Stiffness in right leg

[limpyboy]

Hi,
I am a new one here as a user, so please accept my apologize if i am doing something wrong.
I have MS since 2006, so almost ten years. A couple months ago I felt that my right leg is so stiff.
I am on gilenya but copaxone, rebif, betaferon I had too.
This feeling is horrible. I can not walk for so long. I feel like my quad is so weak and can not straight posture.
If I was work out my quads on the right, spastic leg, the nex day was bad and without strength in this muscle. Stretching looks very similar, the leg is not stiff but very weak. So what I have to do with this kind of issue? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Best regard,
Limpy
p.s Please forgive me my gramma and so on, I came from Poland.

[NHE]

Welcome to ThisIsMS. Magnesium supplements can help with muscle spasticity. Have you tried that? If not, then consider trying 200-400 mg/day of magnesium as magnesium glycinate which is a highly absorbable form that our bodies can readily utilize. Other than that, I would suggest physical therapy to help maintain muscle strength.

[limpyboy]

Thank you for advice, I have been trying some magnesium but not so huge doses.
Exercises is a problem for me cause my right, stiff, spastic leg does not work as I want to .
If I make some strength exercises at the next day the leg is more stiff. I can not bend my leg, or straight when I stand up after sitting.
But if I focus on stretching my right leg at the next day the leg is so weak with drop foot.
So my work out is focus on left leg only.
I have no idea what is the solution. I realize that I need strength my right leg, but I do not know how?
As I said, my experience with MS is very long, so I tried a lot, believe me.

[ElliotB]

Have you tried stretching several times a day?

[limpyboy]

What do you mean? Right leg a several times? Yes, when I am at home or at work. But after stretching my leg is weak. Only 2 times with 15s hold and that is enough to feel worse.

[limpyboy]

Does anyone has similar symptoms? After sleeping or long sitting straighten the leg is difficult, but while walking bend the leg is difficult too. I guess that is a spasticity but If I stretching the leg is too weak, If I strengthen is too stiff.
Any help?
p.s I bought a glycinate magnesiom.

[ElliotB]

When I had symptoms similar to yours, I stretched and exercised. It wasn't easy at first but after a while, things improved. You will need to be patient and persistent as you combat this. I keep my symptoms from coming back by continuing to stretch and exercise every day.

[limpyboy]

Ok, thank you. I read yesterday about two types of spasticity, extensor and flexor.. I think it is important to know which one of them exists.
As I wrote I feel stiffness in the right leg. When I wake up at the morning I need straighten my leg, it looks like contraction. Sometimes when I am standing I have to climb on my toes to feel relax and straight leg.
Recognize of spasticity is important to choose correcrt exercises I think.
Until now I was strengthening my knees and quads, but hamstring was stretching. Some exercises for as I think felxor type.
Honestly I did not see any spectacular effects. Maybe I have made miastake? Maybe I have the second type? Extensor spasticity?
What are the symptoms of this two kinds?

[ElliotB]

Perhaps you should see your doctor and/or a physical therapist or a rehab center

[limpyboy]

I had a few physical therapists. No one could help me. Besides my doctor does not hear my questions. She is focused only older kinds of ms treatments. therefore I am here, and I am asking ms society.
I described my symtpoms maybe anyone could give some advices ?

[lyndacarol]

Welcome to ThisIsMS.

Your doctor may see all your symptoms as part of MS. It is possible that some symptoms that have appeared since your diagnosis in 2006 have NOTHING to do with your diagnosis of MS. Not all of your symptoms are necessarily related to MS. If you were coughing, sneezing, and had a fever, would your doctor think this is part of MS? Of course not! We hope she would think first of a virus or bacteria – a cold or flu or infection. In the same way, your recent symptoms could have a totally different cause.

If you feel that your doctor does not hear your questions, perhaps it is time start over with a new doctor – GP or internist. Write a list of all your symptoms – old and new. Discuss it with a different doctor and plan the testing you will need.

Just as NHE suggested, magnesium can often help muscle spasms. But maybe you are unable to absorb magnesium taken by mouth from your digestive tract; maybe you need another way to receive magnesium. Discuss with your doctor the possibility of getting magnesium intravenously (through a blood vessel in your arm). But, a doctor will probably want to test for your magnesium level first – to see if the level is low.

In fact, your doctor may want to do blood tests for many minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, as well as magnesium) and vitamins, like vitamin B12, vitamin D. Sometimes, a person who is low in nutrients (minerals and vitamins) can have your symptoms of muscle weakness, stiffness, or spasticity.

[limpyboy]

After visit in PT, thigh extensor are spastic. Does anyone has similar problem?
Now I have a few exercises to strength my biceps femoris, e.g. lift legs while lying on stomach.
I hope that it will be helpful.
Thanks for replies and mobilization to contact with different specialist.

[ElliotB]

Remember, you will need to be patient and persistent in your efforts. Don't be afraid to try additional stretches and exercises. Just make sure not to get hot or overheated. Do you have access to a swimming pool?

[limpyboy]

Yes, but I do not feel enough strength in my legs to try swimming. Honestly I should say that after a couple days I feel little better with my right leg, e.g foot has better feeling, and knee seems to be more strength. I realize that in front of me is a long work. I have diagnosis since 2006 but this kind of issue, that I had to limp is since 2011, so almost six years I got this stiffness.
I had spent a lot time searching some help - mostly in web, but some doctors and PT have tried to find a correct solution also.
Now I hope that is this what I was looking for.

[ElliotB]

I do a lot of walking and swimming daily. But a couple of years ago, I could barely do either. I persisted and in time I got stronger and was able to do both a little longer as each day passed. And have built up the amount I can do to more reasonable periods of time.

You will be fine. Just be patient and give it sufficient time...