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Muscle spasm is a condition that occurs after the release of excessive strychnine into the muscles by the nerves. The reason for this is that the brain tries to make movements of the cooled muscle tissue suddenly. Under normal conditions, the muscle fat tissue has to warm up and need to get enough protein and vitamins so that the muscles are able to move. Spasms, which are mostly felt on the thigh as well as the anterior and posterior part of the legs, may also appear in the arms, hands, feet, and abdomen.
Back and shoulders are other areas where muscle spasms are seen intensively. Severe spasms can make an individual wake up from sleep or make it difficult to walk. Contractions of certain muscles may affect the surrounding muscles or even the entire body. In some cases, these cramps may be accompanied by swelling of the muscle tissue. Spasms can pass in a few seconds or continue for 15 minutes.
Muscle spasms may be a temporary cause of muscle overload, as well as a medical health problem behind those spasms. Therefore, if spasms become severe and persistent, you should immediately see a specialist. Most common causes of muscle spasms are:
Causes could be very painfull
WARNING: Alcoholism, stress, smoking or drug use cause plaque accumulation in the coronary arteries that feed the heart muscles with blood and narrows the arteries. In this case, the person may experience severe chest pain that can be confused with a heart attack. Coronary artery spasms are common especially in people with high cholesterol levels.
are typical muscle spasm symptoms. These symptoms usually disappear after a period of time with no intervention. Symptoms usually vary depending on the cause of spasm and in which area of our body is felt.
WARNING: You must see a doctor if swelling of the legs, changes in skin color, redness occurs, regularly repeating muscular cramps, and spasms are not relieved in spite of personal interventions. These and similar conditions may indicate another condition, such as muscle weakness.
The muscle spasm may vary according to the area affected. The most common types of muscle spasm and cramps can be classified as follows:
It is caused by excessive activity of the nerves stimulating the muscles. They can cover a single muscle or a whole group of muscles. Muscle fatigue, injury, excessive use of muscles can cause true cramps. Resting cramps which are seen in elderly people and can cause individuals awake from their sleep are also considered in this class. Loss of body water, sodium deficiency in the body are other causes of real cramps.
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It occurs as a result of the activity of all nerve cells in the body. The low amount of calcium and potassium greatly increases the activity of the nerve muscles. Muscle spasms in the hands and wrists are often due to low calcium levels. It is often not possible to separate these spasms from true cramps.
This is most likely to occur in people who are over-exercising muscles or who use muscles in the opposite direction of intended movement. Excessive use of hands and wrists known as writer cramps is included in this class.
The lower back muscle spasm, which is mostly seen in people who are lifting heavy loads or dealing with sports needing extreme physical exertion, develop with the involuntary contraction of the waist muscles. By limiting the person’s mobility, it causes the person to walk obliquely. Excessive stress on the muscles in the waist is the main reason. Not having the muscles and ligaments strong enough in the waist area, and the narrowing of the spinal canal together with aging are other important causes.
Sudden and sharp pain in the muscles is important sign
Sometimes changes in seasons, excessive humidity and extreme hot weather, can lead to spasms in the waist. Hot compresses are much more used in treatment. It is possible to relieve the pain sensation with a hot compress applied to the waist for 20 minutes.
Muscle spasms and cramps in the neck are depending upon different factors such as the excessive use of high or low pillow in the bed, long hours of continuous work at the desk and work on computer, etc. All these factors cause tension in the neck muscles and pressure on the nerves.
The result is cramping on the neck. It accompanies with symptoms such as difficulty in moving the neck or even not being able to lift the head. Hot compresses are used in the treatment. If the symptoms do not relieve, physical therapy would be very beneficial or muscle relaxant, pain relief drugs are used.
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Muscle spasm is the contraction of the muscles of the shoulders and back with different causes such as strain, weakness, muscle tension and cold. Strain of the nerve roots around the spine may have different causes such as fatigue, stress, depression, and sudden movement of spine muscles that have not been used for a long time.
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In the treatment of back cramps, besides the hot compress application, different methods such as the use of topical creams that warm and relax the muscles, back and spine massage, increasing calcium and potassium intake can be tried.
The compression of the nerves in the neck, neck hernia, soft tissue rheumatism (fibromyalgia), sitting at a desk for a long time, sitting in a hunchback position, posture disorders, can cause muscle spasm in the shoulder. A numbness and arm pain spreading into the arm accompanied by shoulder muscle spasms is usually a sign of neck hernia.
Pain, stiffness and malfunctioning of the muscles in the case of fibromyalgia may be extremely uncomfortable for the patient. Shoulder cramps can be treated with methods such as regular exercise, physical therapy, hot compress, and resting.
For the diagnosis of muscle spasm, your doctor may ask you some questions about your complaints. Your doctor may ask you to take a blood test to measure the amount of potassium and calcium in your blood. It may ask you to take a blood test to measure the amount of potassium and calcium in your blood. By measuring the activity of your muscles with electromyography, you can determine if your muscles are abnormal.
You can also have myelography to monitor the condition of the muscles in your spinal cord. This may lead you to a neurologist since muscle weakness, fatique, weakness and loss of sensation, may be signs of nervous system disorders.
Different methods such as medication, exercise, physical therapy may be preferred in the treatment of muscle spasms. Muscle Spasms can also be avoided by taking preventive actions. Methods used in the treatment of muscle spasms are as follows:
If the muscle spasm is chronic and severe, your doctor may prescribe certain medications depending on the underlying cause. You may need to use ibuprofen-containing medications, muscle relaxants, and narcotic medications for damaged and strained muscles.
Especially the drugs containing ibuprofen are very effective in the treatment of short-term treatment. In the treatment of cramps due to potassium and calcium deficiency, your doctor may usually recommend using calcium and potassium supplements.
Hot and cold compresses provide relaxation of muscles and muscle cramps. You can relieve the muscular pain by applying a hot cloth or hot water bag to the aching and contracting area, and relieve the severity of muscular pain with the help of a cold cloth or ice.
Physical therapy has an important place in the treatment of muscle spasms which have become continuous. At this stage, you need to do the movements recommended by the physical therapist regularly. Especially those who sit on the desk for long hours can prevent the cramps by starting the day with warming and relaxation exercises.
Yoga, Pilates and swimming are other effective methods to treat muscle spasms. You can strengthen your muscles and relax after a 30-minute swimming activity 2-3 times a week. Pain in the back and neck muscles and those who want to get rid of contractions can be interested in swimming sport.
Aromatherapy can be used in the treatment of spasms; you can decrease the pain with the massage with the medicinal herbs you will get to the aching area. Herbal treatment of spasms such as thyme, lavender, primrose, camphor, eucalyptus oil are very beneficial in the treatment of muscle spasms and effective in relaxation of muscles. You can get rid of the spasms with a 20-minute massage to the painful area.
You can also get a general relief by consuming a few cups of celery seeds, chamomile or ginger tea daily. In addition, you can treat in a natural way the muscle contraction and cramps caused by dehydration by consuming 2-2.5 liters of water per day.
When you have cramps in your hand, you can wrap your hands in a warm towel, then take a muscle relaxant and a pain medication. If you have cramps during exercise, you can stop exercising for at least a few hours.
Moving your toes up and down and moving them with help of your handscan help you. You can gently massage to stretch your foot, or apply pressure to the point between your big toe and next toe for 30 seconds.
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You can apply a compress with hot water bag to your cramped leg, then do some stretching exercises. You can get rid of cramps with a 30-minute walk.
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