Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Cannot stretch without cramping

So along with this pain at night time I have found something else out for sure. For some time now I found I don't dare stretch in the morning especially. It causes severe leg cramps and now I know if I stretch my spine, it will cause cramps. So all is apparently from the spine that is affecting the legs and maybe the feet and hands as well. Must explain those charlie horses at night.
I remember how good it used to feel to stretch.
Even my jaw bothers me now and my shoulder feels like it's dropping. Surely that is not possible. Hurts clear along my clavicle. Strange things going on here.
Can you stretch?
~Kewanee

I take Flexaril for the muscle spasms.

I have trouble stretching too. The physical therapist had me doing stretching exercises for my neck and it just made it worse. I've tried from time to time to do them and it always makes my neck hurt worse. My clavicle also hurts when I'm really stressed. My whole chest area gets tight. When it's like this a massage is about the only thing that will help.

I can't stretch my legs, because it caused problems in my knees. Well, I can sort of stretch, but I have to keep my knees bent, can't straighten them out or it will hurt them.

I don't know if it helps you any to know you are not alone in this, but now there are at least two of us.

whatcha takin' for inflammation? I am of the impression that the inflammation is what makes your muscles feel like they can't stretch. I go in and out of it, good days and bad days but I think the enbrel is really helping the inflammation much more than all the other stuff I had been taking.

also, every night weather I need it or not..I take a narcotic, muscle relaxer and a sleeping pill..I stretch whilst I'm stoned b/c the muscle relaxer is in full swing I don't usually take a full muscle relaxer or I couldn't get up in the morning but the thing is..pain begets restlessness, that begets poor sleep, poor sleep begets more pain, more pain begets less mobility...it's a nasty vicious cycle. so for right now..the enbrel seems to really help the inflammatory response and my other little coloured friends are really helping to relax and sleep pain free. Now I am feeling better in the mornings...all be it slow. and, I am beginning to be able to really get some genuine exercise in so I am getting stronger and better circulation in my stiff crippled up muscles. often when I start feeling really bad...I actually force myself to do some really gentle exercise and lately, it has been pulling me out of the beginnings of flares.

it sounds like that would be too much for you right now, but I just wonder about anti inflammatories....sorry about all that cramping tho. that is just exhausting to deal with that all the time. Hope you are able to get it under some better control soon. Amy
PS~ also, I don't know how the weather is but whe I feel real stiff and unstretchy like that..I have been sitting in th espa or take the hottest shower i can stand and I have been investing in a massage twice a month. it's more than I can afford, and other things kinda fall to the wayside but it is proving to be priceless. that is two really good maintenance practices and that are paying off in the health issue even tho the bills are a little short. I hate that but i had to make an executive decision and ecided to take care of myself. God owns all the hills and all the bills that go with them...so I am finding that somehow, the money has been there, just. Thank heavens for that! hang in there

Hi there. I would suggest icing to reduce inflammation in the joint and/or moist heat to help with muscle tension. Light massage should also help. As for stretching, are you stretching cold, or do you move the area around a little before starting. Also, are you trying to stretch fully (perhaps over-stretching a painful area), or do you just do a very slight stretch. Pins and needles can sometimes occur in a stretch, but they are not necessarily reason to stop the stretch (breathing into the area can help with that). However, if it is an "OUCH!!!" pain, then stop the stretch.

I learned a very good shoulder thing that I have found helps to ease up my shoulders for me. I lean forward with one hand on a table to support me and the other arm hanging freely. Very slowly I make small circles - usually 8 - first in a clockwise and then in counterclockwise direction. If this hurts, don't do it. If it doesn't hurt, it may be a way of very gently warming up the shoulder area before trying to stretch it out. If you do move on to a stretch, just stretch gently until you only just start feeling the stretch, instead of going full on with it.

If you cannot stretch at all - gently or otherwise - without an "OUCH!!" type pain, then don't stretch. Just try to move the area, very gently, so that you don't stiffen up completely. And keep breathing, long, slow, deep into your belly breathes. These will go a long way to helping you relax the muscles involved.

Hope this eases for you soon.

Hugs,

Hi Kewanee,

I also get cramping from stretching. Sometimes just from yawning. I believe it is a calcium and/or magnesium deficiency. Dr. Haas who researched digestive tract problems and the no starch treatment says that minerals are not well absorbed until the gut is healed (by the no starch diet). In my own experience a calcium + magnesium pill (all in one - so it will be properly balanced) helps immensely. You might also add vitamin D to that to help absorb the calcium especially if you don't get much sun on your skin. Don't use magnesium sulfate - it causes diarrhea and is not well absorbed. You can also get magnesium by increasing dark green leafy vegetables (except spinach and chard which inhibit magnesium absorption so don't take the supplements with them). Good luck.

David

I suggest getting in the warm water of a hydrotherapy pool and do your stretches in water.

Only move as far as you can without pain. Begin stretching for the count of 3 and then increase slowly. It takes practice.