What causes muscle spasms?

Question

I work up to a muscle spasm in my left calf today. It lasted for about 2 minutes, it's been a few hours now. The bad pain is gone, but I am totally walking with a limp right now, it hurts if I stand up straight.

What causes muscle spasms?

Answer 1

It is normally caused by low magnesium, calcium, and another mineral (can't remember now). Most of these minerals are found in white starchie foods like potatoes and fruit like bananas. If you have a cramp you usually need to replenish these minerals. They can also be found in your sports drinks as atheletes loose alot of these with extreme exercise. I suggest you put some ice on it, at least once every hour or two and maybe take a pain killer like nurofen or panadol if you can. That will help you relax the muscles and calm the tenderness. I used to get them when I worked on the farm in the heat and I would actually get bruises from them.

Answer 2

It is due to a sudden, uncontrolled contraction of a muscle. This is also known as a charley horse. The most common muscles to contract like this are muscles that cross 2 joints. IE - Calf crosses the ankle and knee

The exact cause is n ot understood but stuff that can potentially contribute to this are:

muscle fatigue
heavy exercising
dehydration
high weight
electrolyte imbalances
medications

Exercising in an unsual way can lead to this (more than normal or something different).

Some ideas - stay hydrated, stretch regularly, don't ever skip warm up/cool downs if you work out, and train slowly - build up to goals - dont' try to reach the highest level overnight.

Most people instantly start massaging this cramped muscle and that is very smart. Also heat, or warm shower/bath can relax the muscle.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

A spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden contraction of an orifice. It is sometimes accompanied by a sudden burst of pain, but is usually harmless and ceases after a few minutes. Spasmodic muscle contraction may also be due to a large number of medical conditions, however, including the dystonias.

By extension, a spasm is also a sudden and temporary burst of energy, activity, or emotion.

Muscle spasms in a patient suffering from tetanus (1809)A subtype of spasms is colic, an episodic pain due to spasms of smooth muscle in a particular organ (e.g. the bile duct). A characteristic of colic is the sensation of having to move about, and the pain may induce nausea or vomiting if severe.

Muscle spasms can cause cramps and are usually brought on by the following:

Muscle fatigue
Heavy exercise
Dehydration
Pregnancy
Hypothyroidism
Reduced levels of magnesium or calcium in the body
Other metabolic problems
Alcoholism
Kidney failure
Medications

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your medical history, such as:

When did the spasms first begin?
How long do they last?
How often do you experience muscle spasms?
What muscles are affected?
Is it always the same location?
Are you pregnant?
Have you been vomiting, had diarrhea, excessive sweating, excessive urine volume, or other possible cause of dehydration?
What medications do you take?
Have you been exercising heavily?
Have you been drinking alcohol heavily?
Tests that may be done include:

Blood tests for disorders of the following:
Calcium, potassium, or magnesium metabolism
Thyroid function
Kidney function
Pregnancy test
Electromyography
Myelography
Pain relievers (analgesics) may be prescribed

Muscle cramps and muscle twitches are two seperate muscle movements.

Muscle twitches are fine movements of a small area of muscle.

Muscle twitching is the result of minor local muscle contractions or the uncontrollable twitching of a single muscle group served by a single motor nerve fiber or filament.

Muscle twitches are minor and often go unnoticed. Some are common and normal, while others indicate a neurologic disorder

Common Causes

Benign twitches (not caused by disease or disorders)
Often affecting the eyelids, calf, or thumb
Normal and quite common, often triggered by stress or anxiety
A diet deficiency
Drug overdose (caffeine)
Drug side effect (such as diuretics, corticosteroids and estrogens)
Exercise
Symptoms suggestive of a neurological cause of fasciculations include:

Wasting of muscle
Weakness
Other findings of nerve dysfunction
Neurological illnesses where fasciculations are seen include:

Chronic denervation of muscle due to disk compression of nerve exiting the spinal cord
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
Spinal muscular atrophy
Muscular dystrophy
Myopathy

Answer 4

Usually sports or exercise. But I think the real cause is a shortage of vitamins or minerals in your diet. If all parts of the body are not fed what they need regularly there are side effects.

Frequently muscle spasms are because of a shortage of potassium. Buy bananas, oranges and tomatoes and eat them daily. You could probably get potassium pills in a health food dept. and do pretty much the same thing.

A heating pad should help relax the muscles. Or dampen a hand towel and microwave it for 40 seconds. Then lay it on the painful muscle. Hope it feels better soon.

Answer 5

Spasms are caused by fluid and electrolyte imbalances in the body. Potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium are the primary electrolytes that regulate muscle contraction (including the heart muscle). Eat bananas and potatoes for potassium, or take mineral supplements that you can purchase at your drug store or grocery store. Use a little extra salt, too.

If you haven't been to your doctor in a while, you might want to go in for a physical. Your doctor will run some blood tests and that will show him/her exactly which minerals your body is in need of. Your doctor can prescribe prescription strength supplements for you if they are bad enough.