Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips How do you deal with lower back/stomach spasms?

I can't really comment on that except to say that labour pains usually leave you with a reward. These wretched pains we have just go on. 2 weeks into NSD and after an initial relief I'm pretty much in misery between doses of painkillers and NSAID. Starting some physio this Sunday. Wish me luck. I really do need a breakthrough

Perhaps we are related - some 6 generations ago an Irishman figured on our family tree smile Where in the UK are you? The reason I ask is that I visit Kent often.

Sorry, Jay, I'm across the water from there - N. Ireland.

Btw - insert drum roll here - I started back at work yesterday! After close on 7 weeks off! And I am feeling a lot better though I tiptoe around any indication of a spasm flaring up - mostly at nights when I go to bed.

That's fantastic news! How are you coping? Has the back settled?

I hate to say this (some women will disagree with me) but I think the pains of inflammatory arthritis are WAY worse than labour pains.

Hi, WendyR. Will probably get in trouble, but got to agree.


I can't really comment on that except to say that labour pains usually leave you with a reward. These wretched pains we have just go on. 2 weeks into NSD and after an initial relief I'm pretty much in misery between doses of painkillers and NSAID. Starting some physio this Sunday. Wish me luck. I really do need a breakthrough

You don't seem to be getting a break at all. Will keep my fingers crossed that the physio will bring some relief.

Hi, I have been subjected to muscle spasms too. I was diagnosed because I had a three month period back in 2001 when, like Irish, I would get muscles spasms at night. They were always on the left side of my torso (oblique muscles probably) and it didn't matter what side I was sleeping on, those spasms would lift my body off my bed while I screamed in pain. Four or five times every night. It was awful. My GP prescribed a muscle relaxant for me, which worked, but left me stoned for most of the next day. I started using marijuana to deal with them and it is my favourite nighttime med now.

My feet spasm, too. Several times a year I have a period when my baby toes start, then it moves through my non-existant arches. It's horribly painful and the only thing that stops them is to press that spasming muscle into my bed. Not sure why that helps, but it does.

Hugs,

By the way, Irish, what part of Northern Ireland are you from? My dad's family emigrated through Belfast from County Antrim in the 1840s (potato famine - not that I have to tell you that - so many did emigrate during those years) to upstate New York. Two brothers moved up into Ontario sometime around the 1860s and we've been here ever since. My grandfather was a Worshipful Master in the Orange Lodge. Actually, I think my dad was the first man in his family ever to marry a non-Irish woman.

Just curious, anyway.

Hugs,

Hi Irish. Been away a while. Getting back to work was tough but I've been soldiering on - get in terribly late but as long as I get enough done the company has been very decent about things.

The spasm threat has greatly reduced as of two days ago. Strangely enough that was after it rained very heavily here - very unusual weather for Muscat. My attack started almost two months ago when we had heavy rains and is dying out with these rains.

I couldn't make it to physio that day as it was a real downpour, flash floods - 2 dead and 20 missing who were thankfully found and airlifted to safety.

I did eventually get in to physio the next day - yesterday and it has helped. I feel the worst is past. The NSD diet has helped too. It took a while for my stomach to settle but it has now. It is such a relief not to be backsliding again - touch wood.

Kat, the reason why it helped when you pressed your feet against the mattress is probably something my PT could answer -I shall ask her at my next session this Thursday. She told me that I should apply a gentle pressure against the muscle when it threatens to spasm. The spasms really are terrible aren't they! I've been living in mortal fear since these two episodes and I intend to never have one again. Been very very strict on the NSD and have cut out a lot more too - sugar, dairy ++. Losing weight has been the one good thing that happened with this. From a 72 k I've dropped to under 63k which is just a kilo or 2 shy of my BMI.

Oh, and you can't beat marijuana as a muscle relaxant! I learnt that in India but sadly none to be had here

Hi, Inanna

I was actually born in Co. Antrim, but now live in Co. Down. A beautiful place, quite close to the Irish border.

Hi Irish. Been away a while. Getting back to work was tough but I've been soldiering on - get in terribly late but as long as I get enough done the company has been very decent about things.

Sounds like you work for a good company.

The spasm threat has greatly reduced as of two days ago. Strangely enough that was after it rained very heavily here - very unusual weather for Muscat. My attack started almost two months ago when we had heavy rains and is dying out with these rains.


Great to hear that your spasm's have eased a little. Does the weather affect your AS a lot? Only reason I ask is that I'm finding the cold and wet weather hard going this year.

Mind you, that could just be age....

Yes, I think the weather is definitely a factor with AS and most other joint related conditions. And it isn't age Irish - what do you mean age - I'm a spry 45 - in my head at least . No, but seriously, the AS has responded to the weather since I was in my late teens. Just wasn't so severe then. Oh, we soldier on - hut... two tree foh. hut hut... and so on

Hmmm, if you're a spry 45, I'm guessing I'm 21 again...