I’ve never had a problem with spasms, and after convincing myself I had a DVT after 4 days of solid pain in my calf, I went to my GP today. He measured both calfs for comparison (just a 1cm difference, the painful one being the larger), checked it out thoroughly, and said he thought there was no reason to suggest a DVT (no marked swelling, no heat, etc). He then, of course, said, “it could be a muscle spasm, what with your MS”.
Now I know I’ve not injured it, I’ve tried elevation, heat and ice, and nothing helps - with the exception of gentle massage which relieves it briefly.
Can muscle spasms last for days? It’s not getting any better and I don’t know how best to treat it other than the massage. Any advice would be very much appreciated!
magnesium oil will help ease it and also take a magnesium tablet too.i take one a night and my spasms are much better,the oil rubbed into your calf should help.
Yes - like MrsJ so rightly says - magnesium oil massaged in and take magnesium supplement. Magnesium Malate or Glycinate works well without being too laxative. [lf you need it to be laxative then use magnesium citrate]
Taken at bedtime it will help you sleep by controlling restless legs and spasms.
Magnesium is essential for us along with Vitd3 and B12.
I thought your language was supposed to be improving Carole? But then does ‘arse’ really count as bad language? Perhaps not when there are so many worse things.
Baclofen really is the best drug for spasms, so long as it’s started on a low dose because of weakness. Your GP should be able to prescribe it.
Apart from that and magnesium, try heat pads, or cold packs. Sometimes heat works and sometimes it makes spasms worse (weird that), so you could try a hot water bottle and if that’s a failure, or actually makes it worse, try a cold pack from the freezer. I have a particularly good wine cooler that is supposed to wrap around a bottle and do up with Velcro, but that sort of thing would work on a calf muscle too.
Adding to this, the tightness (for it is a constant knot that despite massage or heat or ice or elevation or paracetamol DOES NOT STOP!), it has now moved from my calf to the left (it’s my left calf), so now the knot has moved.
I’ve started taking magnesium tablets, but any ideas if spasms can move like this?
Sarah. I get this “tightness” in my calves. It is excruciating at times but the Magnesium spray helps. My knees hurt really bad more often than not. Like they are being squeezed in a vice-like grip. I’m only on Tec and have never been prescribed anything else. Never thought to mention it really.
I’m not a doctor or a consultant. I get chronic restless legs in the evening, no comparison I know, but Gabapentin and Tizanadine seem to do the trick for me.
You really need to talk to your MS consultant or MS Nurse. GP does not necessarily have the detailed background information/knowledge to resolve the problem.
Hope you get it sorted cos these things ruin life.
I had a spasm in between my shoulder blades a couple of weeks ago that wouldn’t ease for ages. I take baclofen for spasms and it’s fantastic, I didn’t realise how much my sleep was being disrupted by leg spasms until I started taking it. I only take one 10mg tablet a night and it stops the spasms, maybe that would help. Hope it gets sorted soon.
I also take clonazepam, I was prescribed it to help me to get to sleep as well as for muscle pain and seizures. Be careful cos it can be habit forming. Is that polite speak for addictive. I cannot sleep at night unless I take a couple of clonazepam, ummmm I think it is addictive.
Neurologist prescribed it for me - When l read the ‘small print’ l decided l would not take it. Do not do very well on most prescription drugs - Baclofen/Tizanidine/Gabapentin etc. They all made me so weak and feeble - unable to function - unable to walk. The only prescribed thing l take is Sativex - have no bad effects only good.
Even my GP - said he did not want me to take Clonazepam. lt is only for short-term use - and very addictive. Magnesium oil massaged into calves works well.