Muscle Cramping and Spasticity

There are four main "muscle things" that occur with ALS: Spasticity, cramping, fasciculations, and fibrillations.

Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps are very common in ALS, probably due to muscle fatigue or irritability from screwed up nerve impulses. They can be terribly painful and can occur in any muscle; feet, legs, arms, abdomen, chest, back, and (my all time favorite for sheer pain!) the neck and jaw. They can be in small muscles or affect big ones—good old-fashioned charlie horses. As the muscles are affected by ALS, cramping is noted in that area. The cramping becomes less severe with time because the weakening muscles simply can't work up a good cramp anymore. Cramps tend to be repetitive. Once a muscle starts cramping up, it does so over and over for a miserable hour or so. They tend to occur more if you have overdone exercise, if the muscle is cold, or if circulation is decreased. Holding a book up to read in bed on a cool night will just about guarantee some whopping good hand cramps and result in interesting finger gestures!

Spasticity

Spasticity is an upper motor neuron problem and is present to some degree in ALS. For some patients, it is minimal, for others extreme. Spasticity can actually be helpful in maintaining function as the rigidity helps replace normal muscle strength, but it causes jerky, hard to control movements. Spasticity causes a tightening of muscles that results in a stiffening of that part of the body in an exaggerated reflex. It is actually triggering both the muscles to flex and the muscles to extend that part of the body at the same time. It can occur in any muscles—the arms, legs, back, abdomen, neck, or entire body at once. A simple touch can trigger it and it may last only a moment or persist indefinitely. Spasticity isn't always painful but it can be, especially if it triggers muscle cramps that add to the pain.

Fasciculations

Fasciculations (muscle twitchings) are probably due to nerve irritability. They occur in smaller muscle bundles inside large muscle bundles and can be observed as well as felt. Fasciculations are not so much painful as irritating. It can feel as if someone is popping corn under your skin! They can be incredibly persistent and keep you from sleeping.I have not heard of any consistent success in reducing the fasciculations with any medication.

Fibrillations

Fibrillations occur in single muscle fibers within a muscle. They cannot be felt but can be seen on EMG (Electromyogram). Fibrillations occur in conditions besides ALS.

Is it Spasticity or Cramping?

The first step in relieving these recurring pains is determining whether they are due to spasticity or cramping. Medications that work for spasticity don't necessarily work for muscle cramps and vice-versa.

• Spasticity affects larger areas of the body—arm, leg, trunk, neck. All the muscles in the area tighten up and the entire area may be so tight it hurts. Muscle cramps are generally limited to a single muscle and the pain, although intense even in small muscles, is limited in area.
• Spasticity often begins with an odd sensation, sometimes described as a quiver, rushing and spreading through the area and becoming painful as they tighten the muscles and more painful as the muscles tire. Muscle cramps start out painful and just get worse as they tighten up.
• Spasticity in the legs generally causes the legs to stiffen out. In the trunk, back or neck it causes your body to arch a bit. In the arms, it may flex or extend the arm. Spasticity is often most striking when you first wake up or start to move after sitting still for a while and can often be connected to a sensory trigger. That trigger can be as mild as a gentle touch so the connection may not be made.
• Muscle cramps often affect the hands and feet making fingers and toes curl incredibly tightly. Spasticity is more widespread, less likely to affect just those muscles, and more likely to stiffen them out than to curl them.

Medications

Spasticity can usually be helped by medication but can be a very stubborn problem. One consideration in treating spasticity is to find a balance between relieving excessive and painful spasticity and maintaining a certain level of spasticity which can be helpful by replacing muscle strength.The meds for spasticity are primarily Baclofen, Dantrium and Zanaflex, tizanadine HCL.

• Although Baclofen is often listed under meds for cramping and prescribed for it, the indications say "Clinically, Baclofen is used to treat spasticity." In my experience, Baclofen did not reduce cramping at all.  However, if spasticity is triggering the cramping, Baclofen may reduce cramping by reducing the spasticity. Some patients experience weakness or tiredness while taking it but these problems can often be reduced if the dosage is decreased. In 1996 the FDA approved the use of Baclofen, delivered by an implanted pump, for the treatment of spasticity due to spinal cord injury and this is now being used for ALS and PLS patients.
• Zanaflex is less likely to cause weakness but may cause sleepiness. This can often be minimized by starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it until spasticity is relieved.
• Dantrium has been used for spasticity, but because of its potential for causing liver problems, is less frequently used since other meds are now available.  It does seem to still be used for bladder control problems caused by spasticity, however.

The meds for cramping include:

• Valium and other muscle relaxants may be used for muscle cramps. However, their side effects and cost make them a second choice to quinine in my opinion.
• ***Update. Mexilitine is gaining in use, but like Quinine has possible effects on heart rhythm.
• Quinine (Qualaquin, Quinine Sulfate) is a drug long used for muscle cramping but in 2010 the FDA removed "Nocturnal Leg Cramping" from its list of uses because leg cramps are not life threatening and therefore not worth the potential risk of quinine. Doctors don't seem to differentiate between Nocturnal Leg Cramping and the all day, every day, any muscle cramping that is a hallmark of ALS. Cramping in the feet, legs, hands, arms, neck, jaw, abdomen, diaphragm and any other muscle can occur all in one patient. Ask for lower dose quinine by explaining to the doctor that you Do Not have Nocturnal Leg Cramping.
  Like any drug, quinine does have some potential side effects (and cannot be taken by pregnant women) but it does not cause physical and psychological dependence as Valium does in long term use. Aside from the weakness when I took the larger dose, I noticed no other immediate side effects. After more than 5 years of daily use, I did notice sweet foods started to loose any sweet taste, especially chocolate. Quinine is very bitter so I assumed it was the culprit since I wasn't on any other meds at the time. It was a minor problem and when I did stop taking quinine, I found the ability to fully enjoy an Oreo was gradually restored!

There are other medications and home remedies to try. Retigabine (Trobalt) is mentioned as is a spoonful of French's mustard or pickle juice! Magnesium, potassium, calcium are just some things suggested but should be used as ordered by a doctor. Excesses of these can cause severe problems. More importantly, they are less likely to be effective to any definite degree unless your levels were low to begin with—and that is not usual in ALS. In ALS muscle cramping is caused by nerve irritability and/or muscle strain as muscles weaken.

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