Re: New to the group. Could really use some advice!

[Guest guest]

Hi Marilyn,

I'm so sorry you are in such pain! I have had epidural shots in the

same locations you did and also 3 of them! All 3 didn't help at all.

As a matter of fact, I had severe pain in my gait area (hips). My

pain specialist said that was normal! Now i'm not sure if it is or

not. I no longer see him. I just wanted to let you know you are not

alone.

As a matter fact. I have hip pain all the time due to my lower back

problems. I also take Zanaflex at night. I cannot take it during the

day because it makes me extremely tired, but does great for the

spasms. Hope this gives you any info on the drug?

Feel better soon!

Bless you and your husband,

Heidi

[Guest guest]

Marilyn wrote:

> If anyone knows of a muscle relaxant or have taken Skelaxin or

> Zanaflex plese let me know if it worked without making a zombie out

> of you.

Hi Marilyn

I too get upset insides from many of the meds, so my doctor put me on

Baclofen. It works quite well for lessening muscle pain. I haven't

experienced any nasty side effects from it.

http://tinyurl.com/h9zaz

--

Lyndi

[Guest guest]

Marilyn,

I also take baclofen and it does not make me groggy at all. I think

it's a good muscle relaxer. Of course every one's tolerance isn't the

same. But, I have heard from people who have had side effects from

other muscle relaxer that have made them a " zombie " or very tired and

they have claimed that baclofen does not effect them in this way.

If you happen to try it, I hope you let us know how this drug does for

you? I also forgot to let you know when my hips hurt. I take 2 ice gel

packs, use an ace bandage, wrap it around my waist to support the gel

ice packs, and put them on both sides of my hips for 20 min. Of

course you have to be laying down. LOL. This seems to really work for

me. Let me know if you try and it helps.

Hope your Sunday is going well!

Hugs to all: Heidi

Marilyn wrote:

> If anyone knows of a muscle relaxant or have taken Skelaxin or

> Zanaflex plese let me know if it worked without making a zombie out

> of you.

[Guest guest]

I had back surgery (fusion) in 2004. I must say that it hasn't really

helped the pain at all. Actually it's worse now. My back functions

better but it hurts more. I always have hip and leg pain. My

epidurals did nothing. I'm 5'6 " and overweight but not so much that I

think it affects my back/joints.

I do not like going to the pain doc. I think he's a jerk. He's just

done everything he could to keep from giving me meds and nothing is

working. I'm going to see a neurologist in the next few weeks to get

a confirmation of the fibromyalgia and also to see if there is

anything else wrong in my back or anything that I can do for the pain.

I sympathize with your pain but also with the fact that we have to

function. My husband is disabled so I am the family's support for

insurance. I can't stop working any time soon. And quite frankly, I

don't want to. I just want to get through a day completely pain free.

Welcome to the board. I just started this week as well and have found

everyone wonderful!

Robyn

[Guest guest]

Marilyn,

I developed muscle spasms in my right leg after I broke my hip. The doc put me

on skelaxin, and I did just fine on it. My spasms occur only as I'm falling

asleep (or actually sleeping), so I just took it at night. After a while, I was

even able to cut the 800 mg tablets in half and get enough relief.

Then, recently, with all of my current problems, I started spasming again, but

this time not just the right leg--both legs, my torso, even my arms sometimes.

Back onto the skelaxin. I'm taking the full 800 mg, and I try to take it about

an hour before bedtime. I'm thinking of taking 1/2 pill in the early afternoon

too, now, as that's when I usually nap, and of course the spasms occur then too.

Neuro said it's my nerves misfiring and sending bad signals to my muscles. Who

knows.

The skelaxin doesn't make me especially sleepy, at least no more than my pain

meds do. But since I just take it toward bedtime, I'm probably not the best

person to speak to that issue.

Sorry that you and your hubby are having so many problems right now. Hope you

both get some relief soon.

Hugs,

a

[Guest guest]

You wrote:

Has

anyone else experienced EXTREME muscle pain not just in your lower

legs but in the thigh and hip area?? "

> Marilyn,

I have that pain. It's from the scoliosis in my hip.

My right hip is pulling upward and forward. It pulls the right leg

out of alignment. The pain can be unbearable.

My pain specialist wanted me to have my legs checked by a " vein

doctor " . Just to make sure I don't have a blood clot in my legs.

In order to get that referral I have to see my PCP.

When I called her, my PCP, to ask about the referral I was told by

her nurse that the pain clinic needs to send them a detailed fax

explaining why I should get a referral.

The pain doctor told me I needed to see my PCP, the PCP wants the

pain clinic to send the information.

I gave up. I am way to tired to fight with the doctors anymore.

My new tens unit I have been using does help with the heavy hip and

leg pain.

I have been using it at night. It allows me to sleep a bit deeper.

I don't wake up as much. I hope it lasts.

Gail

[Guest guest]

I have taken both Skelaxin and Zanaflex. I personally thought Skelaxin did

nothing but I am still on Zanaflex. That med helps control my muscle from

spasms at night. I still get occasional cramping but not half as bad as before.

I also take a med called Amitriptiline that has helped alot with this problem of

cramping and spams.

I do not feel weird or doopy for lack of better word and I do feel that the

zanaflex helps I have even taken more than is prescribed with the doctors

knowledge when it gets really bad. I also do things like hot packs walking

stretching and tons of other things to help also.

Gwen in Kansas

[Guest guest]

I have had the epidural injections as well. The first one worked

really well and like you the second one not as helpful etc.

Talking with the nurse she said that if your going to have any relief

the first shot would work if it didn't you probably weren't going to

get any relief from them. She told me the second one doesn't work as

well as it is breaking up scar tissue.

I have similar problems with my back in the same area as you do. I had the facet

injections as well. These shots are temporary. They give them in series of three

why I don't know. I got some relief but like she said only temporary.

The best relief I have gotten was from the radio frequency lesioning I had at

Christmas time last year. I was not totally pain free but I

could take otc pain meds and they worked. On the down side it didn't

last but a couple of months. Although people can get up to a year of

some relief.

I take soma for my muscle relaxiant. It works well for me it works

when my hip and butt are really acting up. I take three a day. I have

no trouble with meds giving my problems so I don't know if you could

take it.

feel free to write rucrzyyy@...

from Missouri

>The first one worked very well, the second one I did not receive much relief

and this time I am still having a lot of pain in my thigh muscles.

[Guest guest]

Hi Group,

I've been taking Skelaxin for almost 2 years. I take 800 mg 4 times a day with

my darvocet. I didn't have any problems with it. I just changed to Norflex

yesterday. My body gets immune to certain meds after a while and I have to

change. Been in level 9 pain for 2 weeks.

Hopefully the Norflex will help--if not, I get to change the Darvocet as well.

Oh boy! The change in meds upset my stomach for a few weeks.

Just wanted to let you know--I loved the Skelaxin and it was great for me.

Anyone on Norflex?

Much Happiness,

Tonya

a wrote:

I developed muscle spasms in my right leg after I broke my hip. The doc put me

on skelaxin, and I did just fine on it.