cramps

[Jupiter]

Like many women here I live with chronic ptsd and I know there are several symptoms with this stress condition.However over last 2 years, out of the blue, another really horrible one seems to take over causing severe pain: cramps in throat,ribs and back muscles which lasts 20 to 30 minutes.I had blood tests done by the GP and everything was normal.
A pain specialist physio told me this is caused by high stress and tension held in the body.This is scary as I dont know when the cramp will happen and anxious going out ,thinking it might come on in public.When the cramp does appear I move my body and roll on my bed or floor but nothing works and it passes eventually.It makes more anxiety and it’s one more thing to cope with-all from ill treatment.If I have it, I take some valium but dont want to form an addiction which can be a problem.Am I alone with this or does anyone else suffer these horrible cramps?
Jupiter

[Knots]

Hi Jupiter, I do feel for you, these physical symptoms are awful.I don’t have exactly those symptoms, but anxiety has led to neck and shoulder pain as well as gastric reflux. The later has caused terrible problems with my throat despite medication, which has further heightened my anxiety. It just seems like a train you can’t get off that goes faster and faster.
As I had terrible spasms in my neck and shoulders and physio only partly sorted this, I started going to the gym to strengthen my muscles. This helped, though it is hard to motivate.I also managed to run off my heightened adrenaline levels.
I have also taken up a dance class. This helps me so much. You have to concentrate on the moves and the background noise of panic goes away for a while, it is such a release that I feel in my whole body.
I haven’t been able to attend the gym for a few weeks and have really suffered as a result. Maybe finding some physical activity you enjoy will help. Sorry I can’t offer more insight.

[Jupiter]

Thank you Knots for your helpful reply.It’s mind-boggling what stress can do to us. You are right about physical activity because the build up of adrenaline also sits in the muscles causing pain if they are not moved.I think I should return to the swimming pool–the water is good for the whole body and the mind as well.It sounds as if you are doing well dancing .I hope you manage to get back to the gym. My problem is that I sit too much for too long at home.
All our problems show very well the mind/body connection and we can plan to look after ourselves a little better once we give ourselves a bit of a push .
Jupiter x

[Knots]

Hi Jupiter,
Interesting what you say about adrenaline. I find it almost impossible to cope if I can’t physically use it up. I’m allowed to get back to the gym next week and can’t wait. It’s not that I enjoy it, but I can really feel the difference in my ability to cope and my physical symptoms.
Dancing has been the best though, because it takes concentration too, so I stop obsessing over things for a while. What about finding a similar activity you might enjoy.
There is a programme on BBC this week about stress and how to use it in a positive way. Can’t remember what day, I’ll look it up. X

[Jupiter]

Hi Knots

I have been busy with my writing and just read your recent post. Yes, as survivors many of us will probably be

coping with stress held in the body with some difficult results like pain or cramps. We simply have too much

stress in our lives today.Saw tv programme the other evening and really interesting. The people in it seemed

to improve by the end of the time given and I started to think of levels of stress and historic stress caused

by adverse events like ours.I’m sure the same life changes would apply to us too but the difference is that our

stress is probably more complex, needing extra measures to deal with it.You are right in saying that an activity

decreases body tension and acts as an effective mental distraction too.

Jupiter x

[Anonymous]

Hello, The physical symptoms our bodies go through can be scary, We tense muscles without realising we are doing it when extreme fear & stress causes severe anxiety, I think anything to try to take our minds off what happened during abuse can help calm our bodies down, even if only a little. I suffer dreadfully with cramps & in general tense aching body all over, Walking helps when I’m not too exhausted through my anxieties being sky high. Ptsd or cptsd is a vile thing to have, none of us wants to relive a single moment of abuse, but we all do, because they badly emotionally scar us, anxiety is a what if illness, we all know what was as we have experienced it first hand, the mere thought of it ever happening again is absolutely terrifying. I’m sure the majority of us now live in a state of suspended fear, the fight, fright, flight. Cramps are felt all over our bodies as a result of feeling so tense & nervous. I think music helps us to relax too, and like someone said dance,or swimming. The worst thing that must people do is tell us to just get over it, if you’re anxious then don’t be anxious, if you’re nervous then don’t be nervous, I think that the one part of my body that I’d like to have a transplant is my mind, then my body would be okay, Our brains hold so much information about what happened to us, that’s very hard to lose. I am feeling the cramps & tension you describe most days, as if what they did to us wasn’t bad enough in the first place. Xx

[drowningmind]

I used to get cramps along my spine (related to stress from an eating disorder before any abuse)
and i found that doing exercises to strengthen the muscles in the area helped as well as holding onto the top of the door frame and putting my weight on it to stretch out my back and give it a rest maybe try that if it happens again? i hope it does help and im sorry i know how painful it can be try to breathe deep and not panic as that could add more tension and pain <3

[Escaped not free]

Hello.
I also went to my GP this week. I haven’t got cramps as such but get horrendously painful neck and shoulders and at times pain in my jaw and back of tongue…weird I know. My ribs as well are so painful I feel I can’t breath properly at times. GP I felt humoured me, said she would give it some thought and get back to me. She hasn’t though. Meanwhile I’m left with this pain. I agree for me the gym weirdly helps. The worst time is evenings when I sit down or in bed. My ribs near my spine actually become increadibly painful to touch. I don’t know what to do with this but it’s really affecting me so I sympathise totally. X*x

[Ayanna]

I take 5HTP and it balances me a lot. Sometimes I take it 3 times a day and sleep a lot.
It is plant derived and has no side effects.
And then I have another plant derived supplement that combats inflammation in general and turmeric capsules.
I still have flashbacks and nightmares and the nerve inflammations and cramps though. I have cramps in my throat, pharynx mainly. Very painful. I have inflamed feet and the nerve inflammations travel through my body constantly. And one arm is most of the time useless and so painful.
However, I get much more sleep with the 5HTP and I can manage to work full time and just stay in bed on my days off work.
And I am not feeling so distressed all the time.
The inflammations and cramps have eased down a little bit at the moment and I think that is down to those supplements.
Some days are quite okayish with all that.
I do not know what I would do without these supplements.

[Jupiter]

Belated thanks for all your advice about cramps and pain.We have so much to cope with mentally as survivors and our bodies seem to be telling us to take notice.
It helps a lot to know that we are not alone and others do understand our issues.Boy, does the outside world need educating about the many effects of trauma!
Thank you.
Jupiter

[Confused123]

Hi ladies

Yes i am knew to this and didnt realise my sudden cramps in my lower back were prob due to stress, i had my suspicion when i was in court recently , out of bloom i had these herrondous pain in the lowerr back. I know from all the beatings i know have weak bones, i am sadly on regualr ocassion slipping and twisting my ankles, amazing how stress imnpact us

[Ayanna]

Confused 123, I too have frequent slips, drips, falls, twists since all that happened and I have ruined my feet and ankles with these accidents.
I wear compression stockings and special socks and foot support because I would not be able to walk anymore without these devices. 🙁

[Serenity]

I was left with chronic fatigue and pain due to the constant heightened adrenaline ( psychological fear, perceived threat 24/7) of being with him.

The heightened fear poisons your body. Your body constantly being on red alert means that your amygdala- which produces adrenaline- is working over time. Your body is flooded with too much adrenaline, produced by the fight/ flight response. Too much adrenaline is poisonous.

I think a multi-faceted view of treatment works best. You can’t treat the body but neglect what your mind is telling your body. Things like 5-htp and anxiety medication have been a huge help to me, but what we tell our mind and body is so important.

My anxiety levels recently increased out of nowhere, though I haven’t had any direct contact with him. It was unbearable- like Anonymous describes. My physical pains got worse, as did the fatigue.

Then I realised that I had slipped back into fear mode. Some things he was doing from afar was making my subconscious believe that he was a threat. The fear was back, even if only on a sub-conscious level. The adrenaline was in overdrive again.

As soon as I faced myself directly, and stopped stuffing my fear down- and accepted that fear was again ruling me, and tried to rationalise my fear and counter it with a realistic ire and plan that made me feel secure and protected, my anxiety levels dropped, as did my physical pain.

We need to listen to our subconscious and replace it with positive affirmation and things to help us feel secure.

Eating a diet based mostly on alkaline ( as opposed to acidic) foods has really helped me. The pain goes the roof if I eat processed foods or sugar.

[Confused123]

Hi HUn

Forgot to mention how to get releif, i have to have soaks in bathto help relax muscles , when i can afford it near to any case hearing i get massages done to relax muscles. Like serinty and lot of others i have chronic tiredness so have to watch my diet and go gym to keep fit .

If possible try and keep him out of your head , your body naturally relaxes and recovers

[Ayanna]

Another way to get sleep and relax is to take a tablet of piritone. It combats histamine overproduction and that relaxes female organs, bowels, etc.
My tiredness really comes out when I take piritone. I can sleep 12 hours after taking it.

[Author]

Posts