Muscle Cramps & Spasms

by Scooter
(New Jersey)

I have been having massive problems, particularly in the middle of the night while sleeping, with debilitating cramps in both of my calves about 4" below the back of my knees. Sometimes they occur while just sitting at work. Occasionally, I get them in my hamstrings but those go away quickly. The cramps in my calves can last for days and it feels like someone is stabbing them with electrified spears.

I have an indoor jacuzzi that I use for about 2 hours a day and stretch constantly but the cramps keep coming. Someone said I can put some mineral salts in the Jacuzzi that my body would absorb but I don't remember what mineral it was. Can you tell me what I should be putting in the Jacuzzi to help with this?

In addition to this, I am also getting what I guess are muscle spasms, EVERYWHERE, head to toe. I get them at the top/back/side of my head, face, neck, back, arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes. They are pretty quick, unlike the cramps, lasting anywhere between less than a second up to 20 seconds. Sometimes they are barely noticeable and sometimes they feel like a massive jolt through my whole body, making my extremeties "jerk" and even "locking" my entire body or just certain areas, for up to 20 seconds. I saw a neurologist who thought it might be RLS and prescribed Mirapex but that did nothing.

The odd part about this is that it seems to only happen within about 90 minutes of falling asleep at night, or if I am really, really relaxed during the day, like if I could or want to take a nap. They can be very violent movements and if they happen in my neck or my back, they can actually hurt; though most of the time they're just annoying and keep me from getting comfortable enough to fall asleep. They almost feel like mini-seizures. What are these and how can I stop them? Neither Ambien nor Xanax has helped stop them. Here is some more background information about what I have been going through.

I am a 31 year old male with a history of joint, bone, and muscle problems. I have had 8 knee surgeries (first knee surgery was when I was 14 years old) between both knees and reconstructive foot surgery. I was an athlete all my life and still in decent shape; 5'9" 180lbs. 32" waist, and still quite a lot of muscle. I've asked for knee replacements but nobody will touch that for another 10-15 years.

I have had countless cortizone shots, epidurals, and could probably get my own license to practice physical therapy. I have my own TENS unit and have even been able to do ultrasound on myself since I was 14 (when I'm at PT). I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and Fibromyalgia 6 years ago after I was discharged from the US Navy's Nuclear Engineering program because I blew out both knees... for the 3rd time.

For my regular daily pain, I have tried all types of vitamins in addition to the Enbrel that I am prescribed for my Fibromyalgia/Psoriatic Arthritis. I have tried the natural route with diet, accupuncture, massages, physical therapy, and exercize which didn't do much. In the past I have been given trigger point injections, Symponi, Savella, Humira, Remicade, prednisone, Gabapentin, Neurontin, Mirapex, Flexoril, Cymbalta, Zoloft, Lyrica, Methotrexate, Xanax, Vicodin, Fentanyl patches, 10mg Percocet, 15mg Roxicet, 4mg Dilaudid, Avinza, 80mg Oxycontin, and several dozen other medications that I can't even remember. Almost every single one of these, including the Oxycontin, and most of the other major narcotics did nothing except increase my tolerance for other medication. Percocet worked a little but I have to take enough to kill most people for an hour or two of relief (about 100mg at a time). Yes, Percocet works but Oxycontin doesn't, even though it's the same thing except for the acetaminophen. I even tried taking the Oxycontin with Tylenol and it didn't work.

I have done hundreds of hours of research and it seems that cannabinoids may be the only thing left to prescribe. I have asked my rheumatologist and pain management doctor for Nabilone or Cesamet and neither will do so, even though they have no problem prescribing OVER 12,000mg OF OXYCODONE PER MONTH. Yes, that was TWELVE THOUSAND MILLIGRAMS A MONTH between the Percocet and Oxycontin.

I have stopped taking all prescribed narcotics which was obviously quite difficult and tried all natural cannabis for the first time in 15 years. It is the first MEDICATION I have tried in the last 6 years that actually helps. I live in New Jersey and although the Compassionate Use Act, authorizing the creation of 3 dispensories in the state, was signed 2 years ago on January 10, 2008, nothing has been done. Even if they were finally in operation, my medical conditions wouldn't qualify me to legally obtain cannabis through these monitored dispensories. How is this possible?

Apparently, neither Fibromyalgia nor arthritis is considered a "Debilitating medical condition," which in Law S119 is defined as: cancer, glaucoma, positive HIV/AIDS status, or the treatment of these conditions; a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms; and other medical conditions that may administratively be added by the department.

Who is "the department" and how can "other medical conditions" be added? And if it takes over 2 years to do something that should have been done in 90 days, how long will it taqke to add "other medical conditions" to this bill?

Section 13 of NJ State Senate Bill S119 states
13. This act shall take effect 90 days after enactment.

It's been over 2 years and no dispensories have opened and I can't even get the LEGALLY prescribed alternative Nabilone.

I may be biased but every single symptom that I have sounds like it should fit in to this definition yet I am terrified of being caught. I can't even think of applying for a new job for fear of being tested. What should I do?

I'll probably end up dying of cancer or radiation poisoning eventually anyway; not from the nuclear reactors/weapons that I worked on but from thousands of doeses from X-rays and MRIs. Maybe then my "condition" will qualify and MAYBE by then this law will actually be in effect.

Can someone please help?