Muscles spasming at night

Nuala Watt
Nuala Watt Online Community Member Posts: 30 Listener
edited May 2014 in Cerebral Palsy Network
Hey guys. I'm 29 and have spastic diplegia. Does anyone else get - or have a child who gets - muscle spasms at night? I sleep on my stomach, but I wake up because my back arches and then I slam back down onto the mattress. Also I sometimes get involuntary hand movements. Does anyone recognise this? It's a bit annoying. I also have (controlled) epilepsy, but I don't think it's that as seizures are accompanied by nausea and there is none. I'm going to mention it to the epilepsy nurse next week just in case. I thought it might be cp as my mother says similar things happened when I slept with her when I was younger. Bemused. Any thoughts?

Comments

  • niceboots
    niceboots Scope Member Posts: 198 Empowering
    Hi, I'm 27 and have cp, I get muscle spasms at night. Mainly in my legs, In particular around my hips and also my lower back.
    I found they have got worse over the last couple of years, and this time last year I started taking baclofen, which is a muscle relaxant. it really helps take the edge off the spasms and uncomfortable tightness.
    I still get them occasionally, mainly when I've over done things or not stretched enough.
    Hope this helps
    Chris
  • eranthe
    eranthe Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    Hello! I'm Emily. I don't have spastic diplegia but I get interested in your condition. According to wikipedia when I search it. Spastic diplegia is form of cp. There is constant tightness and stiffness in the muscle. I guess the only advice that I can give you is to see physiatrists. They are physicians who are specialise in muscle and nerve.
  • Robs
    Robs Online Community Member Posts: 49 Contributor
    Hi l have Sceuermanns Decease, for which l have had my spine re-built and fixed with titanium rods etc. I too get involuntary movements and spasms. I don't know what meds you take, but l take opiates for pain and pregabalin (which is for epilepsy) but, also found to be useful in pain management. My doctors have no idea why l get spasms, one says its opiate jerk, another says its because so many nerve endings have been damaged due to the surgeries and the neurologist say they just dont know. So, no help here, just thought l would would let you know your not alone.
  • Katherine Hayward
    Katherine Hayward Online Community Member Posts: 74 Listener
    Hi, I am 32 and I have spastic quadriplegia with hydrocephalus . I get spasms at night too and take baclofen.
  • Nuala Watt
    Nuala Watt Online Community Member Posts: 30 Listener
    Thanks guys, I'm not on any meds for the cerebral palsy. I have epilepsy, which means I probably can't take baclofen, but it is nice to know spasms are common. Cheers, Nuala
  • Katie21
    Katie21 Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
    Hi I might be a bit late to comment on this. I have cp too and recently things have changed a bit, I am now getting really bad leg ache at night, it wakes me up like your spasms, I just wondered if anyone has any methods of getting rid / managing it as it is getting worse, cheers
  • niceboots
    niceboots Scope Member Posts: 198 Empowering
    Another way to help relieve the spasms is to have a good stretch out before bed, and I also use gel heat packs, they help with all sorts like spasms, tightness and just to relieve achiness. A hot water bottle would work too.
  • eranthe
    eranthe Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    You're seems okay, Nuala. I'm glad that you know about spasm.
  • redchicken43
    redchicken43 Online Community Member Posts: 48 Empowering
    I get this from time to time and it's bloody anoying as It stops me from sleeping and I can lay around for hours before it goes away. The only real solution that I have found is to have a hot bath followed by exercise. The temperature also has an effect, so if I get cold at night it seems to make things worse. Never taken baclofen or any other drugs for that matter. This is only something that I have experienced in the last 2 years so at least for me, appears to be something to do with the ageing process.
  • redchicken43
    redchicken43 Online Community Member Posts: 48 Empowering
    Another thing that is really out there when it comes to therapy for this and you may laugh and that as I get older my skin seems to be more sensitive and the hairs on my legs and feet make me itch and can set up the spasms. As a result I find rubbing skin cream onto my hairy legs and feet can stop this from happening.
  • 7Rainbows
    7Rainbows Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    I suffer with a muscle wasting disease related to adult onset muscular dystrophy. I suffer with myoclonic jerks, particularly when resting at night or sleeping. It can wake me and my partner and is so annoying. I have no prescription meds for this, but have found a herbal cure which works wonders. Closest prescription medication to it would probably be Sativex, although at present this is only legally available for MS sufferers. There are many ongoing campaigns to make this legally available for people with other conditions that would benefit, but sadly these things take a while to go through the main channels. If more of us lobby our MP's and ask our doctors for it, then there is more chance the rules will change and it will become available to everyone who would benefit.
  • Gina Harfield
    Gina Harfield Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
    My 18 year old daughter has CP and Arthritis and has recently started to suffer at night with leg spasms that are painful and wake her. She has suffered night seisures in the past. At present no meds for CP but she is taking Methotrexate and Humira for the Arthritis. Any advice as to help her with the leg spasms would be great as she is exhausted with the daily pain and now having disturbed sleep is getting so bad she is drained.
  • Gillian Coates
    Gillian Coates Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Hi , my son Josh has cerybral palsy diplega . He has just had surgery on the muscle in his calf to lengthen it, this is the 3rd attempt . Sorry waffling, Josh get terrible muscle spasm and finds a hot bath helps him or using one of those microwaveable bags . He just finds heat makes it a bit more bare able for him . I hope that helps .
  • Nadine76
    Nadine76 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Hi, my son has spastic diplegia, he is nearly 7 years old and i have found using magnesium sulphate flakes in a warm bath does reduce his spasms, alongside regular leg stretches, we try to do weekly riding with the RDA, this has also made a difference not only to his core strength but his muscle tone too and can help to minimise spasms.
  • htlcy
    htlcy Online Community Member Posts: 127 Empowering
    I get muscle spasms (CP, right sided hemi) but since I started baclofen these have been less often and my pain is greatly decreased which is amazing. Might be worth a try
  • Kelly Taylor
    Kelly Taylor Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Hi,my son who is 2yrs old who has spastic quad CP would wake up and stay up for hours bless him with his leg muscle spasms and this went on for weeks :( but was then prescribed Baclofen 2 weeks ago and what a difference!

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