About a year ago I stepped off a stool at a condo where we were staying at the beach. The stool was much taller than our stools at home, and the floor wasn't where  my subconcious mind expected it be. The stool was on the balcony behind a rail. Instead of falling, I quickly turned, grabbed the rail, and stopped myself from falling. I probably would have been much better off if I had fallen, because I somehow ended up twisting my right knee and I messed it up pretty bad. My knee and the muscles around  it hurt very bad. I went through MRIs, CAT Scans...the whole nine yards. I have never exactly understood what my "diagnosis" was. It had something to do with my miniscus and my kneecap was out of place. The muscles around my kneecap had been damaged and weren't strong enough to hold it in place. I had to have cortisone shots, stay off of my knee, keep it propped up so that it was raised above my heart, I had go through months of rehab therapy, wear a knee brace, ( a DonJoy Lateral J Patella Knee Brace), and take a prescription medication called **Flexeril 10 mg Tablets**. I actually took the generic brand, which is called **Cyclobenzaprine 10 mg Tablets**. It's what is commonly known as a muscle relaxer, and is also available in 5 mg tablets. It *"relieves skeletal muscle spasm of local origin without interfering with muscle function."* My prescription was to take 1 tablet three times daily. I also had to use a wonderful topical analgesic called [Voltaren Gel][1] , and occasionally take a prescription pain reliever. I could really tell a difference in the amount of pain I felt when I took the Flexeril as opposed to when I didn't. The muscle spasms greatly decreased with the help of Flexeril. I don't think I would have been able to go through the rigorous physical therapy if I had not been taking Flexeril. I had to strengthen my muscles around my kneecap enough that they would be able to hold it in place. The excercisizes hurt a lot and I had to go to PT three or four times a week for months. My physical therapy wouldn't have been bearable without the Flexeril. Drugs.com gives the following description: "**Indications and Usage for Flexeril: ** *"Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablets are indicated as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for relief of muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.* *Improvement is manifested by relief of muscle spasm and its associated signs and symptoms, namely, pain, tenderness, limitation of motion, and restriction in activities of daily living.* *Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablets should be used only for short periods (up to two or three weeks) because adequate evidence of effectiveness for more prolonged use is not available and because muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions is generally of short duration and specific therapy for longer periods is seldom warranted.* *Cyclobenzaprine HCL has not been found effective in the treatment of spasticity associated with cerebral or spinal cord disease, or in children with cerebral palsy."* The most common side effects of Flexeril are drowsiness, dizziness, and dry mouth. As with all medications, there have been other, more serious side effects reported. Always tell your health care provider all medications you are taking, including Over The Counter medications. Serious adverse reactions could occur when Flexeril is taken while you are taking certain other drugs, such as MAO Inhibitors. Also report side effects such as shortness of breath, confusion, etc. to your doctor. The only side effects I experience while taking Flexeril is dry mouth and if I don't eat enough, they make me tired and sleepy. I can deal with dry mouth and being tired and sleepy much better than I can deal with the intense pain I sometimes feel around my knee. I can't stress the importance of educating yourself about all medications you take, whether they are OTC or prescription. Flexeril has warnings, contraindications, precautions, and general information that I have not included in this review. I am writing this review only to inform you that Flexeril has been very beneficial for me in dealing with painful muscle spasms. If you're reading this, you have access to a computer. Educate yourself about Flexeril if it is prescribed for you. Drugs.com is my favorite website to learn information about medication, and there are many others. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you have about your prescription. Never take any medication other than in the way it was prescribed for you. The old saying is "better safe than sorry." When it comes to medication and my body, I say, "better safe than dead." Doctors and pharmasicts are human and make mistakes. You have access to information about your medication. Inform yourself and don't be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure about anything concerning your prescription. I don't think my knee will ever really be 'the same' again. Sometimes it buckles for no reason and I either catch myself or fall on my behind. If I twist it, it swells like crazy and hurts a lot. I have my brace, my Voltaren Gel, and my Flexeril for those times. I do muscle strengthening excersizes at home and wait for the muscles to get strong enough to hold my kneecap in the place my brace tells it it's supposed to  be. In my opinion, Flexeril is a very beneficial medication for helping to control painful muscle spasms. It works very well for me. If you have muscle spasms that require prescription medication, ask your doctor about Flexeril. Maybe it will work as well for you as it does for me, and hopefully it will provide at least some much needed relief.   [1]: http://www.viewpoints.com/Voltaren-Gel-Arthritis-Medicine-review-e15c3

lopine

Tiny Town, GA