Are muscle relaxants safe to take with J-Pouch?

I’ve not read about a general problem with muscle relaxants, so I don’t know if what you read is actually true, nor whether it might apply to J-pouchers. In any case, you could ask your GI if the *specific* medication is okay for you to take (rather than asking about muscle relaxants in general).

The only thing I can add about muscle relaxers is that back in July, my 83 year old father, who apparently sustained a soft tissue back injury after over-aggressive landscaping activity, asked for and was denied muscle relaxers. He was having all kinds of trouble moving around without pain and spasms, so I told him to ask for Flexeril. His PCP said they are not prescribing any muscle relaxers to senior citizens any more, because they cause dizziness and falls. So if you aren't a senior citizen and do not have vertigo issues, that may not be a concern.

Instead they gave my father a steroidal anti inflammatory and told him to rest, and that worked.

Thank you very much.  I will go and get my prescription :-)

I think you may have confused the notion that muscle relaxers are not an appropriate treatment for IBD (which is true) with a contraindication if IBD is present (which is not true).

I have taken a number of muscle relaxers over the more than 25 years I have had my j-pouch for non j-pouch related issues without any problems. This includes Flexeril, Robaxin, and tizanidine. Benzodiazepines like Valium are more problematic, but not because of your j-pouch. It is their highly addictive nature that is the primary problem.

Jan

Thank you Jan !! Yes I probably did, that makes sens. I really appreciated everybody's responses. I feel less anxious about taking Flexeril. I need it for the survival of my teeth and my jaw muscles 🤦🏼‍♀️😆.

Ladybug - have you tried cranial physical therapy to help with the tightness?  It does wonders.

No problem taking cyclobenzaprine ( Flexeril) occasionally when I hurt my neck/back.