Muscle spasms that wake me up | Arthritis Information

Just curious if anyone out there is actually awakened by their muscle spasms and can actually see that their hands, legs, shoulders etc. are twisted up or strained? I have noticed this many nights and I have to actually talk myself out of it. The doctors have done an X-ray and an MRI on my cervical spine, and they can actually see that it is almost constantly spasming. I can only take Selaxin as the other muscle relaxers knock me clean out. I was dx'd with PA and fibromyalgia 3 years ago. The spasms just started happening a couple of months ago.

Just wondering if this happens to anyone else.

Yes, I've had them wake me during the night, and I can DEFINITELY see that my foot/feet are twisted into abnormal positions.  I have to stand on them for a good 10 minutes, keeping pressure on them, in order to get it to relax.  And the spot that was spasming is usually sore for a couple of days afterwards.

I was dx'd about 6 years ago with fibro and ra, and only recently started getting the muscle spasms.  Recently started getting them in  my jaws as well.

Cris

My pain specialists nurse told me to take Vitamin E for spasms. I have not tryed that yet so I can not tell you if it works or not.

I had twitches in my legs for years, associated with my arthritis. I found that hydrotherapy treatment helped. I bought a system that fits in my bath at home and find it relaxes my legs and back brilliantly. There's more information on them here http://www.hydrotherapy-treatment.co.uk/ I use it just before going to bed, and most nights I have an undisturbed nights sleep.

Taking magnesium has worked wonders for my husband and I.  You have to be careful and not take too much, or it will give you diarrhea.  I take 2 calcium/magnesium tablets before I go to bed and it really does help.  I have a lot of restless leg discomfort, and my husband suffers from muscle spasms in his legs.  If we run out of our calcium/magnesium and go a few days without taking it, we discover how much it really was helping!

If you have a leg cramp in your calf, put you toes on the floor and slowly bring your heel down.  It usually helps release the cramp.  Don't do it quickly though, you can tear the muscle.

Crunchy, I am nervous about taking quinine.  My father was prescribed quinine by his physician, and after taking it for a few months he landed in the hospital because his quinine level was too high.  With anything, including over the counter supplements like the calcium/magnesium or quinine, it's important to keep your doctor informed about what you are taking.