leg muscles feel short and stuck

Everyday living
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My leg muscles feel short and tight and it slows me down and makes going down steps and stairs feel like a marathon.Im taking baclofen but doesnt feel like it does anything.Neuro said im on a high dose and that tizanadine is not for me yet.Its my main problem and it drives me mad sometimes.Ive no solutions to the problem. Jimmy

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Do you do anything to stretch the muscles? A decent physio should be able to suggest some exercises to help.

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Hi, what dosage of baclofen are you taking? I think a high dose would around 70 mg a day. Some folk need much more than others.

Have you considered having botox injections? This helps a lot of people .

Iā€™m sure you will get more responses with other ideas.

Pollx

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i asked a physio what i could do about my stiff legs.

i said i wanted to do lunges but i canā€™t do the moves.

he suggested that i put my hands on a wall and do a mini type of lunge.

carole x

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I messaged everyone instead of replying,apologies.Security warning popping up made me press wrong button

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More stretching is what i must do,i im on 60mg baclofen and my neuro and gp said its enough and my neuro said botox is not what i need.Im going with the magnesium and water and stretching routine and hope it works.I have 2 muscle knots in legs that really trouble me and are hard to rid of.Carole i like your mini lunge and i must do that and see if it works.It was cold out today so maybe that didnt help my stiff legs either. Thanks all, Jimmy

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hi jimmy

i do a sort of push up against the wall.

not sure yet if its helping my legs but i have a permanent hand print there now!

i hated the hot weather when it was humid.

then we straight to bitter cold and that makes my legs hurt.

so now i simply donā€™t like weather!

carole x

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Carole,i do something like that to stretch my calf muscles.Today i was like a tinman i could move just slowly.The cold gets me bad,not a fan of it.Heat and cold is not my friend.Nice 16 degrees suits me fine.I must get back into my stretching exercise routine,bit tired since my tysabri infusion few days ago. Jimmy

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hi jimmy

give yourself time to get over the tysabri infusion.

your stiff legs are going nowhere fast (er, that sounds prophetic but it isnā€™t)

you donā€™t like weather either.

just occasionally i go out and the weather is perfect which makes me continue going out.

last week i took a friend who has transverse myelitis with me to a cafe

it is by a local marina and the cafe is run by adults with learning difficulties.

the food is fantastic, low priced and served by godā€™s own angels.

we sat outside with a cuppa and the weather was so lovely we discarded our jackets and cardis,

anyway enough of my ramblings

carole x

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What about having a good massage?

pollx

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Iā€™ve read that indoor pedal exercisers can help with leg muscle rehabilitation (sit in a chair), also if placed on a table can help arm muscles. From around Ā£14 upwards, so affordable and possibly get VAT free.

Does anyone use these?

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Yes that might do,i foam roll all my muscles but only does a little.Must do it a bit more.Did a few stretches today and feel a bit betterafter.Going to do it a lot more from now on. jimmy

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I like the look of that lenny,its not expensive either.Do amazon or sports direct have it?Im waiting for motomed again i thought it was great.That is like a cheaper option.

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Hi Jimmy,

My calf muscles are stiff too. Iā€™m on 90mg Baclofen and tizanidine, still really stiff.

I stand on a step and drop my heels - have a block of wood in the kitchen too.

Also bought a massage stick from a high street shop. Wooden handle with two rolling balls. Seems to help bit.

Just keep going.

Jen x

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Hi jen,it annoys me that i can ease it and the next day i get a muscle knot that is harder to be rid of and have to go to health centre for dry needling.You exercise yours a lot unlike me.I must get a massage stick,think they had them in aldi few weeks ago.Im trying the stretching and magnesium and water at the mo as i said on this.Seems to be working a bit. Thanks Jimmy

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Hello Jimmyk1

Have you thought of doing Pilates? Another idea is to identify exercises that stretch the muscles and do them first thing in the morning. It is tedious, I have to spend about 10 minutes every morning stretching my calf muscles. nothing sudden, just something slow and steady

Stand on tip toes then force heels back onto the floor. Sit on side of the bed and touch your knuckles onto the floor, use a chair as a support and take a step forward and stand upright, ensure back heel is on the ground then swap feet. The pedal machine is a good idea as well. The ulltimate, if you can do it, is to stand up and try sliding hands down legs towards the ankle, that will stretch hamstrings as well

Why were you told to stay on baclofen and not use tizanadine. Tisanadine is not a good idea during the day cos it makes me feel very very sleepy. I donā€™t think BOTOX can be prescribed for this sort of problem.

Another suggestion is gabapentin

Hope you get a solution.

Patrick

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Hi patrick.I done a little bit of pilates and wrote down some of the stretches.I do some of these stretches in the morning and they do help.I sit with leg on chair and stretch which helps.Think my problem is the damage to nerves as they dont flex when i walk.Muscles are big without exercise.Neuro spoke about side effects of tizanadine and knows i dont like the dozy/sleepy effects.He said botox is not an option for me.I did a bit of stretches today and it did work,just got to keep doing them now.My other leg muscles acting up when i sort 1 area.The joys of this.Thanks for the extra few stretches you told me about,i will try. Jimmy

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Continued use of Baclofen and Tizandidne actually damage your muscles. Magnesium Malate or Glycinate - and magnesium L-Threonate will help. Massage with magnesium oil. lf you can get into a bath - then a handful of Epsom Salts will help as this is magnesium sulphate.

A stretchy thera-band is great for stretching muscles. Hold an end in each hand and loop it under your foot - tighten to get some tension and lift your leg and push away. This one ā€˜aidā€™ can exercise and strengthen muscles all over your body - and can be done standing/lying down/sitting. l was taught this at Pilates. l bet you could find a youtube video showing you.

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Spacejacket,i didnt know that baclofen damage my muscles.News to me.For last 2 days ive been stretching more and its actually working and im so thankful to all here.Feel more loose and free and better.I have a theraband and used yesterday and feel great today.1more area i cant get is the hip/butt area stretch but im working on it.Stretching is giving me more relief than baclofen.Cheers for the info. Jimmy

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Hello Spacejacket,

You say ā€œContinued use of Baclofen and Tizandidne actually damage your musclesā€ Could I ask where you read this information?

I always thought these drugs wre relaxants and were prescribed to reduce stiffness and spasms

Patrick

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