Managing your MS Muscle Spasms

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which attacks the protective nerve coating called myelin. Because of this, your muscles do not always get the right signals from the brain in regards to releasing and contracting. Spasticity aka muscle stiffness and spasms are a result of the missed signals. These spasms and spasticity affect the muscles of the arms and legs and can interfere with your voluntary muscle movements.

The spasms and spasticity occurs in several ways such as a constant stiffness in the muscles or as spasms which tighten and then release the muscle at regular intervals. Of course, these spasms and spasticity more likely occur at night when you need your rest and sleep. This spasticity can cause a general tightening of many muscles, especially near the joint area. It has also been known to cause lower back pain and the intensity may differ depending on what you are doing.

Cause of the Spasticity and Spasms

When spasticity and spasms occur when you have MS, this means that your body is receiving electrical signals from your spinal cord and brain which do not balance properly. This disparity of electrical signals causes your muscles to overact, thus creating a stiffness and involuntary contracting of the muscles. This is the cause of the severe tension in the muscles.

There are several factors which can trigger the spasticity in particular. Infection is one factor and even wearing constricting clothing is another. And because many MS sufferers are heat intolerant, both heat and humidity can cause a spastic reaction. Your doctor will typically have to evaluate your medical records thoroughly and see what medications you are on to determine whether you indeed have spasticity. Part of this diagnosis includes physical testing of your muscle movements and range of motion.

Treatments for the Spasms and Spasticity

Physical therapy is by far the most preferred treatment for the spasticity and spasms. Medications are a close second and surgery is the last resort. The severity of your MS along with your overall health play into what treatment options would be most beneficial to you. In addition, how the spasticity affects your every day activities as well as how painful it is to you comes into play when choosing a treatment.

Physical therapy can help you build up a daily exercise and stretching plan. In addition, learning the right stretches can help you lengthen your muscles which in turn reduce the spasticity in your limbs. A referral to an occupational therapist may be necessary to employ extra methods to control your spasms and spasticity. Your limb or limbs may be put in a cast, brace or even a splint to help reduce the involuntary movements to maintain your flexibility and movement.

Medications work to help relax the muscles during an MS spastic attack. Even Valium can help depress the muscles to reduce your spasms so that you could sleep through the night. Surgery is a final resort because it can be quite drastic. For example, a rhizotomy involves excising away a portion of the spinal nerve to decrease tension in the muscles and reduce pain. A tenotomy releases the tendons so as to lower the frequency of spastic actions from your limbs. This type of surgery might have to be repeated as necessary. Only when no other remedy works will surgery ever be an option.