Anyone know a really strong muscle relaxer that you don't need a prescription for?

Question

I've already been taking Skelaxin — prescribed by my doctor, but that's not doing a thing for the muscles in my neck. I really don't want to have to pay for another office visit so soon, so I'm wondering if anyone knows of maybe an alternative medicine or therapy. Whatever it is, though, it needs to be aggressive. These muscles are giving me terrible headaches.

Answer 1

I have life long muscle issues and use muscle relaxers on a regular basis. I have never found any over the counter muscle relaxers that work effectively. I guess that is the difference between OTC and prescription strength.

If you have a documented, long term issue that your Doctor is aware of, I would just call your Doctors office and talk to his nurse. Let the nurse know your prescription is not working and you need to try something else. I would even ask the nurse if they have any trial sample of muscle relaxers and so you can get one that is effective for you without buying several prescriptions that do not work for you.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas (natural muscle relaxers) daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, (if this does not do it you probably need a chiropractor as well) you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.