Causes and Treatments of Muscle Spasm

Most people at some point in their lives experience an acute or chronic muscle spasm in response to things like pain, muscle strain, inflammation, symptoms of disease, or dehydration. The causes of a single or sustained spasm are many, but the response is typically the same. Let us consider for a moment how spasms occur, and the ways that spasms can be treated or prevented.

A muscle spasm is an involuntary muscular contraction that is the result of some form of tissue distress. If you strain a muscle by lifting a heavy object or twisting while carrying a load, or overstress a particular muscle through repetitive motion – something like carpal tunnel syndrome, for instance – the associated inflammation can contribute to spasms and associated pain, weakness, and instability in that muscle group.

Muscle spasms are possible due to a number of unique conditions in the body. Poor diet and dehydration may surface as nocturnal leg cramps that affect the calves. Victims of cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, gastric reflux, tetanus, irritable bowel syndrome, hypothyroidism, and stroke can experience debilitating spasms as part of their disease process. Malnutrition during alcoholism can contribute to permanent nerve damage called neuropathy that manifests as spasmodic episodes.

In addition to overexertion experienced by athletes and workers alike, other potential contributors to spasms include vomiting, pregnancy, exposure to poison, reactions to certain drugs, and trauma. There are also two forms of dystonia – in effect, a brain deficiency – that can be a primary or secondary cause of muscle spasm, either acquired as part of another condition or inherited from a parent.

Depending on the muscle group, these spasms have varying degrees of severity. For example, a leg cramp or neck cramp caused by overexertion or poor posture is certainly different from a heart attack, but they are essentially the same response. In both cases, an overstressed muscle reacts to excessive stress with inflammation, contraction, and pain. They all, however, have similar characteristics.

The muscle tissue may feel hard to the touch or knotted and the sustained contraction may generate a dull or intense pain that can last for seconds or hours. A key factor to consider in recovering from such a spasm is that stretching the muscle and exercising or staying mobile will promote healing in two ways.

First, sensible and cautious activity will prevent muscle atrophy that further weakens the tissue over time if the muscle group is not stimulated. Second, increased blood flow to the injured area will bring vital nutrients to the tissues to help them heal more quickly.

So, how does one treat a muscle spasm? In general, spasms that are sudden and episodic or caused by hyperflexion or overexertion are remedied with rest, stretching or flexing the affected muscles, massage, or anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs. Using these techniques, sufferers usually experience relief and gradual strengthening of muscles within minutes or a few hours, with the exception of lower back pain or more serious strains that may take days to heal.

If these spasms persist beyond a week or two, a visit to your local doctor may be necessary to pinpoint the root cause or investigate a more serious condition that may be developing

Source by Nikit Atolstoy

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