Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Back spasms

They are driving me crazy! They disappeared for a while when Enbrel was helping me enough, but now they're back again.

Just raising my voice a little can trigger them. Mine are in the rib area, and make sleeping very difficult. I wake up several times a night from them and have to get up, heat my rice pillow, take a Tramadol, do some gentle stretching and stay up for while, but it doesn't take long until they return.

Does anyone have any good tricks for relieving back spasms? Any experiences with TENS?

Nina

Sorry to hear your having spasms again. I cant remember the last time I had one. (Well, I can, I just dont want to lol)

You are doing all the right things to try and releive them, so I cant advise you further. But if you are up to being touched, maybe a massage after applying heat might do the trick. You need to loosen up those tense irritated muscles.


Hope 'they' ease again soon,



Amber

Nina,

Yes TENS can help heaps, i use that to keep it down.

I've found celebrex works their, even a paracetomol with the trammie. I rate the ribs with the funny tingling stuff one of the worst pains because you can't sit, stand, walk anything it's horrid!

I go get some preddy now, and then after a few days do deep breathing exercise and it all cracks undone....

Before I knew what the problem was I used to go to china town for a back walk crack crack down the ribs, I've decided not to do that anymore....not a good idea!

Watch out for any chest infections etc developing, you getting any unusual night sweats chills etc?

Hope you feel better soon.


David

If you get them in bed, try to stay in the same position (don't move), mentally relax your muscles. If you move they will turn into spasms. Also lie on the side that spasms the most.
If you turn it into muscle spasms, try to find a position that relaxes the spasm and stay in that position till they subside.

Then there is the hot and cold.

Then there is the deep heat, tiger balm.

Also if it is in your chest, Vicks Vapour Rub helps with the breathing and helps the muscles.

After that comes the Muscle relaxant medications, Ducene (Valium) etc.

Hope it helps
Take Care
Wayne

Edited by wayne on 02/25/04 09:16 AM (server time).

Back spasms are commom with AS.Askyour MD for Soma or another muscle relaxer.
Kev

Hi Nina,

I use my TENS machine and my grain sack (get the sack very hot though - and use it down the centre of my spine) at the same time, that seems to do the trick, also put lavender oil on the sack which seems to helps re the TENS machine, you have to find the right setting and more importantly the right place for the pads.

Some people in the UK are prescribed a low dosage anti-depressant which acts as a muscle relaxant, trying to think of its name - amtryptaline, or something similar sounding to that.

Hope the spasms stops soon.

All the very best

Rob

Slimmer than I was!

Yes, very good advice - I do exactly the same thing. Exept the Lavender oil, I will try it for sure. Also the Amitriptyline is very effective.

Thanks for the suggestions all fellow spasm-sufferers!

I've also found something that helped the spasms; yesterday, I went for water exercise in the 36 C/97 F pool of the rheumatology department, which was very nice. Gonna go there a couple of times a week, because it was much better than regular-temped pools.

Nina

ninbot:

sorry to hear about your pain. i find that neurontin is the most effective item that helps me with pain. i still have tons of pain, but it takes the edge off. better yet, it helps me sleep, a full night's sleep, uninterrupted, yahooooo!

i hear ice is the best for inflammation, but i love heating pads, hot showers and massages.

best of luck to you,
mrs coleman

It is called Hydrotherapy and it is good.
The heat loosens the muscles and the water supports your body.

It is good, I have done it myself.

Learn the exercises they teach you, so that when you are finished at the Hydrotherapy, you can continue yourself in a local pool. I found a heated pool not far from where I lived, and managed to keep doing the exercises by myself.
You may need to buy yourself some floats, they are normally easy to find.

Take Care
Wayne