Bathil
Journeyman
Reged: 11/03/03
Posts: 74
Loc: California
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Hello all
I am looking for a muscle relaxer . I tried Soma's and well other then feeling a little tired I didn't notice a huge difference in my neck.
I suppose it would be helpful to fill in on my stituation. I have CT in one hand and my other arms elbow was dislocated and fractured ( old injury that I SHOULD have had surgery on) . I work in a very physical job at night and during day I take care of my children..one is in school other is a toddler. When I finally fall asleep at night, I don't sleep well as the minute I move either arm I wake up. Needless to say I wake up with my neck so tight I can't hardly move it or my shoulders. I am currently taking Hydro as well as Nac , Milk thistle, a multi-vitamin, calcium , about once a week I may take 1 simply sleep ( or similar ..something without apap..I only take 1 because I can't take 2 or I have to sleep 12 hours to have the effect wear off)
I also walk 6 days a week as the only exercise I can do without my arms giving out on me. I love to stretch and do yoga but I am so out of shape that its hard to get back into it, not to mention I am so tight I can hardly do a simply stretch.
So I am thinking of adding a MR to my schedule,certainly not daily but as something to help me so I can relax my neck and shoulders..
Any advice would be most appreciated.
Bathil
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lemongrass
Board Addict
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 361
Loc: IL
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Welcome to DB!
I don't have any sound advice as far as MR's go, but I have noticed when I've sprained/strained muscles, MR's do absolutely nothing for me! I wonder why that is. Apparently, I'm not the only one who seems to have this problem.
lemongrass
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poco
Enthusiast
Reged: 03/11/02
Posts: 216
Loc: Northern New England
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Bathil,
I believe I have tried every MR out there..
The best one for me is Valium. It will definitely help you sleep at night too.
Without Valium, I don't sleep. If I rolled over I would wake up screaming out in pain then stay awake the rest of the night.
Now(with Valium)rolling over wakes me but the pain settles down and I fall back to sleep easily.
Just my experience...Poco
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DEA = Practicing medicine without a license
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I was in a head-on collision in 1992 and suffered pretty serious and permanent "soft tissue" injuries (thank God for seat belts) to my neck, shoulders and mid-back. None of the Flexeril/Soma/Norflex drugs helped at all. Xanax did wonders.
The problem with Xanax is the dependence issue. I did not want to be "addicted" to Xanax, so gave it up after about 6 months. Now I just suffer when I get flare-ups.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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mpcagh
Member
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 130
Loc: California
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Hi!
Sorry to hear about all the pain. I've been through that with my back. I was prescibed Norflex, Skelaxin, and Flexeril, and I don't feel like they did anything for me. I felt absolutely nothing, just sleepiness. I don't know if you have tried accupuncture, but it helps me. It doesn't take away all the pain and tension, but it can reduce it. Hope you feel better soon!
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"There's a fine line between love and hate, and a mile full of lessons in between." William M. Siegel, Jr.
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IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 874
Loc: usa
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Have you ever taken Baclofen? It's prescribed to patients with brain damage who develop muscle spasticity r/t the brain damage...which is the most severe form of muscle spasm....when I'm toast & nothing esle worked, baclofen did the trick....the only thing is once you start taking it, you must wean off of it...you can't stop cold turkey or there is a risk of seizures....but if you only take it once in awhile....it poses no problem...it's cheap too & pretty readily available....even your PCP shouldn't have problems writing for it...it's benign.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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No, never even heard of it. Thanks for the suggestion. Nothing makes my back/neck issues flare up like sitting at the computer or sewing machine (been doing a lot of both lately) and the muscle spasms in the trapezius muscle on my right side make me want to die it hurts so bad. I will ask my doc about that on my next appointment.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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bhamdave
Threadhead
Reged: 01/11/02
Posts: 952
Loc: U.S.A.
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Sorry you have those problems as most of us do.
You may have to experiment with some of the various mr's but with caution.
Everyone is different and all med's will work differently also.
Good Luck
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AIDS
It's not YOUR problem (I hope that)
It's not MY problem (I know that)
But it is still OUR problem and WE know that!
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Bathil
Journeyman
Reged: 11/03/03
Posts: 74
Loc: California
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Thank you all for the replys. I have considered the benzo route but after reading about how the w/d are worse than hydro and the addictiveness, etc, etc I was really trying to avoid them. I definately will try acupuncture, as I have used it before and it did help. I think part of my problem is my deep sleep, I never slept well and then adding children didn't help. I sleep with one ear open if you know what I mean  . I don't like the thought of being in such a deep sleep I won't hear one of them.
A couple years ago I was going through horrid headaches. I had jaw surgery 20 years ago and have always had them but this was far worse then 'normal' . A few times a month I would get migranes as well. My pcp at the time put me on a low dosage of Nortrypline( sp is wrong I know). At a low dosage it works as a sleep pill. HOLY cow did it work. Her belief was my headaches were caused from a lack of deep sleep. Partly of which was true, so I took them for 4 months and it did help to restore me. I still get headaches but mainly from the TMJ but again I have had them literally for the last 20 years so its almost like I am used to it. I guess my point being is while I certainly liked being ' knocked' out to the point where I finally slept I don't feel its too responsible as a parent to do that. Not to mention I work nights and I hardly am able to get a full nights sleep so I tend to spend the day groggy if I take something to help me sleep.
I was hoping there was a decent MR that could help me so I wouldn't have to wake up with my neck and shoulders so tight.
I may try a differnt MR first before trying the valium .
Again thank you all for the replys. I am so grateful this board is here with all the support and help.
God bless
Bathil
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