Originally Posted by Edie

This, in our family, is what we call a hexenschus. In German it means "Shot by a Witch". Right? I got the worst hexenschus one day when I was sitting on the living room floor cleaning out my sewing box. I reached about 6" and I was so totally zapped by this pain! It was the dreaded Spasm!!!!! It took me 45 minutes to get from a sitting position - legs crossed, to literally crawling to a chair, reaching for the archway bookcase and grabbing on to it to pull myself up. After a I moved around for a bit, it let up, but didn't go away. I have had many hexenschus's and the doctor told me I was in so much pain because I stand straight. As long as I stand straight, I won't favor the pain and won't end up hunched over. I also lay on the floor, reach my arms to one end of the room and my feet to the other end of the room - don't even try to imagine!!! This stretches the spine and releases the spasm. I also do not stop what I am doing. I keep right on - scrubbing floors, vacuuming, going grocery shopping, bringing in the groceries. The whole ordeal can last three to five days, but the end result is a stronger back, a straighter back and the knowledge that I can do it myself. I do think, however, the worst part is getting a spasm trying to get out of bed, you know, rolling out of bed(?), or getting up off the throne! Sitting is probably the worst thing because of the "L" shape when you sit. I either stand or lay on the floor!

Good luck with the dreaded HEXENSCHUS - pronounced hexen-shoose! Edie

PS - these spasms started when I was in my 20's and am now in my 70's. Never killed me!