Hyponatremia and Central Pontine Myelinolysis

Spasticity

This post is brought to you by my friend Deb. She has CPM/EPM too.  She’s had it for four years, and her story is one of determination and strength. She is truly amazing. I am going to start listing her story under the “Your Hyponatremia/CPM story” section, but this information on spasticity was gathered by her.

Thank You, Deb, for your help!! 🙂

Here is some info on spasticity and how it effects your body;
Spasticity is a muscle control disorder that is characterized by tight or stiff muscles and an inability to control those muscles. In addition, reflexes may persist for too long and may be too strong (hyperactive reflexes). For example, an infant with a hyperactive grasp reflex may keep his or her hand in a tight fist.

What Causes Spasticity?

Spasticity is caused by an imbalance of signals from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the muscles. This imbalance is often found in people with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury.

What Are the Symptoms of Spasticity?
Increased muscle tone
Overactive reflexes
Involuntary movements, which may include spasms (brisk and/or sustained involuntary muscle contraction) and clonus (series of fast involuntary contractions)
Pain
Decreased functional abilities and delayed motor development
Difficulty with care and hygiene
Abnormal posture
Contractures (permanent contraction of the muscle and tendon due to severe persistent stiffness and spasms)
Bone and joint deformities

How Is Spasticity Diagnosed?

Your doctor will evaluate your medical history in order to diagnose spasticity. He or she will look at what medications you have taken and whether you have a history of neurological or muscular disorders in your family.

Several tests can help confirm the diagnosis. These tests evaluate your arm and leg movements, muscular activity, passive and active range of motion, and ability to perform self-care activities.

How Is Spasticity Treated?

Treatment for spasticity may include medications like Lioresal, Zanaflex, Dantrium, Valium, or Klonopin. Occupational and physical therapy programs, involving muscle stretching and range of motion exercises, and sometimes the use of braces, may help prevent tendon shortening. Rehabilitation also may help to reduce or stabilize the severity of symptoms and to improve functional performance. Local injections of phenol or botulinum toxin may be used to relax specific muscles. Surgery may be recommended for tendon release, to cut the nerve-muscle pathway, or to implant a baclofen pump (intrathecal baclofen therapy).

Learn more about baclofen pump therapy.

How Painful Is Spasticity?

The pain associated with spasticity can be as mild as a feeling of tight muscles, or it can be severe enough to produce painful spasms of the extremities, usually the legs. Spasticity also can cause low back pain and result in feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints.

What Is the Outlook for People With Spasticity?

The outlook varies per person. An individual’s outlook depends on the severity of his or her spasticity and any disorder associated with the spasticity

I am including a few additional videos of spasticity. Please understand that these are demonstrations of extreme spasticity, and there can be ranges from slight to extreme. Also, I am including links to articles that I think are interesting. I live in Ohio where medical uses of marijuana are not allowed, but considering the drugs that I’ve been on in the past year to try to treat my pain, cramping, etc. If it was available legally,  I think I would try it.

The following video shows extreme spasticity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=wfYNgYgEUoQ&NR=1

The following video shows a person who is improving from spasticity after therapy and baclofen pump:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2_3lXMKT7Q

Explanation of spasticity due to central nervous system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEtkIIoo-3c&feature=related

Related articles

• Study: Smoking pot may ease pain, muscle spasms in people with multiple sclerosis (cbsnews.com)
• Marijuana May Help Relieve MS Patients’ Symptoms (livescience.com)
• What is Mixed Dysarthria and Can I Get Disability If I Have It? (socialsecurityhome.com)