Recent nasty attack left me with very stiff aching legs - look like the Tin Man when walking.
Should I be looking for drugs to help with the stiffness or might muscle relaxants relax the muscles which support me?
Hello TM
I know that way of walking very well.
It has got a lot worse over the last 12 months.
What drugs have you been offered?
Baclofen is used by a lot of people, but beware, it could relax the muscles a bit too much.
The stairs in my house are very steep so the first morning after beginning to take them, I was in a quandary-desperate for a coffee and scared of falling downstairs. I went down on my bum, the way I showed my sons when they were first able to use the stairs.
Dignity? I vaguely remember that!
I stopped taking them, although have one packet set aside for emergencies.
Diazepam are brilliant and not scary at all.
There are others but my poor tired brain needs a rest.
Talk to your GP and see what is available.
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Hi,
Yes, I understand your symptoms, I’m tin woman!!
Have to do lots of calf stretches before I can get moving in the morning.
Speak to your neurologist. They will refer you to a physio who will show you exercises to help. Also lots of muscle relaxants may help.
Baclofen and Tizanidine, I take both.
Take care
Jen
Hi, baclofen does ease stiffness and spasms, but please be careful with the dosage.
Many MSers have been told to find their own best level of dosage . I went right up to 100mg a day before it zapped my spasticity…but then it made my leg muscles too weak and it caused falls and me to become a wheelchair user within 2 years.
The neuros didnt warn me, nor seem to care at the time!
A friend of mine who has a very similar disease to MS has a baclofen pump inserted into her abdomen. This delivers a minute amount of baclofen right where and when it is needed. She swears by it.
Boudsx