My most recent flare up has broght unprecedented pain and severe insomnia, aggravated by greatly increased spasams.
I lie down and they start...first one here and there, then they start firing all over...up to about 10 a minute, pop, pop pop, everywhere. Some get the torso muscles and my whole body convulses. What used do be just an annoyance is now really making my quest for sleep a nightmare.
Can anyone share your insights on what helps reduce these spasams ? I am also curious as to their origin (neuro, muscular, chemical ?). Sleep meds help but only for a few weeks, then my body gets used to them. So, I try to only use them to get through the worst of flares - so that they will actually work when I need them most.
Thank You !
Posts: 67 | From Fredericksburg, VA USA | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Are you taking magnesium?
Posts: 16 | From Ohio | Registered: Sep 2006
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Prior to back surgery for a slipped disc, when my back spasms were really, really, really bad...
I used "Formula 303" which contains Valerian Root. It worked for a few hours.
It doesn't "stink" quite as bad as other OTC Valerian Root supps do.
Acetylcholine signals the muscles to contract...sending calcium in, it appears.
Are you watching your blood sugar levels and pH levels? With a low pH (acidic) this is an indication of too much inflammation...ouch.
Serotonin + 2 enzymes -> melatonin to help us to FALL asleep. This happens FIRST.
Then acetylcholine kicks in. REM sleep. Rapid eye movement.
We go back and forth all night. Melatonin-serotonin-melatonin, etc.
5HTP converts to serotonin. 5HTP contains the amino acid, tryptophan, + other nutrients. Tryptophan is in turkey which is why we are sleepy after a nice Thanksgiving meal.
To make melatonin from serotonin, ONE of the (2) enzymes is N-acetyltransferase. To make acetylcholine, we use C-acetyltransferase.
We are chemical factories. These chemicals have electromagnetic charges.
The *primary* elements we need are: C, H, O, and N. These are the building blocks. How much of each and how they are ARRANGED, makes a HUGE difference. Oh...that's carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Of course, we need many more elements, but these are very important.
Here are some examples:
1.acetylcholine C7H16NO2 2.melatonin C13H16N2O2 3.Warfarin (blood thinner also known to knock off Bb) C19H16O4
The list goes on...
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
I vote for 400 mgs. of Magnesium Citrate at bedtime. I have bad spasms too and it helps me. Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
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