Source
r/CerebralPalsy•
FireproofFerret

Muscle Spasms when trying to sleep

Hi, my girlfriend has moderate cerebral palsy with spastic diplegia (she uses crutches because she can't walk unaided). For the last few months whenever she tries to fall asleep she is having muscle spams in both of her legs. She has experienced muscle spams before, but never this consistently. It probably has something to do with lockdown and not moving around as much. We were just wondering is anyone else has experience with this and has any advice?

Thank you.

Posted Feb 11, 2021, 11:03 AM UTC

911
OriiAmii•

Stretching definitely helps, as well as a muscle roller, and chamomile tea about 60-30 mins before bed if there is no other options... But the only thing that stopped my nightly muscle spasms completely is muscle relaxers.

Also it can be boring as hell but if it's really because of being sedentary you could potentially get a stepper machine and watch YouTube videos of walking. I used it for awhile when I couldn't get out to exercise and it honestly wasn't that bad.

Edit: as u/cheese0r pointed out magnesium is also absolutely wonderful if she's not on it already. It's the first thing any of my doctors mention.

Links: Muscle Roller

The Walmart Stepper I have

Similar Amazon Stepper

Walking style videos

6
HairMetalLugia95•

I've had similar experiences during lockdown. Sitting makes real tight. What I tend to do know is stretch at least 3 times a day. Like the guy below this comment said

3
cheese0r•

Like you said, moving around more could help, though from my own past experience it could be the opposite too. On days where I go over my limit or when I do too much exercise in the gym, those are the times where it's been the worst for me in terms of muscle spasms. It can be the case that even from only a single event certain muscles or muscle groups lock up and it will take days or weeks until it goes back to normal.

L-Dopa and muscle relaxants can help but of course those drugs have their own side effects so I'd only recommend asking for prescriptions for those if it's really necessary. She could also try taking magnesium supplements, or taking baths in hot water to get the circulation going, since lack of circulation is probably the biggest issue.

Edit: to add some personal experience with the medication, probably too much info but here you go

  • I took L-Dopa for 2.5 years, it absolutely helped me fall asleep easier and may have improved my quality of sleep too. Downside is that it made me sometimes feel more impulsive, reactionary, on edge. I stopped not because of those side effects but because it turned out that it caused me migraines or made them more likely to happen (possibly because I took it together with another drug).
  • I took Tetrazepam in the past and that was a great help, tension I had would resolve really well and I'd also get tired very fast after taking it. Biggest downside is that it would have an overhang into the next morning making it harder to get up. It's also absolutely not something to take for longer periods of time, benzodiazepines are no joke. I stopped taking it only because it was taken off the EU market and I didn't find someone who'd prescribe me something similar yet.
  • I've tried Tizanidine which is often used to tread muscle spasticity but my body (probably my liver) completely rejected it, I felt like getting poisoned. Certainly not the expected reaction, it also didn't do anything positive for me in regards to reducing spasticity.
3
w000ah•

a few years ago the EU got a little impulsive with removing quality medicines from the market IMO over an overabundance of caution to the detriment of a lot of quality pharmaceutials when used carefully that helped a lot of people. A couple other options you may be able to consider:

1 - Pramipexole, used for RLS (sorta alongside the L-Dopa train)

2 - Skelaxin (Metaxalone) - alternate to Tizanidine. Tizanidine has too many side effects like you said.

3 - Carisoprodol (unfortunately, like Tetrazepam, available elsewhere, but also banned in EU over addiction fears which is ridiculous, because IMO its one of the least addicting yet most effective medicines! )

2
OriiAmii•

I always forget about magnesium but definitely that!!

1
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1
jcruz70•

Stretching will help this. If doctor will help ask for prescription for muscle relaxer... Other option IF LEGAL may be marijuana

1
MacIntosh26•

Yeah if you can get CBD or MMJ card in your state I would highly recommend it it does work don’t have to take very much and you don’t have to be high unless you want to be all different products at the dispensaries one disadvantage is of course none of it is covered by insurance so it’s all out-of-pocket depending on what you need Could cost you 200 a month or more

1
anniemdi•

Yes, lockdown is hard. I'm having a lot of stress, spasms and pain. If possible checking with a doctor is always best, of course.

I use Theraworx. It's $20 at grocery and drugstores as well as online. Is it as powerful as Rx relaxers? No. Does it work? Yes.

Warm bath with epsom salts is also helpful if she can use a tub. If you're doing epsom baths you can skip the Theraworx, it's the same ingredient. The salts are significantly less expensive but the foam is more convenient.

Heat in the form of a heating blanket or heating pad (with AUTO SHUT-OFF -- do not use one in bed without this feature) can be helpful, too.

1
Vergil1997•

Magnesiumcitrate helps me.

1
MacIntosh26•

CBD/ MMJ works great

1