Muscle Spasm: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Most people are familiar with the sudden pain of a muscle cramp. Muscle spasms are caused by the sudden contraction of a group of muscles or a single muscle. Such spasms can also occur in hollow organs such as the heart and other orifices that can experience contractions, cramps and immediate pain.
Most of us have experienced muscle spasm at some time in our life and it is evident from our own experiences that it is painful and can last for several minutes. Some spasms can be quite harmful, and in rare cases can cause severe damage.
Causes
This is a commonly occurring problem and the causes are known to all of us. It's just that some tend to learn and improve their lifestyle habits while others simply ignore the issue. The most common causes known are the absence of electrolytes, overloading of muscles and insufficiency of fluids in the body. Other than these, there are also medical conditions such as tension in a muscle, chronic illnesses, dystonias etc. Muscle spasms can also be caused by sudden bodily changes such as excessive spurts of energy, anxiety, stress, emotion or eustress. Symptoms
The symptom that appears clearly and can be understood as a definite sign is pain in the concerned muscles. The spasm occurs in the muscles that are used during most heavy work and a slight pain is felt in the area. The twitching feeling lasts for a few minutes and there is no harm caused but it is advised to take a break before resuming your work.
It is not necessary that spasms occur only in large muscular areas such as the calf or thigh. Sometimes it is seen that a single nerve fiber can cause a spasm which can be felt in areas as small as the eyelid or thumb.
Treatment
The maintenance of fluid levels is the best treatment, along with other measures like stretching and proper exercises. Stretching prepares the muscles for heavy work and hence reduces the chances of spasm. It also helps in relaxing a muscle that is already pulled. If a muscle is damaged, then further treatment depends upon the extent of damage. The treatment includes medications to relieve pain such as pain killers, narcotics and relaxants.
There may be treatments available but it is preferable to avoid them by making a few changes in your habits, as the result of a treatment may not always be as fruitful as you think.
About the Author
Dr. James S. Pendergraft opened the Orlando Women's Center in March 1996 to provide a full range of health care for women. http://www.womenscenter.com/
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