Stiff/sore muscles over problem area?

[imwood]

Rosalyn is getting better at describing her pain. She hasn't been feeling well since Friday. Has not been eating well, if at all, having diarrhea, etc.

In addition to getting sharp double-her-over flares of pain that last thirty seconds to maybe two minutes in her problem spot, she's also been complaining that it feels "tight" and "stiff" there... I'be been trying to figure out more what she means by that.

The best she can describe it is, like when her hamstrings ache from running too much.. or one time she fell asleep in a very awkward position and got a very stiff neck that took almost a day to work out. She said it feels like that, almost like a very cramped muscle in that area, and when she lays very still in bed she feels better, but as soon as she starts to move around, it hurts more, and causes more sharp pain spasms as well.

Is this a familiar symptom to any Crohnies?

 

[Rebecca85]

Yep! After bad pains I always get the ache after. I think that when the pain hits, your muscles tense up (or is the pain caused by the muscles tensing?). So afterwards your muscles will be sore as if you have been exercising them.

Personally, it helps if I lay on my left when the pain hits, massage my abdomen with my right hand or apply a heat pad to it, and lay there until the pain is completely gone. If I try to get up before the pain is completely gone it makes it come back. Usually takes 15-30 minutes or so. Otherwise the soreness can last for hours if I try and work through it, I presume that moving around keeps making the muscle tense and prolonging the pain.

 

[imwood]

Ok. It's just so strange that it's so targeted. When I get stiff & sore, it's an entire area. She's only stiff & sore in maybe a 3x3inch region overlying that part of the intestine.

This is the longest she's gone without feeling well. I feel like the disease is really starting to kick in :-( Why can't it be tomorrow morning already ???!?!!

 

[Crohn's 35]

I find when I get those symptoms I could be low on magnesium. I am back on taking it as my muscles and eye twitching is back. Mind you I am an older crohnie but I try to stick to non med remedies. Magnesium is not a good thing to be low on, as well as Vitamin D and B12. Hope this helps.

This is what I take. http://www.pno.ca/item/womensense/magsense.html?qh=YToxOntpOjA7czo4OiJtYWdzZW5zZSI7fQ==

 

[imwood]

Thanks. I have her on fish oil w Vit D, even though when her B12, D & folate were checked, they were well within the normal range.

She has a different manifestation of Crohns than my brother, so it's still a learning process for me. He's had diarrhea for 7 years. Literally. She seems to run the gamut of diarrhea, constipation, straining, barely being able to hold it in... and an exotic and ever-changing list of types of gut pain as well. His seems to be pretty steady, one type of really crummy pain unless it goes thru the roof which means he's headed for the hospital.

I am a mess today. Having a hard time not crying at my desk. This doctor better send us home with a Christmas list of meds tomorrow...

 

[kimmidwife]

imwood,
JUst wanted to say sorry you are having a tough day. We all know how tough it can be. Every day brings a new challenge. I will keep my fingers crossed that she starts feeling better quickly and the docs give her some new meds.

 

[imwood]

Thank you. Tomorrow is our first time discussing treatment & meds at all, so I'm extremely anxious. It's like being a child the day before a trip to Disneyland, only a much gloomier kind of anxiety. This doc has been such a PITA, I'm nervous tomorrow won't go well, and working really hard not to let my negative thoughts influence or color the appointment.

Important question -- what do you do if your child can't swallow pills???? I think she may be a good candidate for the 5-ASA's, but she can't swallow any sort of pill. Experience?

 

[kimmidwife]

imwood,
The nurses taught my daughter to swallow pills using jello. They said putting it in the jello helps the pill slide right down. I didn't think it would work but it did. She can now take 5 pills at once. Unbelievable! I still have trouble swallowing one pill.

 

[imwood]

Yes, we tried every trick in the book when she was put on Naproxen for her arthritix. Jello, ice cream, chocolate syrup, big gulps of a smoothie... you name it... it's truly a mental block for her, but she can't do it. :-(

 

[Rebecca85]

The 5 ASAs are usually available in a powder, or liquid form for children. Or the UK pills can be dispersed in water, so maybe the American capsules could be opened and emptied?

 

[DustyKat]

Hey imwood,

Twiggy posted an article about teaching kids to swallow pills...

http://www.ucalgary.ca/research4kids/pillswallowing

...might be helpful???

Dusty. xxx

 

[izzi'smom]

We didn't do 5 ASA's...but Izzi can't swallow pills yet either and after pursuing it for a month, I quit to give her a break. She was on Pentasa (granules in applesauce) and has also had liquid Prednisilone and IV/AM biologics.
We are all different, but I felt that after what she had been through and trying daily for a month to swallow a mini m and m (and failing) I would give it a rest and everyone ELSE could change.
Hoping that today went well