A health condition that causes painful contractions and tightening of the muscles is called muscle spasms (also known as muscle cramps). It often occurs unpredictably and cannot be controlled. However, there are some steps that you can consider to prevent and treat them. Doctors often recommend massage, stretching, and muscle relaxants to ease muscle spasms.
In other words, a muscle cramp happens when a muscle involuntarily and forcibly contracts and cannot relax. Generally, muscle spasms are normal and quite common. This condition can affect a part or all of a muscle, or even several muscles. While it may occur anywhere, spasms often affect muscles in the following parts of the body. For example:
- Arm
- Back
- Leg
- Neck
- Chest
- Abdomen (belly)
- Ribcage
Are Muscle Cramps Serious?
While most of the time, muscle cramps are not serious, in some cases, this condition may indicate an underlying neurological disorder. This disorder often affects a part of the brain responsible for moving the muscles. It is very important to visit a doctor if you have chronic (long-term) muscle cramps along with the following symptoms. These include muscle weakness, poor coordination, and pain.
What Are The Symptoms of Muscle Spasms?
People who develop this condition often experience different symptoms because they depend on some factors. These include the location of the affected muscles, existing health problems, gender, and age. The symptoms of muscle spasms also range from mild to severe. Additional symptoms often occur in people with an underlying neurological disorder. Check some symptoms below:
- Numbness
- Paralysis
- Vision problems (such as double vision, blurred vision, and others)
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
- Problems with balance and coordination
- Weakness of the muscles
- Pain
If any of the previous symptoms occur, immediately contact your doctor. Otherwise, it may lead to serious complications (such as permanent damage).
Causes
Nowadays, healthcare providers do not fully understand what exactly causes muscle cramps. Check some potential causes below:
- Dehydration
- Heat cramps (exercises in extreme heat)
- Stress
- Overtraining
- Electrolyte imbalances (including increased or decreased salts or minerals, such as Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium)
- Muscle fatigue
- Lack of stretching
Some people may also develop nocturnal leg cramps. Check some possible causes below:
- Sitting improperly
- Working or standing on concrete floors
- Overusing the muscles
- Sitting for a long time
What Happens if Muscle Spasms Are Left Untreated?
In most cases, this condition does not cause any complications. However, in more severe cases, when it occurs due to an underlying neurological disorder, you may experience the following complications. These include:
- Decreased mobility
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
- Fatigue
- Knots (visible or palpable tight knots in the muscle)
- Muscle fatigue or weakness
- Pain and stiffness
- Secondary effects (including chronic pain, anxiety, difficulty performing daily activities, and others)
The previous list does not contain a complete list of complications. In any case, you can consult with your physician about ways to reduce the risk or manage them.
How to Prevent Muscle Spasms?
Usually, it is not possible or difficult to prevent muscle spasms because they occur unpredictably. However, doctors may recommend some options to reduce the risk. These include:
- Regularly perform flexibility exercises
- Stretch your muscles
- Drink plenty of water
- Do not exercise in extreme heat
- Try to get or maintain a healthy weight for you
- Do not administer medicines that may cause muscle cramps as an adverse reaction
- Wear shoes that fit you properly
- You can also use pillows to keep the toes pointed upward if you sleep on your back and stretch the muscles before bedtime to prevent nocturnal muscle spasms
Diagnosis
First, physicians often perform a physical and neurological examination to check for abnormalities linked to neurological disorders. Therefore, they may also ask some questions about your symptoms and medical history to gather more information about your disease. Sometimes, they may perform some tests to rule out other disorders that cause similar symptoms. For example, imaging tests, blood tests, urine tests, and others.
Treatment
Nowadays, there are no medicines available to treat muscle spasms instantly. However, doctors may recommend the following options to reduce the symptoms and stop muscle cramps. Examples include:
- Massage the affected area with hands or a massage roller
- Walk around
- Apply ice packs or heat to the affected area
- Stretch the affected area
- You can also use nonprescription pain relievers (including Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen)
In more severe cases, doctors prescribe muscle relaxants to reduce the symptoms. However, these prescription medications can cause some adverse reactions, including dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness. That’s why muscle relaxers cannot be used for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I go to the ER?
Immediately call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room (ER) if any of the following symptoms occur. For example:
- Severe pain
- Spasms that start after touching the poisonous substance
- Muscle spasms that occur in multiple parts of the body at the same time
What deficiency causes muscle cramps?
It is not necessarily that you have a neurological disorder if you experience muscle cramps. In some cases, people develop them due to a deficiency of one of the following vitamins or minerals. Examples include vitamin D, Potassium, Calcium, or Magnesium (hypomagnesemia).
What can cause severe muscle cramps throughout the body?
Sometimes, people may develop severe muscle spasms throughout the body. While it may indicate electrolyte imbalances, people can develop them due to serious health conditions. For example, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or atherosclerosis (plaque buildup). In this case, you should see a doctor right away. If you have any other questions, ask your healthcare provider.
