This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

When I sleep (even a nap), my leg gets so stiff that it is a total struggle to get to the bathroom. I stretch and exercise ALOT. I am progressive. Is anyone like me? This is so stressing.

Hi,

As you exercise I presume you are mobile to some degree. What medications do you take and can you give us some background information on your symptoms?
I think we all know what your feeling but there are strategies to look at.

Regards

Scott1 wrote:Hi,

As you exercise I presume you are mobile to some degree. What medications do you take and can you give us some background information on your symptoms?
I think we all know what your feeling but there are strategies to look at.

Regards

I am mobile but rely on walkers, scooters, etc. Meds are Nifedipine (Raynaud in hands), nuvigil, birth control pill and naproxen. I seem to need to go when I know I am going to have difficulty geting to the bathroom - when sleeping, getting out of car, etc. I've seen a urologist and done voiding tests and even when a UTI is present and I've finished a round of antibiotics, the physical difficulty of getting to the bathroom on time remains. She has ordered a renal bladder test. I haven't taken it (yet). I just figured since I have functional incontinence, what's the point. Perhaps I was wrong.

Have you tried Baclofen? It's a muscle relaxant that helps with muscle spasms.

David1949 wrote:Have you tried Baclofen? It's a muscle relaxant that helps with muscle spasms.

Yes, I have tried Baclofen. Once at least ten years ago. It made me too sluggish. Having forgot the first time, I tried it about a year ago but this time the dosage was much higher. And again, I was very sluggish. And I still had the problem of my leg getting so stiff making getting to the bathroom on time difficult. My fingers are also very weak and dull making pulling down my pants difficult. I ordered an over-the-counter muscle relaxant, Formula 303, (hasn't been delivered yet) that I'm going to try.

cas wrote:When I sleep (even a nap), my leg gets so stiff that it is a total struggle to get to the bathroom. I stretch and exercise ALOT. I am progressive. Is anyone like me? This is so stressing.

This sounds a little like RLS (restless Leg Syndrome). I sometimes have issues falling asleep because its at this time I seem to be bothered by it. I found Magnesium citrate just before I go to bed mad a BIG difference. To me it almost seems as effective as some kind of placebo in how fast it works for me. But either way, i'll take the benefit.

Hi,

I wouldn't rule out Baclofen entirely. I wrote on note on 30th April here - http://www.thisisms.com/forum/regimens- ... 9-210.html

In it I tried to explain why muscles get tight. All Baclofen does is block Potassium from exiting the cell at too fast a rate to cause Sodium and ultimately Calcium to have a slower entry into the cell. The other half of the process is how ATP signals the proteins in muscles to relax from locking together.
You need to try to make a bit more ATP so I would try Q10 and Aceytl-Carnitine for that.

As a result of doing this, I get by on a subclinical dose of 5mg of Baclofen before bed. I found a higher dose than that gave me a loose bowel and stomach cramps.

Maybe try low dose Baclofen and something to boost ATP.

Regards