Taking a muscle relaxant

mdintx · Post by **mdintx** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:57 pm

Hey Folks,

I've got some spasms on my right shoulder that are giving me a brutal headache. My attempts to stretch it out have been unsuccessful. I would like to take a Soma tonight. This worked very well the last time I had this happen. For those of you who've had to take a muscle relaxant, have you had to make an adjustment in your pressure? Currently, 11.8 is shutting down the apneas. Should I bump it up a little tonight?

Mark

Guest known as Julie · Post by **Guest known as Julie** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:02 pm

I can't tell you anything about Soma, but maybe you should have your MD or a physiotherapist look at you for cervical problems - spasms are more likely coming from there.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:13 pm

I have muscle spasms that occur off and on due to problems in my back/neck area.

When the doctor's office is open, I go in for an adjustment as needed. Only trouble is nights and week-ends when she isn't in the office. I keep a few muscle relaxers on hand (a bottle of 30 will last me over a year) with my doctor's blessing (she provides the scripts of course). Going to the local er is useless as all they will do is prescribe muscle relaxers.

When need for occasional use, I don't change my pressure any and haven't noticed any real differences in my numbers, but I am on an apap and pressure range is 9 to 15.

harry33 · Post by **harry33** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:48 am

soma was the feel good pill everyone had to take in the novel 'brave new world' perhaps the drug co has big plans for it

I think it would be OK, the apnea would be made worse but your CPAP would compensate, valium is a very good muscle relaxer

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:34 am

mdintx wrote:Hey Folks,

I've got some spasms on my right shoulder that are giving me a brutal headache. My attempts to stretch it out have been unsuccessful. I would like to take a Soma tonight. This worked very well the last time I had this happen. For those of you who've had to take a muscle relaxant, have you had to make an adjustment in your pressure? Currently, 11.8 is shutting down the apneas. Should I bump it up a little tonight?

Mark

Get you some magnesium glycinate ... perhaps a little potassium too.

Leave your pressure alone if apneas are under control.

mdintx · Post by **mdintx** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:20 am

Well, it went pretty smoothly last night. AI was 0.0. I'll check the graphs tonight. My cousin's fiance is a chiropractor and checked me out Sat. night. He adjusted what he could and encouraged me to get a massage. I'm gonna try to hit the gym tonight. That usually helps.

What does magnesium glycinate do?

DS · Post by DS » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:51 am

Most Americans do not get nearly enough green leafy vegetables in their diet … leading to magnesium deficiency.

“Magnesium deficiency can affect virtually every organ system of the body. With regard to skeletal muscle, one may experience twitches, cramps, muscle tension, muscle soreness, including back aches, neck pain, tension headaches and jaw joint (or TMJ) dysfunction. Also, one may experience chest tightness or a peculiar sensation that he can't take a deep breath. Sometimes a person may sigh a lot.
Symptoms involving impaired contraction of smooth muscles include constipation; urinary spasms; menstrual cramps; difficulty swallowing or a lump in the throat-especially provoked by eating sugar; photophobia, especially difficulty adjusting to oncoming bright headlights in the absence of eye disease; and loud noise sensitivity from stapedius muscle tension in the ear.
Continuing with the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, the central nervous system is markedly affected. Symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and restlessness with constant movement, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and premenstrual irritability. Magnesium deficiency symptoms involving the peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations, such as zips, zaps and vibratory sensations.
Symptoms or signs of the cardiovascular system include palpitations, heart arrhythmias, angina due to spasms of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure and mitral valve prolapse. Be aware that not all of the symptoms need to be present to presume magnesium deficiency; but, many of them often occur together. For example, people with mitral valve prolapse frequently have palpitations, anxiety, panic attacks and premenstrual symptoms. People with magnesium deficiency often seem to be "uptight." Other general symptoms include a salt craving, both carbohydrate craving and carbohydrate intolerance, especially of chocolate, and breast tenderness.”

2flamingos · Post by **2flamingos** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:32 pm

I have several cervical issues, and have just been through 2 weeks of PT (electro-shock and traction). While the PT has helped, I still have extremely tight muscles on the left side which do spasm on occasion. My PCP had prescribed Flexiril, and the Ortho Doc knows that I still take it when things are really bothersome.

I have noticed that if I take it too close to bed time, the first few hours of sleep are not so good (high AHI, and auto running at max limit). But, after a few hours things calm down and are back to my normal, which is around 3 AHI and auto nearer the lowner setting.

Long trip to the well, and I am not so sure I told you anything helpful.

mdintx · Post by **mdintx** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:09 pm

Oh man, Flexeril does a number on me. I'd be out straight until 10 am. That's great on the weekends but not so good during the week. Soma strikes a nice balance for me.

Shellie_p · Post by **Shellie_p** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:19 pm

I take a muscle relaxer every night before bed. Otherwise I wake up in 4-5 hours in agonizing back pain. And have never had to change my CPAP for it
in fact i HAVE to have it or I can't get a full nights sleep.. But Muscle spasms can be caused by a deficiency in one or more or three vitamin/minerals my doctor tells me.. Calcium. magnesium or potassium.. Now I have been on potassium for the last year, ever since i had to have 5 pints of blood.. And I assumed they kept me on it because of that. Recently when I had new perscriptions wrote the instructions on my potassium had changed..
ONLY take on days when I take my Lasix.. So I called the doc. Apparently any drug that is a diuretic can cause potassium deficiency.

And years ago my dads doctor said potassium and calcium lack caused his muscle spasms.

Might be something to ask your doc about in reference to the spasms at least

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:32 pm

I know the calcium is a big one as well as the potasium. I was told to drink extra milk (can't stand white, but drink chocolate) and eat bananas.

sleeplessinaz · Post by **sleeplessinaz** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:21 pm

Just because you take meds doesn't mean you should change your pressure! Leave your pressure alone ---especially if your apnea readings are under control--good luck with the meds.
Carrie

DS · Post by DS » Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:31 am

sleepycarol wrote:I know the calcium is a big one as well as the potasium. I was told to drink extra milk (can't stand white, but drink chocolate) and eat bananas.

Spinach has as much calcium as milk, much more potassium than bananas, and high amounts of magnesium too.

- DS

2flamingos · Post by **2flamingos** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:46 am

ANother option is to eat avacodo. Not only is it higher in Potassium, but the fat in it is actually good for you.

DS · Post by DS » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:58 pm

Indeed. Real food is actually good for you ... medications should be last resort near-death experiences

Massage and accupressure are also muscle relaxing therapies that should be prioritized ahead of medications.

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Additional Comments: new Airsense auto set 12/08/14. Cpap pressure is