every 4 hours, and thst helps me. i have a friend with a baclofen pump implanted in her...and that helps her, but...right now it's my legs...o fon't walk anymore, so...
HI Lanette - acupuncture and massage help ease the spasming for me when it is very bad - especially when stretching and exercises can barely be managed because of the 'super grip'.
Bobarth physiotherapy is also very good - but very expensive (at least here).
(I also found a 15-20 minute meditation helpful - it doesn't stop the spasms but anxiety I found could exercabte them. The meditating helped w/ the anxiety and focussing on breathing properly still so that my emotional state was not worsening the symptoms.)
Good luck, take care
Good news about the MRI results! I haven't experienced spasticity nearly at the intensity you are. I believe that Anne of Disabled Not Dead has some really good recommendations regarding supplements. Don't take my word for it, but I think that magnesium is among the things she suggests for spasticity. See if you can find the information on her blog.
Good luck.
Good luck Lanette, it's a nonstop fun ride, isn't it?
Andy
Post a Comment