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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Uncontrolled muscle contractions, people with spasticity often describe a variety of sensations like: StiffnessTuggingPullingAchingSqueezingTightening Spasticity tends to vary from person to person, like other symptoms of MS. For instance, a person may notice a mild tightening of his or her legs that does not affect daily functioning. Others may experience severe leg spasticity that causes painful cramping that interferes with movement. While spasticity most commonly affects a person's calves, thighs, groin, and buttocks, it can also cause tightening and aching in and around the joints and lower back. Prevention and Treatment Treatment of spasticity that affects your lower back usually entails a combination of both medication and physical therapy. These therapies may include:Heat therapyMassage therapyPhysical therapy including stretching and range-of-motion exercisesMuscle relaxants like Zanaflex (tizanidine) and Fleqsuvy (baclofen oral suspension) A benzodiazepineOral cannabisOrthotic devicesSelf-care (exercise, stretching, and relaxation techniques) Avoiding triggers is, of course, an important way to prevent worsening of your spasticity in your lower back. Examples of triggers that may irritate your spasticity include:Heat exposure (the result of which is called the Uthoff phenomenon)Sudden changes in position or movementTight or irritating clothingA full bladder or bowelInfection People whose spasticity does not respond to the above may require one or more of the following treatments. FDA approved medications are: Lioresal (baclofen), a muscle relaxant and intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB), in which a pump and catheter are surgically implanted to locally deliver the medicationFleqsuvy (baclofen oral suspension)Zanaflex (tizanidine) There are other medications that can be used "off label" for treatment
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