Re: 1st movement after waking triggers violent muscle spasms
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 7:52 pm
Hi,
You've done really well to be so aware of what impacts you. If I was in your position I'd stay away from gluten and any added sugar (naturally occurring is ok). Aside from what we've discussed on supplementation, it might help to keep a food diary so it's easier to look for patterns associated with tightness.
Where you have described the tightness sounds like you will have to do some work to undo it. If there is noticeable tightness then your pelvis is likely tilted out of neutral. Up the front of your legs it will feel it in the pectineus, quads, hip flexors and significantly the iliopsoas. If you have trouble externally rotating (eg action to get on a horse, swing your leg over a low fence) then it will be the periformis. On the side near the iliopsoas it could be the TFL (tensor fasciae latae). Down the leg it could be the ITB (Iliotibial band). Sometimes it can be driven by where they all originate from. Down the back of the leg it can be hamstrings, calves etc. Your back can have a tight muscle around the spine called the multifidus. When they switch off a stooped, round should posture develops which adds to strain elsewhere.
The issue will be to strengthen those muscles and make them flexible when they are elongated. You will need a good massage person going over you trying to release them. When it hurts rather than just say "ouch" say "what's that muscle called?". Hopefully they are good enough to know. This is what I did. I took that knowledge to my pilates instructor and said "this is the muscle I need to exercise". As that style of exercise aims to isolate the muscle you can actually get to work it.
Additionally, I would strongly suggest some dry needling on those tight spots. The needle is the same as an acupuncture needle but the aim is to make micro tears in the fascia at that exact spot rather than stimulate some pathway. Everything in your body is covered in fascia. It is the connective tissue that stops us being a puddle on the floor and gives us our shape but it can get tight. It is more to do with sore muscles than the muscles themselves.
So address infections, boost ATP formation, avoid inflammation (blah blah blah etc) but definitely do something to move and strengthen those muscles or they will lock up and the fascia will tighten around them to leave them in that position.
For what its worth, this is what I put in my mouth
Supplements. Morning 500mg Valacyclovir, 2000mg aceytl-l-carnitine, Magnesium tablet, curcumin tablet, 25mg Dantrium (heavy duty drug)
Breakfast Apple Juice,1 naturally ripened banana, 2 boiled eggs, 1 whole avocado
Lunch Something light (soup, Japanese/asian stuff etc)
Dinner Meat and root vegetables
Night same supplements plus 750mg CoQ10
No gluten, no added sugar, almost no alcohol,
Good luck.
You've done really well to be so aware of what impacts you. If I was in your position I'd stay away from gluten and any added sugar (naturally occurring is ok). Aside from what we've discussed on supplementation, it might help to keep a food diary so it's easier to look for patterns associated with tightness.
Where you have described the tightness sounds like you will have to do some work to undo it. If there is noticeable tightness then your pelvis is likely tilted out of neutral. Up the front of your legs it will feel it in the pectineus, quads, hip flexors and significantly the iliopsoas. If you have trouble externally rotating (eg action to get on a horse, swing your leg over a low fence) then it will be the periformis. On the side near the iliopsoas it could be the TFL (tensor fasciae latae). Down the leg it could be the ITB (Iliotibial band). Sometimes it can be driven by where they all originate from. Down the back of the leg it can be hamstrings, calves etc. Your back can have a tight muscle around the spine called the multifidus. When they switch off a stooped, round should posture develops which adds to strain elsewhere.
The issue will be to strengthen those muscles and make them flexible when they are elongated. You will need a good massage person going over you trying to release them. When it hurts rather than just say "ouch" say "what's that muscle called?". Hopefully they are good enough to know. This is what I did. I took that knowledge to my pilates instructor and said "this is the muscle I need to exercise". As that style of exercise aims to isolate the muscle you can actually get to work it.
Additionally, I would strongly suggest some dry needling on those tight spots. The needle is the same as an acupuncture needle but the aim is to make micro tears in the fascia at that exact spot rather than stimulate some pathway. Everything in your body is covered in fascia. It is the connective tissue that stops us being a puddle on the floor and gives us our shape but it can get tight. It is more to do with sore muscles than the muscles themselves.
So address infections, boost ATP formation, avoid inflammation (blah blah blah etc) but definitely do something to move and strengthen those muscles or they will lock up and the fascia will tighten around them to leave them in that position.
For what its worth, this is what I put in my mouth
Supplements. Morning 500mg Valacyclovir, 2000mg aceytl-l-carnitine, Magnesium tablet, curcumin tablet, 25mg Dantrium (heavy duty drug)
Breakfast Apple Juice,1 naturally ripened banana, 2 boiled eggs, 1 whole avocado
Lunch Something light (soup, Japanese/asian stuff etc)
Dinner Meat and root vegetables
Night same supplements plus 750mg CoQ10
No gluten, no added sugar, almost no alcohol,
Good luck.