By What is multiple sclerosis spasticity?
Spasticity is a symptom of multiple sclerosis that causes your muscles to feel stiff, heavy and difficult to move. A spasm is a sudden stiffening of a muscle which may cause a limb to kick out or jerk towards your body.
Why does spasticity occur in MS?
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.
Does exercise help 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.
Can you reverse spasticity?
The key to reversing spasticity permanently is by rewiring the brain through neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity helps dedicate more brain and nerve cells to controlling your affected limbs. In order for this rewiring to occur, you have to repeat effective rehab exercises over and over and over.
Are there good treatments for spasticity in MS?
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.
How to decrease spasticity?
Treatment for spasticity may include medications such as baclofen (Lioresal), clonazepam (Klonopin), dantrolene (Dantrium), diazepam (Valium), or tizanidine (Zanaflex). Occupational and physical therapy programs, involving muscle stretching and range of motion exercises, and sometimes the use of braces, may help prevent tendon shortening.
What is the best treatment for severe muscle spasms?
The pain from a muscle spasm can be treated with an NSAID , such as ibuprofen. The treatment for muscle spasms may include electrical nerve stimulation as well as traditional physical therapy exercises.
How is spasticity diagnosed?
The best way to diagnose spasticity is with a physical exam.3 Typically, your doctor will observe how you move and feel the muscles that may be affected. Your doctor will also test your range of motion and reflexes, looking for signs of spastic “catching” and rapid muscle tightening.3.