@ksdm - Ouch! I can sympathize - muscle spasms are horrible, and you want to do ANYTHING to make them stop. But, we cannot advise you on whether to take a medication that wasn't prescribed for the issue you are having right now. Please contact your provider to figure out what to do.
In addition to the usual home remedies of heat, ice, pain relievers or stretching, doctors also have meds (non-opioid) in their arsenal that can relieve muscle spasms.
Have you talked to your provider?
My doctor gave me a script for Oxycodone for my muscle spasm. As I said, I haven't taken any for fear of addiction! I've been to 5 pain clinics and 6 other doctors. They usually prescribe pain meds. which all upset my stomach so that I can't eat. I do heat most of the day and ice in btween. I went to another pain clinic two weeks ago and he gave me a shot (Prednisone?) It didn't work, so two weeks later ( yesterday) he gave me another shot which so far, hasn't worked. My whole summer has been sitting in my recliner and trying to stay awake! I take 10 mg. Valium which helps some but can't leave the heating pad and the chair! I am 82, so it can't last too long!!
My doctor gave me a script for Oxycodone for my muscle spasm. As I said, I haven't taken any for fear of addiction! I've been to 5 pain clinics and 6 other doctors. They usually prescribe pain meds. which all upset my stomach so that I can't eat. I do heat most of the day and ice in btween. I went to another pain clinic two weeks ago and he gave me a shot (Prednisone?) It didn't work, so two weeks later ( yesterday) he gave me another shot which so far, hasn't worked. My whole summer has been sitting in my recliner and trying to stay awake! I take 10 mg. Valium which helps some but can't leave the heating pad and the chair! I am 82, so it can't last too long!!
Yeah I'd be concerned with anything but temporary use of oxycodone due to the risk of addiction. Follow your Dr's prescription. Did he prescribe them for occasional use only?
One other thought - can your Dr refer you to a physical therapist for stretching and other exercises to address the spasms.
Stay strong. I've had back spasms and they are painful. It's hard to move. All the best to you! Joe
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Aug 3 8:05am
@ksdm I get occasional back spasms but not as painful or debilitating as you describe. I do understand your pain and while opioids work in the short term they don't work in the long term without increasing the dose and the risk of addiction - just as you mentioned. In addition, as we get older (I'm 72-years-old) our balance is affected and so we are at risk of falling. I work on balance, by the way, through my workouts and yoga. Anyway, opioids and medications like Valium can affect balance and then we are at even more risk of falls.
I work with a personal trainer at my gym and she has a method she uses to "straighten" me out that works for me. It turns out that when I get twisted up from these spasms that untwisting me is very helpful. I also go to a massage therapist and have used acupuncture. I follow Adriene on YouTube and do yoga. It's free and she has some wonderful and very gentle yoga that is just for backs and balance. An added plus is that my cats like to do yoga with me as I'm on the floor on a mat.
Hi @ksdm
For muscle spasms I take Baclofen. I have a prescription that says Take one three times a day! I find that I only need 1/2 tab, when needed.
Taken with my Emtec-30s, and taken only when my ice packs no longer work, I find the combination to be effective.
We are all different in regard to our reactions to drugs. It is the long road of 'Trial & Error' before finding what works best.
Hope you find what is effective for you and soon!
Addiction comes with overuse. If you use one or two a day you won't become addicted. I have been on high doses through the years and was able to stop right away. If you have an addictive personality, ie (have to have alcohol everyday), yes, you could need that boost every day. I saw that with my sister-in-law as she is an alcoholic.
My doctor gave me a script for Oxycodone for my muscle spasm. As I said, I haven't taken any for fear of addiction! I've been to 5 pain clinics and 6 other doctors. They usually prescribe pain meds. which all upset my stomach so that I can't eat. I do heat most of the day and ice in btween. I went to another pain clinic two weeks ago and he gave me a shot (Prednisone?) It didn't work, so two weeks later ( yesterday) he gave me another shot which so far, hasn't worked. My whole summer has been sitting in my recliner and trying to stay awake! I take 10 mg. Valium which helps some but can't leave the heating pad and the chair! I am 82, so it can't last too long!!
Ask your doctor about nerve ablation. I am going on 16 months without any pain in my back. I don't know if that is anything that might help. I went to a lot of doctors before I found a doctor that suggested the ablation.
Yeah I'd be concerned with anything but temporary use of oxycodone due to the risk of addiction. Follow your Dr's prescription. Did he prescribe them for occasional use only?
One other thought - can your Dr refer you to a physical therapist for stretching and other exercises to address the spasms.
Stay strong. I've had back spasms and they are painful. It's hard to move. All the best to you! Joe
Yeah I'd be concerned with anything but temporary use of oxycodone due to the risk of addiction. Follow your Dr's prescription. Did he prescribe them for occasional use only?
One other thought - can your Dr refer you to a physical therapist for stretching and other exercises to address the spasms.
Stay strong. I've had back spasms and they are painful. It's hard to move. All the best to you! Joe
Yeah I'd be concerned with anything but temporary use of oxycodone due to the risk of addiction. Follow your Dr's prescription. Did he prescribe them for occasional use only?
One other thought - can your Dr refer you to a physical therapist for stretching and other exercises to address the spasms.
Stay strong. I've had back spasms and they are painful. It's hard to move. All the best to you! Joe
Unless you are one of the 15% of people in the world w a genetic predilection for addiction to Opioids, you will NOT get addicted. Stop worrying. You can develop a physical dependency, but that's a completely different thing from addiction. If you don't "crave" an opioid euphoria, you are not addicted. People in pain crave pain relief. Totally different.
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@ksdm - Ouch! I can sympathize - muscle spasms are horrible, and you want to do ANYTHING to make them stop. But, we cannot advise you on whether to take a medication that wasn't prescribed for the issue you are having right now. Please contact your provider to figure out what to do.
In addition to the usual home remedies of heat, ice, pain relievers or stretching, doctors also have meds (non-opioid) in their arsenal that can relieve muscle spasms.
Have you talked to your provider?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsMy doctor gave me a script for Oxycodone for my muscle spasm. As I said, I haven't taken any for fear of addiction! I've been to 5 pain clinics and 6 other doctors. They usually prescribe pain meds. which all upset my stomach so that I can't eat. I do heat most of the day and ice in btween. I went to another pain clinic two weeks ago and he gave me a shot (Prednisone?) It didn't work, so two weeks later ( yesterday) he gave me another shot which so far, hasn't worked. My whole summer has been sitting in my recliner and trying to stay awake! I take 10 mg. Valium which helps some but can't leave the heating pad and the chair! I am 82, so it can't last too long!!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYeah I'd be concerned with anything but temporary use of oxycodone due to the risk of addiction. Follow your Dr's prescription. Did he prescribe them for occasional use only?
One other thought - can your Dr refer you to a physical therapist for stretching and other exercises to address the spasms.
Stay strong. I've had back spasms and they are painful. It's hard to move. All the best to you! Joe
@ksdm I get occasional back spasms but not as painful or debilitating as you describe. I do understand your pain and while opioids work in the short term they don't work in the long term without increasing the dose and the risk of addiction - just as you mentioned. In addition, as we get older (I'm 72-years-old) our balance is affected and so we are at risk of falling. I work on balance, by the way, through my workouts and yoga. Anyway, opioids and medications like Valium can affect balance and then we are at even more risk of falls.
I work with a personal trainer at my gym and she has a method she uses to "straighten" me out that works for me. It turns out that when I get twisted up from these spasms that untwisting me is very helpful. I also go to a massage therapist and have used acupuncture. I follow Adriene on YouTube and do yoga. It's free and she has some wonderful and very gentle yoga that is just for backs and balance. An added plus is that my cats like to do yoga with me as I'm on the floor on a mat.
Yoga with Adriene
-- https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
Do any of my suggestions appeal to you?
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3 ReactionsHi @ksdm
For muscle spasms I take Baclofen. I have a prescription that says Take one three times a day! I find that I only need 1/2 tab, when needed.
Taken with my Emtec-30s, and taken only when my ice packs no longer work, I find the combination to be effective.
We are all different in regard to our reactions to drugs. It is the long road of 'Trial & Error' before finding what works best.
Hope you find what is effective for you and soon!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionAddiction comes with overuse. If you use one or two a day you won't become addicted. I have been on high doses through the years and was able to stop right away. If you have an addictive personality, ie (have to have alcohol everyday), yes, you could need that boost every day. I saw that with my sister-in-law as she is an alcoholic.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsAsk your doctor about nerve ablation. I am going on 16 months without any pain in my back. I don't know if that is anything that might help. I went to a lot of doctors before I found a doctor that suggested the ablation.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI was going to physical Therapy and got a back spasm of the other side of my back!
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1 ReactionJust occasional use, but I haven't tried one yet. Too scared. Valium in working but it takes a long time to kick in!
Unless you are one of the 15% of people in the world w a genetic predilection for addiction to Opioids, you will NOT get addicted. Stop worrying. You can develop a physical dependency, but that's a completely different thing from addiction. If you don't "crave" an opioid euphoria, you are not addicted. People in pain crave pain relief. Totally different.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
9 Reactions