Symptoms at nighttime are really starting to get me down, so much that am now dreading going to bed. The numbness feeling in my hands and arms is getting painful and the spasms in my back make if difficult to get a comfy position. My left leg/foot is also getting shooting/spasmy pains… I’m just reet fed up and tired 
Has anyone any suggestions? My MS nurse did suggest pregabilin but neuro no not yet, and amytriptaline interfers with my cipralex according to the GP.
Amanda, I totally sympathise with you as I have the same problem apart from the back problem. I don’t know where to put myself at times it’s like someone’s shoving red hot pokers up the inside of my legs! As for the numbness in my hands well thats a different story, not helped by the fact that I have Raynauds too I could at times literally cut my hands and legs off. These days I seem to spend more time up than asleep. I do take Gabapentin but that seems to have little affect on the problem I am hoping when I see my GP later this week they can offer an alternative Tired & grumpy too Sue xx
I didn’t know that about Amitriptyline Amanda, I was on Ciprlex and Amitriptyline. My doctor recently changed Cipralex to Ciprolam as she said there was more scope and I could have a higher dose if necessary.
Personally when things get me down and I can’t sleep I listen to story tapes with head phones on, Usually anything by Stephen Fry, (his first biography is good).I often fall asleep with the headphones on but at least it calms me down enough to go to sleep. Also listen to my radio, when there’s something good on it sends me to sleep.
Hope you get some sleep soon.
Take care
Wendy x
You could do worse than try magnesium and see if it helps with the spasm problem. I take 375mg and find it greatly eases cramp and spasm. http://www.nhfw.info/magnesium.html
Hi, just wonder if some things which help me, might do so for you to.
Do you have good support cushions during the day? I ask this because I spent months in agony in the small of my back, when in bed. Then I changed my cushion and got relief. I`ve had to do so again, as the cushions lose their support after a time.
I also have a profiling bed, with an air-circulating mattress…
I take baclofen and quinine at night to quiten my body. I often have to sleep with one leg bent up and a pillow underneath to avoid pins and needles.
poor sleep can make us so tetchy and badly fatigued.
I recently heard that having a warm bath with fynon salts eases the muscles too. Cant try that one, as we dont have a bath.
You could also try drinking tonic water before bed too.
I do feel for you, as I still have poor sleep some nights.
luv Pollx
Hi Amanda
I sympathise with you as I have very poor sleep due to pain caused by spasms and stiffness in my leg, hip and lower back.
I have tried baclofen, tizanidine, clonazepam, gabapentin, cocodamol, and am now taking tramadol. I had to stop most of them due to side effects.
Could you ask your GP if there is anything else you can try. I think there are several drugs which can help.
Carol
Hi,
Whammel gave me the same advice re: magnesium. It was good advice and it improved my cramps and spasms. I also drink tonic water. As for the pins and needles I take amitriptyline which I am going to change because it gives me a hangover in the morning, not good for driving to work! I sometimes have to support behind my knees with an extra pillow on a bad night. I am a big believer in stretching exercises before I go to bed as well, I do yoga religiously.
Incidentally, dark chocolate has a fairly high content of magnesium if thats of any interest to you!
Suex
I too drink tonic water and eat plenty of bananas they too are good for cramp/spasms on top of Gabapentin but like Amanda I too dread going to bed- seem to spend more time awake with pain than I do asleep. Was up 2 1/2 hrs in night last night and had to go back to bed earlier this morning, thankfully managed to get 2 hrs pain free - butnow the days almost half way through!! Oh the joys