HealthCare Journey for Multiple Sclerosis
  • About Us
  • Home
  • Virtual MS Center
    • Q & A for Virtual MS Center
    • Read About Our Virtual MS Center Staff
  • News & Resources
  • Seminar Registration
  • Health & Wellness
  • Blogs
    • Physician Blog >
      • Healthcare Provider Blog
    • Physical Therapy Blog
    • Patient Blog
    • Caregiver Blog
    • Research Blogs >
      • "Ask Dr. Debbie" Research Blog
      • Multiple Perspectives In Multiple Sclerosis Research Blog
  • About MS
    • What is MS?
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • MS Tips
  • Symptoms
    • Balance and Walking Issues
    • Breathing/Respiratory
    • Bowel Dysfunction
    • Cognitive Dysfunction
    • Crying/Laughing Uncontrollably (PBA)
    • Depression and Anxiety
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • Dysphagia
    • Fatigue
    • Foot Drop
    • Hearing or Smell or Taste Changes
    • Heat Sensitivity
    • Leg Weakness
    • Loss of Hand Dexterity and Coordination
    • Memory and Mutliple Sclerosis
    • Migraines
    • Numbness/Tingling/Altered Sensation
    • Nystagmus and Oscillopsia
    • Pain
    • Sexual Dysfunction
    • Sleep Issues
    • Spasticity/Spasms/Cramps
    • Speech/Swallowing
    • Urination/Bowel Problems
    • Vision
  • MS Clinics
  • MS Topics
    • Pregnancy and Infertility
    • Caregivers and Family Members
    • Employment and MS
    • Medical Costs and Insurance
    • Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
  • Register With Us
  • Terms of Use/Privacy/HIPAA
  • MS HealthCare Journey

Welcome to the Virtual MS Center!

Ask any question you want about Multiple Sclerosis and one of our experts will answer it as soon as possible.
CLICK HERE TO ASK YOUR QUESTION!

How can I manage my spasticity?

4/9/2015

 
Question:
I was diagnosed with RRMS in November, 2014 (I've had it since 2007, but being an athlete kept the MS unknown until November 2014). Since my last exacerbation in January 2015, i have been having spasticity and very strong pain in both legs and feet. I even have to use a walker. I feel very good, but my legs are bothering me a lot. (I have gone to physical therapy a few times, but it gets bad again). Why does this happen? Is spasticity a normal symptom of MS? I also would like to know how does vitamin helps MS? I drink 100,000mg a week of vitamin D (prescribed by my doctor). Will I ever be able to do my exercises again?. Thank You!!!!

Answer:
In the upper right hand corner of this page (and of every page on the website) you will find a search box.  If you type in the topic you are interested in (such as spasticity, vitamins) you will find a wealth of information and many answers to similar questions asked by people with MS.

Spasticity is a common symptom of MS, and many things and several things will aggravate spasticity, acting as a “trigger” for spasms. These include: 
  • Infections, particularly urinary tract or bladder infections
  • Pain
  • Sores or skin breakdown
  • An increase in internal temperature (i.e. because of a fever or excessive exercise)
  • A full bladder
  • Binding, rubbing or otherwise irritating clothes
  • Constipation
  • Problems with posture
  • Stress, worry or anxiety
  • Extreme environmental temperatures particularly cold weather

In your case, I would start with reviewing our pages on spasticity http://www.healthcarejourney.com/spasticityspasmscramps.html
 which discusses ways to manage it, as well as all the various blogs that have been posted about spasticity http://www.healthcarejourney.com/apps/search?q=spasticity.  

Then I suggest you make sure that the physical therapist you are seeing has experience with multiple sclerosis. Here is a blog describing the benefits of having a physical therapist who specializes in MS and how to find one http://www.healthcarejourney.com/physical-therapy-blog/does-physicaloccupational-therapy-help-with-symptoms-from-ms  Working with a physical therapist who specializes in MS will maximize the likelihood of resuming your exercise routine.

In terms of vitamins, you can read all our blogs about vitamins here http://www.healthcarejourney.com/apps/search?q=vitamins

A. Scott Nielsen MD MMSc
Virginia Mason Multiple Sclerosis Center

Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    PLEASE NOTE: This information/opinions on this site should be used as an information source only.  This information does not create any patient-HCP relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.
    Read About Our Virtual MS Center Authors

    Archives

    September 2024
    June 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    Categories

    All
    Accessible Housing And Environmental Modifications
    Anxiety
    Balance
    Bowel Problems
    Caregivers
    Cognitive Function
    Compliance
    David Rintell Ed. D.
    Deborah Backus Blogs
    Depression
    Diagnosis
    Diet
    Dizziness
    Dosing
    Dr. Greenberg's Q&A
    Dr. Kinkel's Q&A
    Dr. Miravalle's Q&A
    Dr. Nielsen's Q&A
    Dr. Osborne's Q&A
    Exercise
    Experimental Treatments
    Eye Surgery
    Fatigue
    Fatique
    Flu Shot
    Foot Drop
    Herbs
    Immunosuppression
    JCV
    Lasik Surgery
    Lesions
    Lori Kostich's Q&A
    Lyme Disease
    Medications
    Migraines
    Mobility
    MRI
    MS Hug
    Other Diseases
    Pain
    PML
    PPMS
    Pregnancy
    Relapse
    Safety
    Sarah Wargo's Q&A
    Sexual Dysfunction
    Side Effects
    Smoking
    Spasticity
    Stem Cell Transplantation
    Steroids
    Stress
    Supplements
    Surgery
    Symptoms
    Treatment
    Urination
    Viruses
    Vision
    Vitamin D
    Vitamins
    Weakness


© 2023 HealthCare Journey, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
HealthCare Journey™ is a trademark of HealthCare Journey, LLC
Picture
  • About Us
  • Home
  • Virtual MS Center
    • Q & A for Virtual MS Center
    • Read About Our Virtual MS Center Staff
  • News & Resources
  • Seminar Registration
  • Health & Wellness
  • Blogs
    • Physician Blog >
      • Healthcare Provider Blog
    • Physical Therapy Blog
    • Patient Blog
    • Caregiver Blog
    • Research Blogs >
      • "Ask Dr. Debbie" Research Blog
      • Multiple Perspectives In Multiple Sclerosis Research Blog
  • About MS
    • What is MS?
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • MS Tips
  • Symptoms
    • Balance and Walking Issues
    • Breathing/Respiratory
    • Bowel Dysfunction
    • Cognitive Dysfunction
    • Crying/Laughing Uncontrollably (PBA)
    • Depression and Anxiety
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • Dysphagia
    • Fatigue
    • Foot Drop
    • Hearing or Smell or Taste Changes
    • Heat Sensitivity
    • Leg Weakness
    • Loss of Hand Dexterity and Coordination
    • Memory and Mutliple Sclerosis
    • Migraines
    • Numbness/Tingling/Altered Sensation
    • Nystagmus and Oscillopsia
    • Pain
    • Sexual Dysfunction
    • Sleep Issues
    • Spasticity/Spasms/Cramps
    • Speech/Swallowing
    • Urination/Bowel Problems
    • Vision
  • MS Clinics
  • MS Topics
    • Pregnancy and Infertility
    • Caregivers and Family Members
    • Employment and MS
    • Medical Costs and Insurance
    • Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
  • Register With Us
  • Terms of Use/Privacy/HIPAA
  • MS HealthCare Journey