l am a member of other MS Recovery groups. And there are doctors/scientists/ chemist etc on them. That is where l have learnt about Baclofen/Tizanidine.
ln fact this last week there has been posts from people who say they had ‘hallucinations’ when on these drugs - so bad they were hospitalised.
But any drug that relaxes muscles - long term is going to damage them eventually.
Apart from them making me so weak l could not stand - mentally they effected me even more. They left me unable to make decisions - or remember anything. l ended up thinking this was the end and that l needed full time care. So everytime l actually see the word baclofen l ‘squirm’.
Jimmyk1 - Well done you. lt goes to show that we ALL can do some form of exercise. l learnt how to use the theraband at a Stretch and Tone class - and a Pilates teacher. lts something that just 5mins several times a day can work wonders - and you can still watch telly at the same time - whether sat /stood/ or lying down.
You can stretch your leg muscles whilst lying in bed with a theraband - last thing at night and first thing in the morning before getting out of bed.
OK that is a new one on me. Life is a bit of a compromise and it is a matter of finding something that suits you and your way of life. I have replaced amytriptaline with clomazapan because I have been told that amitryptaline crosses the blood brain barrier and I have complete faith in the consultant who told me that. I know both are addictive but they do the job Too much alcohol affects the liver, too much fat clogs up the arteries so we can each choose our own poison.
Baclofen did not really agree with me because I was not totally aware of where I was placing my feet - a different effect to what you say. Tizanandine works for me. I just take it at night and there are no hallucinations.
I think these sort of drugs affect different people in different ways.
Incidentally is there any written medical proof that prolongued use baclofen and tizanadine will significantly weaken the muscles?
I have just had a physio appointment for the very same thing. My legs felt stiffer than normal and going up and down stairs made my knee feel locked and my leg even stiffer. Stretching was was the answer. I was used to going to the gym and stretching to feel the burn however was advised 2-3 weeks of gentle stretching at home to loosen the muscles before we even talked about any strengthening activity. Stretching the muscle in the calf muscle by facing the wall and bringing one foot back straight and bending the other down and holding for 30 seconds whilst leaning with hands against wall was a key stretch given to me. Also same position but instead of back leg straight drop knee to the ground so both legs are bent, hold for 30 seconds. Not many reps she said, don’t tire yourself out. 3 reps each leg 3 times a day… hope it makes sense, I could try and find pictures if not!
Hi kristinay,i know of both these stretches you speak of for the calves.Both are great and do work.Im using a theraband these days that spacejackets speaks about and its great.My problem is remembering to do all of them.Im ok going up stairs its going down is my prob.il be starting strengthening soon,i must keep up the stretching routine to get the most from it so.My glutes need strengthening they are weak i think. Thanks for the info, Jimmy
Brilliant! Great to know they work… I’ll get to the bands too once I’ve stretched out! For someone that is used to the gym it makes a massive difference knowing that how I thought I was stretching out correctly actually caused more harm then good…it’s like learning it all over again… where I was pushing myself I sent my muscles into crazy mode apparently. I kept re scheduling physio for 3 months thinking I don’t need it, i go to the gym, I know how to stretch, clearly not!
I follow Adrienne on youtube, 30 days of yoga. I can’t do most of what she does but I improvise with pieces of furniture, my stick, and only do what is physically possible. Even if I can only do 10% on a particular day, I find her soothing atitutude and monologue very restful and feel better after it.
On bad days, if I am too stiff to get out of bed, I drink tea and take two painkillers which seems to relax everything enough to be able to function. Then I can do some stretching and leaning on the bed or against it and start the day.
Have you tried coming down the stairs - backwards. l think it is much safer. Or even sit down on the stairs and shuffle down. Things l used to do before l got my stairlift.
The stretching exercise Kristinay describes is one l do all the time l am standing at my laptop. lts on the kitchen island - just the right height for these ham string type stretches.
Another is to stand on the bottom ‘stair’ - with toes on the step - holding on for security - and lower your heels over the edge. You can do this one at a time - alternate the heel coming down.
Doing these exercises every day is the important element.
I do a simple balance exercise every day. Just spend 2 to 3 minutes looking up and down and over each shoulder. I have been doing this very morning for 6 months. Slowly but steadily my balance has improved and consequently I feel more confident moving around. Next sep will be to try picking each leg off the ground.
Could be a bit tricky as I have serious foot drop, leg drop and hyper extending knee in my left leg.
Balance is a thing I must also work on as it’s not great.I will try a few different ways to improve it and use the method you use Patrick. Any bit of improvement is great and well done on it.It is a hard thing to work on safely.Thanks Patrick,