I have leg spasms caused by multiple sclerosis. I am in a wheelchair. Also, however, the MS affects primarily the right side of my body, my leg and arm. This is a pain because I was right handed. I think you do an excellent job of explaining the cause of muscle spasms and the different treatment options. I also admire your openness in discussing your spinal cord injury. Even though our problems are different, a lot of what you say applies and help me to find new ways to do things. I am 69 years old, and I have been in a wheelchair because of the MS for approximately 10 years. Love your positive attitude, and keep up the good work!
Great video as usual. I was on Lioresal for my 1st four years, then they put me on valium. I took that until 2018 and quit because the pharmacies wouldn't fill them due to all the doctors writing scripts for heavy meds to just about anyone who asked for them. I didn't take them for the spams so much as the phantom pains. It sure helped that out a lot. Also, I saw someone who could stand using spasms a long time ago. It's cool to see people still can do that.
Honestly thank you for the additions in edit. A lot of people wouldn't want to admit they made a mistake, even if it was a minor slip up. I'm glad you clarified in post and corrected to what you meant
I truly appreciate you sharing your life experience. I enjoy watching people living a different experience than my own, because it makes me a more compassionate person. Your openness and honesty helps me ‘do better’.
As someone who has been paralyzed all my life and has also taught martial arts for 22 years. Let me just say I believe you when you say you can kick someone’s ass. Much respect
Thanks for all the useful snippets you share. Not in a wheelchair, but use a cane and sometimes a walker for muscular dystrophy. Can apply some of these ideas (as well as those of your MD guest that is sometimes featured) especially when I fall flat on my back and gesticulate like a beetle waving its legs. The way you compensate with upper body strength is good. Above all - the most useful organ is still the brain and with some forethought obstacles can often be navigated (albeit slowly). Keep up the good work!
Really good answers Brittney. Thanks. I gotta get Debbie (wife) to watch this video, especially the stretches part because her CP seems to be causing loss of range of motion lately and maybe stretches will help. In any case, I sure learn a lot from your videos! Thanks as always!
Can you feel it when they move on their own? I keep hoping your going to regain normal function. Your such a wonderful human being you deserve to be fully functional.
Thanks for the video Brittney! I would like to add some tips, as a para struggling with quite hard spasticity: standing-up: You can use a standing frame, KAFOS or in my case I use a wall bar and what may seem a paradox use my spasticity to stand up, then tie myself with a home made cinch and stay like that for an hour daily Swimming: I feel my legs more relaxed after my swimming routine. I absolutely recommend it to anyone with SCI not only for that but for the strenght, cardio exercise, body position.. It's so awesome Heat: Cold is terrible for my spasticity, in winter time I use knee lenght socks in order to keep my legs warm. On the contrary, in summer my legs are more relaxed, and they relly like sunbathing. Stretching: I have severe spasticity in my hips and abductors. I have found that doing the quadripedia position for some minutes really alleviates my tension. Meds: I can't take those here in Spain, as it is not allowed, but I have good reviews from SCI people from USA taking Cannabinoids gummies. In my case I take Baclofen as well but would like to stop it I hope this ideas can be useful por the Empowered Para community. Thanks again for your useful content!!
I have Spastic cp and get stiff when I hear loud or unexpected noises. Unfortunately, when holding liquid, it tends to go flying across the room. I have learned that listening to music while driving tends to abate the problem. I was on crutches until 2005 but since I would fall like a telephone pole, I decided to use a power chair instead of risking further injury. Your videos are very welcome and helpful.
When I see and hear you, it makes me both happy and sad. Happy because you are lovely company, a great personality and a great 'can do' attitude. However, it also makes me sad that such a wonderful person has to make the efforts to overcome issues that you, and many others, have to make. For me, one of the saddest parts is that almost everything is still there and functioning, it is just the vital 'signalling' that is messed up. Thank you for being a beacon of brightness and achievement.
I live in a happy/sad state too. I am extremely grateful for my life but also sad for the things that will never be possible in this life. But life is full of juxtaposing emotions and I don't think it makes it any less wonderful.
Great video! For me when I was able to. Using the standing frame for a while during the day greatly diminished my spasticity. As well as doing prolonged pressure lifts (25 seconds)when using the wheelchair. I was on Baclofen as well, but also diazepam, and Methocarbamol. All muscle relaxers as you probably know... They also lower the blood pressure which isn't good, but it worked... Thanks for all the information. Looking forward to your next. Best to you and your family.
Britney, I'm the one that contacted you via email regarding my standing frame here in my area in California. If you are still interested. Let me know. It was really helpful for me in many ways. I wish I could still use it. But due to breaking my left leg. Advised not to by doctors 😢 Again no rush. Let me know when you have decided. All the best.
My legs will do this at night once in awhile and it’s impossible to sleep through it… I see when you squeezed your knee your leg jumped, mine don’t do it quite like that… just some spasms and if my toes get curled up i get some leg jumping… your ankles look very flexible, much more than mine…great videos Lady!
How do you feel about getting old, later on in life, and potentially losing the strength in your arms and other challenges?I’m not para, but i enjoy getting all these various insights from your videos.
I am an aged paraplegic. ‘Got hurt at 23 and am now 56. T7 complete. I will tell you, aging is real. Every 10 years you feel a change, with 50 beginning to be difficult. As your body atrophies more below your level of injury, your having to lift the heavier, sagging muscle. It’s a challenge. And then your arms become weaker, because they, too, begin to lose muscle tone with age. I work out ( weights and cardio) most days and I do pretty good on my eating habits. I’m still independent, but move a little bit slower and more cautiously.
I am a T-12 para. I have really intense clonus (calf muscles that spasm causing my ankles to bounce). Baclofen didn’t work for me, and neither did Botox. My doctor did phenol injections to destroy the nerve branches that control those muscles, and it was life changing! Thank you Brittany for your sharing your life in such a candid, honest way.
Interesting! Thank you for sharing that! I've never heard of that so I'm gonna look it up! The comments are such a wealth of knowledge for me and anyone else thay stops by and reads them!
My legs used to shake like that a long time ago when i was younger. But since i hit my late 20's - 30's they just stop shaking like that all together. They will shake every once in awhile but not like i did when i was a kid.
Thank you for the video was helpful and I do take Baclofen and have Botox in my legs and its great to hear you talk about it. I now feel like its not just me taking the meds and having the botox so thats good.i now know its the right cause I am on and the doctors have it right.
I have an incomplete C2-3 SCI and my biggest issue with spasticity is clonus in my left leg. Definitely makes it difficult as I’m learning to walk more independently. I have a little in my arms and the other leg, but I am on baclofen and have botox injections every 3 months. Before I knew about my tumor, I had the clonus but not as intense. That along with my very brisk reflexes is how my amazing PT found out something was going on with my CNS and really advocated for me to see neurology.
Yeah I'd say clonus is the most annoying. Makes walking hard for people that can still walk a little and makes it hard to keep your feet the foot plate in the wheelchair. Stretching has been most effective for me at reducing clonus
@@EmpoweredPara I know I need to get into a better stretching routine for sure! I have PT/OT 3 hours a week and my PT gives me a good stretch that I’m not able to get myself. I also have clunky AFOs. I am not a fan of them though because my shoes have to be so big that they often catch when walking and floor transfers are almost impossible with them on. Hoping to get a lower profile one on the right since that side is a lot stronger. It’s definitely a HUGE learning process that’s for sure! Thanks for sharing your story to help those that are new to it!
I have spasticity due to MS and take Dantrolene because Baclofen had too many side effects for me. It's processed through the liver though so I get my liver function monitored to make sure it isn't causing issues. Dantrolene worked too well at first too causing me to be super weak, I had to get it compounded into a syrup and slowly titrate up to pill levels.
I took Baclofen 10mg twice a day for my first 20 years until my doctor told me it was hard on my liver and not intended for long-term use. I tried Flexoril and it made me nearly pass out. Now I smoke weed twice a day sometimes three times if my pain is really flared up.
i have heard of studies where they re-train the severed half of the spinal column, to learn how to walk without a brain, but without the eyes/inner-ears helping out, it has poor balance
about 10 days ago I learned the hard way to not get in the way of spasms I gave a quadriplegic a carriage ride, she started to fall sideways & when I grabbed her to pull her upright POW! black eye
Brittney a thought of a question as you started your video but as usual you answered it before you where done. It was about mussel tone retention. You are so knowledgeable did you study Medicine at some point ?
@buster531000 that's very kind. I suppose I love teaching, which is why I have a RUclips channel. It's not university, but it's where people come to learn new things much of the time!
Dumb question but if one were to have really high spasticity could they potentially get "ripped" (or so to say) legs? Could they get more muscle than before or at least maintain the strong legs they used to have pre-injury?
i have really high spasticity and my muscles aren't huge but like they're... toned? spasticity is increased muscle tone but like... you really don't look ripped at all because you're never walking or putting weight on them really, so just tiny weenie legs that are _sculpted._
it's winter here and I had just gotten home from driving my kids to school! So gotta weather socks till it warms up! Usually I don't wear socks inside because I have slippers but I just didn't take my socks of for the video becasue I thought it would help people see my feet better
Always been jealous of those that can use it to stand , I get hardly any all day then they kick off when I go to bed keeping me awake , very annoying 🤣
I have stronger spasticity than you and I gave up baclofen right after the accident, because I don't see the difference, in my opinion it doesn't help, so why bother.
3 videos of various lengths in one day! I think we won the lottery!
I have leg spasms caused by multiple sclerosis. I am in a wheelchair. Also, however, the MS affects primarily the right side of my body, my leg and arm. This is a pain because I was right handed. I think you do an excellent job of explaining the cause of muscle spasms and the different treatment options. I also admire your openness in discussing your spinal cord injury. Even though our problems are different, a lot of what you say applies and help me to find new ways to do things. I am 69 years old, and I have been in a wheelchair because of the MS for approximately 10 years. Love your positive attitude, and keep up the good work!
Thank you! MS and spinal cord injuries share many characteristics!
@@chris1960 I didn't know that MS caused cognitive changes:) I suppose it makes sense that it wouldn't just affect physical mobility.
Great video as usual.
I was on Lioresal for my 1st four years, then they put me on valium.
I took that until 2018 and quit because the pharmacies wouldn't fill them due to all the doctors writing scripts for heavy meds to just about anyone who asked for them.
I didn't take them for the spams so much as the phantom pains. It sure helped that out a lot.
Also, I saw someone who could stand using spasms a long time ago. It's cool to see people still can do that.
Honestly thank you for the additions in edit. A lot of people wouldn't want to admit they made a mistake, even if it was a minor slip up. I'm glad you clarified in post and corrected to what you meant
I make so many mistakes lol. A year ago I would have redone the video, now I think the mistakes are natural and no one expects me to be perfect!
I truly appreciate you sharing your life experience. I enjoy watching people living a different experience than my own, because it makes me a more compassionate person. Your openness and honesty helps me ‘do better’.
Well I appreciate you wanting to take the time to learn! I have lots of things to learn too and sm always striving to do better!
Thanks for posting Brittney! Have a fabulous week-end:)
You too!
I've just stumbled on your channel. I love your positive, down to earth, manner and I think you're absolutely delightful!
Welcome!!
As someone who has been paralyzed all my life and has also taught martial arts for 22 years. Let me just say I believe you when you say you can kick someone’s ass. Much respect
lol I couldn't actually kick someone's ass as in beat them up. I could kick them gently with my skinny leg if my spasms were strong enough lol
Thank you so much Brittney for your helpful way to give more informations and brake all the taboos. 💛
You are so welcome!
Thanks for all the useful snippets you share. Not in a wheelchair, but use a cane and sometimes a walker for muscular dystrophy. Can apply some of these ideas (as well as those of your MD guest that is sometimes featured) especially when I fall flat on my back and gesticulate like a beetle waving its legs. The way you compensate with upper body strength is good. Above all - the most useful organ is still the brain and with some forethought obstacles can often be navigated (albeit slowly). Keep up the good work!
Really good answers Brittney. Thanks. I gotta get Debbie (wife) to watch this video, especially the stretches part because her CP seems to be causing loss of range of motion lately and maybe stretches will help. In any case, I sure learn a lot from your videos! Thanks as always!
Her spasticity is different but I think stetched would help!
@@EmpoweredPara Thank you Brittney! We sure do appreciate your help!
I don't say able bodied, I call them "Norms" or "Normies". Love your channel!
Can you feel it when they move on their own? I keep hoping your going to regain normal function. Your such a wonderful human being you deserve to be fully functional.
I can feel it moving because it's attached to my body and vibrates up to where I can feel my skin, but I can't actually feel my legs
Thanks for the video Brittney! I would like to add some tips, as a para struggling with quite hard spasticity:
standing-up: You can use a standing frame, KAFOS or in my case I use a wall bar and what may seem a paradox use my spasticity to stand up, then tie myself with a home made cinch and stay like that for an hour daily
Swimming: I feel my legs more relaxed after my swimming routine. I absolutely recommend it to anyone with SCI not only for that but for the strenght, cardio exercise, body position.. It's so awesome
Heat: Cold is terrible for my spasticity, in winter time I use knee lenght socks in order to keep my legs warm. On the contrary, in summer my legs are more relaxed, and they relly like sunbathing.
Stretching: I have severe spasticity in my hips and abductors. I have found that doing the quadripedia position for some minutes really alleviates my tension.
Meds: I can't take those here in Spain, as it is not allowed, but I have good reviews from SCI people from USA taking Cannabinoids gummies. In my case I take Baclofen as well but would like to stop it
I hope this ideas can be useful por the Empowered Para community. Thanks again for your useful content!!
Those are amazing suggestions! Thank you for such a thorough description!
@@EmpoweredPara my pleasure!
Your videos are educational, and entertaining.
Thanks! I try not to be boring but never know if it works so the feedback is appreciated!
Thank you for all your information. It is appreciated.
You are so welcome!
I have Spastic cp and get stiff when I hear loud or unexpected noises. Unfortunately, when holding liquid, it tends to go flying across the room. I have learned that listening to music while driving tends to abate the problem. I was on crutches until 2005 but since I would fall like a telephone pole, I decided to use a power chair instead of risking further injury. Your videos are very welcome and helpful.
Just discovered your channel a few weeks ago when I was sick, really enjoy your carefree fun attitude. Keep it up :)
Welcome!
When I see and hear you, it makes me both happy and sad. Happy because you are lovely company, a great personality and a great 'can do' attitude. However, it also makes me sad that such a wonderful person has to make the efforts to overcome issues that you, and many others, have to make. For me, one of the saddest parts is that almost everything is still there and functioning, it is just the vital 'signalling' that is messed up. Thank you for being a beacon of brightness and achievement.
I live in a happy/sad state too. I am extremely grateful for my life but also sad for the things that will never be possible in this life. But life is full of juxtaposing emotions and I don't think it makes it any less wonderful.
just insanely pretty..with a good personality must balance out having a disability who cares if you have THOSE characteristics, rock on!
Thank ya!
Great video!
For me when I was able to. Using the standing frame for a while during the day greatly diminished my spasticity.
As well as doing prolonged pressure lifts (25 seconds)when using the wheelchair.
I was on Baclofen as well, but also diazepam, and Methocarbamol. All muscle relaxers as you probably know... They also lower the blood pressure which isn't good, but it worked...
Thanks for all the information. Looking forward to your next. Best to you and your family.
I've never used a standing frame but I really should!
Britney, I'm the one that contacted you via email regarding my standing frame here in my area in California. If you are still interested. Let me know. It was really helpful for me in many ways. I wish I could still use it. But due to breaking my left leg. Advised not to by doctors 😢
Again no rush. Let me know when you have decided.
All the best.
@Tony_Ca. Unfortunately it wpuld be too difficult to get from California 😔. Thank you for the offer though! Donate it to someone on need near you!
thank-you for the video/I saw your fluid bottle on side of chair/ paraplegic/sometimes helps others/me be self aware/Jason
You’re so pretty 😍. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks ❤️!
My legs will do this at night once in awhile and it’s impossible to sleep through it… I see when you squeezed your knee your leg jumped, mine don’t do it quite like that… just some spasms and if my toes get curled up i get some leg jumping… your ankles look very flexible, much more than mine…great videos Lady!
I do stretches on my ankles every day! My legs are annoying at night too lol.
How do you feel about getting old, later on in life, and potentially losing the strength in your arms and other challenges?I’m not para, but i enjoy getting all these various insights from your videos.
I have a genuine fear of aging but am confident I can adapt to whatever I'm faced with in terms of abilities.
I am an aged paraplegic. ‘Got hurt at 23 and am now 56. T7 complete. I will tell you, aging is real. Every 10 years you feel a change, with 50 beginning to be difficult. As your body atrophies more below your level of injury, your having to lift the heavier, sagging muscle. It’s a challenge. And then your arms become weaker, because they, too, begin to lose muscle tone with age. I work out ( weights and cardio) most days and I do pretty good on my eating habits. I’m still independent, but move a little bit slower and more cautiously.
I am a T-12 para. I have really intense clonus (calf muscles that spasm causing my ankles to bounce). Baclofen didn’t work for me, and neither did Botox. My doctor did phenol injections to destroy the nerve branches that control those muscles, and it was life changing!
Thank you Brittany for your sharing your life in such a candid, honest way.
Interesting! Thank you for sharing that! I've never heard of that so I'm gonna look it up! The comments are such a wealth of knowledge for me and anyone else thay stops by and reads them!
My legs used to shake like that a long time ago when i was younger. But since i hit my late 20's - 30's they just stop shaking like that all together. They will shake every once in awhile but not like i did when i was a kid.
I have a muscle spasms due to CP
They use Botox in bladders for urgency/frequency issues too and also migraine headaches so it's not just for wrinkles!
Yeah it's got so many medical uses!
Thank you for the video was helpful and I do take Baclofen and have Botox in my legs and its great to hear you talk about it. I now feel like its not just me taking the meds and having the botox so thats good.i now know its the right cause I am on and the doctors have it right.
Nope you're definitely not alone!
I have an incomplete C2-3 SCI and my biggest issue with spasticity is clonus in my left leg. Definitely makes it difficult as I’m learning to walk more independently. I have a little in my arms and the other leg, but I am on baclofen and have botox injections every 3 months. Before I knew about my tumor, I had the clonus but not as intense. That along with my very brisk reflexes is how my amazing PT found out something was going on with my CNS and really advocated for me to see neurology.
Yeah I'd say clonus is the most annoying. Makes walking hard for people that can still walk a little and makes it hard to keep your feet the foot plate in the wheelchair. Stretching has been most effective for me at reducing clonus
@@EmpoweredPara I know I need to get into a better stretching routine for sure! I have PT/OT 3 hours a week and my PT gives me a good stretch that I’m not able to get myself. I also have clunky AFOs. I am not a fan of them though because my shoes have to be so big that they often catch when walking and floor transfers are almost impossible with them on. Hoping to get a lower profile one on the right since that side is a lot stronger. It’s definitely a HUGE learning process that’s for sure! Thanks for sharing your story to help those that are new to it!
I have spasticity due to MS and take Dantrolene because Baclofen had too many side effects for me. It's processed through the liver though so I get my liver function monitored to make sure it isn't causing issues. Dantrolene worked too well at first too causing me to be super weak, I had to get it compounded into a syrup and slowly titrate up to pill levels.
I took Baclofen 10mg twice a day for my first 20 years until my doctor told me it was hard on my liver and not intended for long-term use. I tried Flexoril and it made me nearly pass out. Now I smoke weed twice a day sometimes three times if my pain is really flared up.
yeah I want to get off of it too. I take way more than that!
you are sooo beautiful inside and out.......what is that window thing behind you?
It's just the wall where my stairs are
i have heard of studies where they re-train the severed half of the spinal column, to learn how to walk without a brain, but without the eyes/inner-ears helping out, it has poor balance
Yeah that's cool hey! Muscle memory and spinal reflexes essentially.
My Sister Same Like Problem😊
about 10 days ago I learned the hard way to not get in the way of spasms
I gave a quadriplegic a carriage ride, she started to fall sideways & when I grabbed her to pull her upright POW!
black eye
lol that's funny for me...probably wasn't funny for you haha
Brittney a thought of a question as you started your video but as usual you answered it before you where done. It was about mussel tone retention. You are so knowledgeable did you study Medicine at some point ?
No but I have a degree in biology and chemistry. And I also love nutrition and everything about the human body so I read a lot!
@@EmpoweredPara you should have been a University Professor. I could listen to an intelligent person speak all day.
@buster531000 that's very kind. I suppose I love teaching, which is why I have a RUclips channel. It's not university, but it's where people come to learn new things much of the time!
Dumb question but if one were to have really high spasticity could they potentially get "ripped" (or so to say) legs? Could they get more muscle than before or at least maintain the strong legs they used to have pre-injury?
i have really high spasticity and my muscles aren't huge but like they're... toned? spasticity is increased muscle tone but like... you really don't look ripped at all because you're never walking or putting weight on them really, so just tiny weenie legs that are _sculpted._
Great explanation
What is the purpose of wearing socks pls tell I am also para
it's winter here and I had just gotten home from driving my kids to school! So gotta weather socks till it warms up! Usually I don't wear socks inside because I have slippers but I just didn't take my socks of for the video becasue I thought it would help people see my feet better
Brittany is something like neurolink a possibility to help you at some point?
I hope so!
Your left leg moved off the wheelchair foot rest. How can that happen.
literally the topic of the video lol. It's just reflexes
And I also have Cronus
If you tap under your knee, do your legs do the classic "knee jerk?"
yep!
Always been jealous of those that can use it to stand , I get hardly any all day then they kick off when I go to bed keeping me awake , very annoying 🤣
yeah mine are annoying at night too!
Do you use a standard
You mean a standing frame?
Yes that is what I ment
@lavonnechase4662 No I don't:)
I have stronger spasticity than you and I gave up baclofen right after the accident, because I don't see the difference, in my opinion it doesn't help, so why bother.
I'm weening off baclofen right now. Hopefully I can stop completely!
Can you move your legs
Not voluntarily.
@@EmpoweredPara what does it feel like wen you try to move your legs
@grantroy5349 like trying to move your hair with your mind lol. It feels like thinking haha
@@EmpoweredPara can you do a video of it
Awwww….Brittney, I was hoping you would demonstrate how you can kick your husband’s a$$ when ever he drives you crazy. 😆 🐨 🦘🦘
lol I just talk him to death when he annoys me haha. Or make him watch a cheesy movie lol