May 28, 2009 - 8:31pm
My PCP who is also my pm Dr just prescribed me flexeril for extremely tight muscles on my left shoulder. I would like relief and would like to hear of your experience with this medicine. Also, he mentioned a Menthol/Eucaliptis rub but I have no idea if my local Mom n Pop has anything like that. Course it's too late tonight to find out. Aside from taking yet more pills, is there any other 'cooling' relief I can get with a home remedy tonight? Wonder why that shoulder is so tight? Any advice will be appreciated and taken lightly. Thanks, Sarge
May 29, 2009 - 5:11pm
#2
i agree with kelly
on the flexeril and the somas which i am on...I from time to time use a ointment called voltaren..its a paste form of a pill i think
May 29, 2009 - 6:18pm
#3
I was prescribed flexiril
I was prescribed flexiril when I was initially injured--I was completely narcotic naive at the time, and they knocked me out--but didn't really do much for the pain. I wasn't able to continue on them because they made me too tired to function. Somas do the same thing to me.
Sarge, it sounds like you could really benefit from massage therapy. Any chance your Doc could prescribe that? Sure, it only works for a little while, but even a little relief is wonderful.
Kelly, I know the eucalyptus lotion from B&B works that you are talking about--it's great! Even the fragrance makes me feel better!
May 29, 2009 - 6:47pm
#4
mickey
you are not thinking flexeril is a narcotic are you? be honest
May 30, 2009 - 2:24am
#5
Capsium
Capsium patches and topical products are my new gig. (Walgreens has them)
Give them a try. They really help with my shoulder....
May 30, 2009 - 9:54pm
#6
Voltaren paste and Flexeril
Hi Ms. Sarge, how ya feelin today? My wife, Aurelia5, has been taking flexeril for 3-4 years and she swears by them. You know, "You rotten low down flexeril you!" Just kidding She told me to type you that they help a lot with her muscle cramps and even help her bursitis as well . . . a twofer!
Aurelia here. Can you believe that guy's sense of humor? Trying to get away with 'swearing by it'? What a cornball. World's best husband, though.
Anyway, I have had back problems since I was a kid, and I will get a pinched nerve caused by my muscles freezing the area so that nothing can move and further agrivate the nerve. The Flexeril relax the central nervous system, and calm all the muscles down. It doesn't work locally; I think only a shot of some really dangerous anesthesia would do that. But it stops the muscle spasm and makes everything better. Some people may find it makes them sleepy; that is to be expected of a relaxant; but the thing about side effects is that with time, they go away. I have been on Flexeril for a long time, so it no longer makes me sleepy. If I'm trying to go to sleep, it helps, but if I want to stay awake, it doesn't get in my way. Doesn't work as well either - the idea is to relax. So if you are taking it twice a week, it may be months before it no longer gives you side effects; if you take it daily, maybe they will stop after a few weeks. I think it's right up there in the wonder-drug catagory with Xanax for effectiveness. I have not tried any new ones, since the Flexeril works for me.
As far as the ointment is concerned, when I worked in a pharmacy, there were various ointments that claimed they relaxed muscles. I bought a tube of a Eucaliptus/menthol combination, and yes, it did work to make the muscle pain stop - I was in such a fury to wash the horrible smelling stuff off that I totally forgot why in the world I bought it. WOWEE!!! Then, I had to wash the wash cloths; the stuff could take paint off the walls.
Goat said he has a paste made from Voltaren. I used the Voltaren pills for a while as an anti-inflamatory, but it was too tough on my stomach. I wonder if the paste crosses into the blood stream. A lot of drugs can be diluted only with alcohol, and still, they may not break down enough to get through the blood cell's outer membrane. If it worked it would be great.
The ideal way to take care of those tight muscles, is to take a Flexeril, a half a Xanax if you have it, take a very warm bath, RELAX in the bath - every muscle, starting with the muscles that make your hair stand on end, all the way down to your toezies. Then get in bed and do something relaxing, in other words, don't read the news. You should feel way better in the morning.
My lengthy explanations should suffice to put you to sleep.
Have to go - one of the cats just made a noise that I could not identify. Not a crash per se, just a muffled BLAT.
Q here. The big black cat caught a nice fat mouse last night so now he's tromping all over the place knocking stuff off of shelves and all, looking for another trophy mouse to bring his momma, Aurelia5. I bring her mice too 'cause she gives really good back scritches with her beautiful long fingernails. I know, TMI. Good Luck, Sarge. We hope your shoulder gets better............
a5 & Q
May 31, 2009 - 8:38am
#7
Ok Everyone
I took a Flexeril last night just to see if it would help at all; slept for 9 straight hours and now I feel like a truck hit me. My muscle there on the top of the left shoulder is tight but not really painful. Yesterday I went off to my Mom n Pop's and got a [metal] tub of Eucaliptus stuff and it smells wonderful and really gave me some relief. I sure could use a massage though! It's hard to massage that area myself; it looks like I'm patting myself on the back, ha ha. All who suggested Somas, I have heard they are helpful but addictive and I know I can get thru this as it's gotta be a temporary condition. I have had bursitis and oh ho is that a chronic ache in the back! This is different, think I might've slept wrong or twisted the shoulder or stress maybe. Anyway my doc is now at a convention or some doctor thing in England so that's out, unless maybe his PA will give me something else to keep for another tight muscle. But I don't really think I need it. That Eucaliptus stuff works and smells good to boot. Aromatherapy has something to do with it, I'm sure.
Don't think I'll mess much with drugs like Flexeril anymore, I remember taking a Pennacilian before I knew I was allergic and had to call an ambulance which was hard to do with a dang baseball in my mouth (my tongue swelled up sooo bad) and flopping around on the floor, too. So living alone and trying new therapies is not such a good idea.
Thanks to all who responded and for little things like sprained/pulled/inflamed muscles, I'll take ya'lls advice of OTC remedies. Thanks for responding and have a pain-free day. Off to church now. 
~Sarge
May 31, 2009 - 8:46pm
#8
Hi Sarge
I used flexeril years ago after a back injury. They made me tired, and very constipated. I had to stop taking them.
I have very tight shoulders, and have one of those rice filled tubes (like a long sock), which I heat up in the microwave, and it helps a lot! The heat is a moist heat and lasts awhile. I heat it up for 2 min. Sometimes less.
I also have a battery powered massager I picked up at the drugstore. It has 3 or 4 round legs (I have both), a switch on top, and fits in the palm of your hand. I can use it on my own shoulder, on the top, and it helps. I also use tizanadine for a muscle relaxer, makes me tired, but seems to help. The eucalyptus works well too. I hope this helps.
June 1, 2009 - 11:38am
#9
Voltearen now comes in a gel
Voltearen now comes in a gel that is carried or obtainable by all pharmacies. My daughter and I both use it. We used to have to get it at compounding pharmacies, or make it ourselves like we do the soma cream. It does help although not instantly. We have found a gel over the counter that helps instantly but only lasts about 30 min. it's called Arnicare gel, we found it at GNC and Vitamin shoppe. It has been a life (or sanity)saver a few times.
June 2, 2009 - 9:51pm
#10
as far
as a topical ointment I like Icey-hot
as far as flexaril, i take it only when legs cramp bad an then only, it usually makes me dazed the next morning, kind like what i think ectasy would be like, some mornings i believe if my wife only knew she could pose me into any hilaroius postion, an take pics, glad i have a sweet woman, We both hurt an know not to bother the other until we are fully awake
June 2, 2009 - 9:56pm
#11
mr dr
gave me some voltaren/paste and it seemed to feel good for a bit.
June 4, 2009 - 12:13am
#12
flexerel do not work for
flexerel do not work for me.
Soma is the muscle relaxer of choice, and work excellent... for me and all my friends!
But take what works for you!
(opinion only, by experience)
PharmWorker
June 4, 2009 - 10:03am
#13
I've used Flexaril for a few
years now, and it doesn't seem to have any effect any more. I take 3 a day and still have problems with muscle spasms and cramping. I don't get the sedating effects of it anymore. Zanaflex will make me sleepy, but doesn't work very well for spasms. Soma make me feel drunk (like ETOH) and work OK for the spasms. A TENS unit works better than all of them IMO..
Ray
June 4, 2009 - 11:47am
#14
Flexeril..
Flexeril works for me but I prefer Soma. Side effects, lets say I would rather have a headache than be dizzy, seemed that the Flexeril would cause some dizziness upon awakening to me. However, I will only take 1/2 a soma at a time. I use to take 1 to 2 somas, but the headaches!!!
HAVE U tried an ICE PACK MsSarge?
June 7, 2009 - 7:45pm
#15
Actually, 100mgMarlboro
I did use cooling therapy (ice cubes in a washcloth, lol) and the Eucaliptus, aahhhhh I'm back to normal. Well, what's normal for me, that shoulder is always hurting towards the neck. Had a run-in with a train while still in the Army; the air hose let go in between the boxcars and clocked me under the chin so there's bulging disc, arthritis and spondylosis C 4-5 which translates into dull ache and sometimes acute sharp pain. Guess that's from the pinched nerve. I take 7.5 Norcos or Mallincrodt whichever is available. Rx'd 5 per day if needed but I usually only take 2 1/2 -4 most days. Have a good stash just in case. I try also to lower my doses every month to feel pain so I know how I am doing pain-wise. The cooling therapy and Eucaliptus is wonderful and I'll be using that whenever I get tight again. Smells really nice. Thanks bunches, ~Sarge
I was put on Flexeril for a month and I didn't get any relief from it at all. Of course, each person is different. Basically it made me sleepy and that was it. I've found that Carisoprodol (Somas) are way better for me. If the Flexeril doesn't work for you, there are other options. Just do a search for 'muscle relaxers' on here and you should come up with a bunch of different types.
As for the rub, I've purchased something like that at Bath & Body Works. I'm not sure if it's the same as the stuff that your doctor has recommended, but the stuff I have works great. It's a Eucalyptus scent and feels awesome on painful muscles and even feels kinda cool on places I have neuropathy. You should be able to find something similar at any pharmacy or even Wal-Mart type stores. Dr. Schols makes some specifically for feet too.