What is spasticity in MS?

Spasticity refers to feelings of stiffness and a wide range of involuntary muscle spasms (sustained muscle contractions or sudden movements). It is one of the more common symptoms of MS.
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What are the symptoms of spasticity?

Symptoms
  • Muscle stiffness, causing movements to be less precise and making certain tasks difficult to perform.
  • Muscle spasms, causing uncontrollable and often painful muscle contractions.
  • Involuntary crossing of the legs.
  • Muscle and joint deformities.
  • Muscle fatigue.
  • Inhibition of longitudinal muscle growth.
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How is MS spasticity treated?

Baclofen is the most commonly prescribed medication to treat spasticity in MS and is usually very effective. It may be taken orally, or for individuals with more severe spasticity, given via an implanted pump that provides the medicine directly into the spinal fluid.
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What does spasticity look like?

Spasticity symptoms include continuous muscle stiffness, spasms and involuntary contractions, which can be painful. A person with spasticity may find it difficult to walk or perform certain tasks. Spasticity in children can result in growth problems, painful and deformed joints and disability.
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What causes MS spasticity?

What Causes Spasticity? Spasticity happens because of an imbalance in the electrical signals coming from the brain and spinal cord, often when multiple sclerosis has damaged the nerves there. This unevenness makes your muscles contract on their own and makes them tense.
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Spasticity



How do you break spasticity?

Massage and stretching muscles may prevent contractures and promote muscle growth[44-46]. Spasticity decreases with slow and continuous stretching. This effect lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
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What's the best treatment for spasticity?

Spasticity can be reduced by:
  • Performing stretching exercises daily. Prolonged stretching can make muscles longer, helping to decrease spasticity and prevent contracture.
  • Splinting, casting, and bracing. These methods are used to maintain range of motion and flexibility.
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Does spasticity ever go away?

If left untreated, spasticity can cause permanent shrinking and contracting of the muscles, along with joints locked into single positions. While there's no cure for post-stroke spasticity, treatments and lifestyle changes can help reduce symptoms and maintain your range of motion.
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What kind of doctor treats spasticity?

While your primary doctor will stay play a vital role in your preventive healthcare, you may need to see a neurologist to help treat spasticity. This type of medical doctor specializes in injuries and diseases of both the spinal cord and brain, such as MS, cerebral palsy, and stroke.
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What part of the brain is affected by spasticity?

Spasticity is a result of disrupted communication between the brain and the muscles. The source of that disruption is usually the cerebral cortex (the region of the brain that controls movement) or the brainstem, where nerves connect the brain to the spinal cord.
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What is the best muscle relaxer for multiple sclerosis?

Baclofen is a skeletal muscle relaxant used as a first-line treatment for spasticity in patients with MS. It can effectively relieve spasms and has modest effects in improving performance. Intrathecal baclofen via an implanted pump can be effective against spasticity in suitable patients.
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How do you test for spasticity?

The most common clinical assessment of spasticity in MS is as a component of the standard neurological examination. More focused clinical scales for measuring spasticity include the Ashworth Scale and the Modified Ashworth Scale, the Tardieu Scale and Modified Tardieu Scales, and the pendulum test.
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Does spasticity get worse over time?

These symptoms of severe spasticity can worsen gradually over time and lead to loss of movement control, muscle weakness, increased care needs, and even sexual dysfunction. Spasticity may occur or worsen because of other conditions (like constipation or infection) or in stressful situations.
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What neurological conditions cause spasticity?

Spasticity is usually caused by damage to nerve pathways within the spinal cord or brain. It may also be a symptom of multiple neurological conditions including spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, brain or head trauma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and hereditary spastic paraplegias.
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How do physical therapists treat spasticity?

The most commonly indicated treatments for spasticity, in descending order, were positioning, prolonged muscle stretching, splinting, motor-level stimulation, other treatment modalities (options not listed), vibration, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), traction, and prolonged icing (see Table 2).
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Does spasticity affect speech?

Spasticity may also affect speech. Severe, long-term spasticity may lead to contracture of muscles. This can reduce range of motion or leave the joints bent.
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Is heat good for spasticity?

In more persistent injuries like muscle spasms, heat is often the remedy. Applying heat to muscle spasms will help relax the spasm. On an acute injury, like a sprain or fracture where swelling or inflammation is apparent, then ice is usually your first step within 24-36 hours of being injured.
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Why is spasticity worse at night?

Spasticity is one of the most common MS symptoms, and often feels worse at night. This is because it can be aggravated by reduced movement, tight muscles and pain from other symptoms.
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How do I relax my muscles?

Rest. Perhaps the best and most natural way to relax your muscles is to rest. Make sure to get lots of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and try not to overwork the affected muscle. Using heat pads or ice packs on the muscle can provide immediate relief.
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Is massage good for spasticity?

Massage therapy helps relax spastic muscles by manually lengthening the shortened muscle fibers. By reducing muscle tone, massage therapy helps improve range of motion, motor control, and flexibility.
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What is the difference between spasm and spasticity?

Spasticity is a symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) that causes your muscles to feel stiff, heavy and difficult to move. A spasm is a sudden stiffening of a muscle that may cause a limb to involuntarily kick out or jerk towards your body.
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Does gabapentin help with spasticity?

have shown gabapentin reduces spasticity at higher doses (400 to 1,200mg by mouth three times a day). Two studies involved subjects with spinal cord injury, and one study was with subjects with multiple sclerosis. The minimal dose for spasticity response appeared to be 400mg by mouth three times a day.
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What can I take instead of baclofen?

  • Diazepam.
  • Methocarbamol.
  • Soma.
  • Zanaflex.
  • Robaxin.
  • Valium.
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How do you live with spasticity?

Use assistive devices. Assistive devices and home modifications may help you move around more easily and maintain your independence while living with spasticity. A physical therapist or occupational therapist can recommend specific devices in the right sizes for you. They will also teach you how to use them.
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What helps MS leg pain?

There are many medical conditions that can cause nerve pain in the legs and feet, including chronic ones like multiple sclerosis (MS).
...
Some of the following treatments may aid in pain relief:
  • Warm compress or warm bath. ...
  • Massage. ...
  • Therapy. ...
  • Nutritional supplements. ...
  • Dietary changes.
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