Scott Spasms March 28 2010

+++++++++Updated+++++++++
Thank you everyone for your comments. They were very encouraging and helpful.

As of three months ago my wife and I visited a Muscle Doctor (Physiatrist?) in Philadelphia who for all practical purposes cured my spasms. He was written up in the Washington Post ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/26/AR20110126034... )
He has worked on Olympic ice skaters, Hockey Players, and the Philadelphia Union (professional soccer).

It has been almost three months and my life is almost back to where it was five years ago before I started having spasms.

Dr Mathews worked with tools on my back and neck for four two hour sessions in two days. Through his dynamic deductive muscle research methods (I would call it the Mathews Method) determined how to turn my spasms on and then eventually how to turn them off. He thinks my spasms occur because of a car accident I had when I was in twelvth grade where I got a whiplash injury but never got xrays of my neck. He saw on my neck MRIs what looked like a fractured vertabrae in my C2 that probably healed after the car accident 17 years ago and then was possibly refractured during two bad ski accidents that I had five or so years ago with similar whiplash injuries to my neck. I did see spine and orthopaedic surgeons about the herniated discs in my neck but they disagreed on whether surgery should be done that high on my neck. They also were inconclusive whether those herniated discs would cause my spasms or not. They decided to do nothing and in the meantime my spasms were debilitating to the point of not being able to function for 20 minutes up to hours at a time. This went on for almost five years, sometimes multiple times a day.
Dr. Mathews thought that the herniated discs themselves probably wouldnt cause the spasms but any inflammation in the muscles around the discs could push the discs further into the spinal cord than they already are. This, he said, could cause the spasms. Then when the inflammation subsides the spasms would also temporarily go away, which would explain why it was so hard to document an active structural abnormality.

Dr. Mathew did a phenomenal job and my life has literally been changed for the better consistently for three months now. I have walked multiple four mile walks with my wife, climbed what used to be very difficult stairs/steep hills, carried heavy objects over my head and all without any spasms. I have not been able to do activities like this for almost five years. I thank God for Dr. Mathews and his detective work on my what some of the best movement disorder doctors in our country called a very unique difficult to diagnose movement disorder (some even incorrectly called it completely a mental issue). My physical life is different now because of his gifted skill. My structural abnormality has been corrected. Thank you Dr. "Sherlock House" Mathews.

Dr. Mathews said it would be ok if I posted his work number. Maybe it could help others with a similar condition. I hope it does. It changed my life.

Innovative Muscle Therapy
(610) 485-5001
http://www.innovativemuscletherapy.com/

Respectfully,
Scott




++++++++++++
Movement Disorder unknown
Muscle Spasms
Johns Hopkins first thought Paroxysmal Non Kinesigenic Dyskinesia (PNKD)
GWU lead professor of Neurophsychology and Johns Hopkins Professor of Neurology doubt Psychogenic causes
Structural Abnormality includes 9 herniated discs 2 cervical 6 thoracic 1 lumbar.
Spinal surgeon was willing to operate on C2 herniation but Orthapedic surgeon partner refused
Ruled out almost all blood based conditions (ie MS, Parkinsons, Dystonia, Huntingtons, stiff person syndrome...) as well as brain tumors and quite a few other fairly typical conditions.
We have been trying to find an answer for over 3 years and still nothing yet.
Could you please help me think of other ideas that it could be?
ScottAndJessicaJudkins@gmail.com

Category:

Education

Tags:

• MuscleSpasms
• MovementDisorder
• PNKD
• Paroxysmal
• Non-Kinesigenic
• Dyskenisia

[ScottNJessicaJudkins]

When I had my muscle spasms what helped me the most was: ice on the back of my neck, lying down to take the pressure off of my spine and sometimes i would take two aspirin. I guess the key was to remove the inflammation from my neck. Lying down, ice on my neck and aspirin all helped reduce the inflammation. It was really helpful if people relaxed around me and didnt freak out when I had my spasms. I hope this helps.

[ScottNJessicaJudkins]

The spasms have happened many times the past 3 years. Yesterday it happened twice, once in the morning with intensity of ~6 of 10 and duration of ~80 minutes (bloodsugar was 159). Then again at night with intensity of ~7 of 10 & duration of ~40 minutes (bloodsugar was 189). I've only had 4 spasms in the past worst than yesterday (3x 8 out of 10s & 1x 9 out of 10) three of which sent me to the Emergency Room. Walking up two steep flights of stairs seemed to start it this morning. Thoughts?

[iamcaper]

Hi Scott, we have a group on Facebook "Paroxysmal Dyskinesia" if you want to look us up.  It's a great support network

[blsvlo]

Thank you for sharing..... oh gosh I feel your pain:( I have these periodically and didn't know what exactly was happening. Dr. thought maybe seizures but now I believe muscle spasm severely... I have MS so my spasms are horrible...

[sugakush]

i have MS and i get really bad muscle spasms also. i try to take balcofen and valium and that really helps. i know how bad they can get ur amazing to cope with it and a total inspiration thanks for sharing

[sybleharrison]

Thanks for sharing. You're amazing.

[vancouverislandbass]

You guys all need to get tested for heavy metals in your body such as mercury.

[GoHealthyGreens]

Omg.. so sad.. :(

[ohbrittany12]

Hello Scott, I'll start by apologizing for the LONG comment and extra information.. I have these same exact attacks, although with multiple different attacks as well such as seizures, spasticity, chronic migraine and an immense amount of pressure in my cervical spine, which slowly over time felt like it's slowly being pushed down and like the vertebrae are being pushed together with an extremely sensitive soft space between my head and the cervical spine where they were once connected.

I was

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[Nature1400]

I think I'm starting to get spasms out of no where like I flentch a lot.

[cindymcmahan11]

So sorry as I suffer with the dreadful "D" also, already had one storm today, peace, cindy