The American Association of Neurological Surgeons estimates that 12 million people worldwide suffer from muscle spasms at one time or another. The spasms can appear in many different body muscles, resulting in all sorts of symptoms and presentations.
Skeletal muscle spasms are the most common types of muscle spasm, and most of them are relatively harmless, though momentarily painful. But if the muscle spasm is particularly painful, continuously happens and recurrently, it’s time to seek medical attention and find out what is going on.
TYPES OF MUSCLES
There are three types of muscles in the body. These include the cardiac muscles, which pump blood via the heart; a skeletal muscle, which moves external body parts, including the arms, neck, back, trunk, legs and face; and smooth muscle, which moves the hollow structures in the body’s interior. These include the stomach, intestines, esophagus, arterial muscles and the uterus muscles.
Skeletal muscles are either directly anchored to the bone or held there by a tendon. When a muscle contracts, a body part moves. Most muscles are controlled by the brain, and their contraction requires several steps by fibers and cells, which get their nutrients from the bloodstream.
Smooth muscle is found in the walls of internal structures like the intestines, bladder, arteries and the eye’s iris. They circle the structure and squeeze it when they contract. These are largely involuntary muscles and are controlled by the unconscious brain using the autonomic nervous system. Smooth muscle has the same contraction mechanism as skeletal muscle but uses different proteins to achieve its ends.
POTENTIAL REASONS FOR SPASMS
There are several reasons muscles spasm. Here are a few of the major concerns:
1) Dehydration – If the body doesn’t get enough water, the skeletal muscles react with painful, short-lived spasms
2) Electrolyte abnormalities – Usually related to dehydration, the lack of electrolytes means it’s time for some Gatorade or other sports drink that will help restore the balance
3) Brain chemicals – A certain muscle spasm called dystonias is an abnormality in the brain chemicals that helps transmit signals.
4) Strain – When muscles are overtaxed from work or athletic activity, particularly if they have been held in the same position for long periods, the cells can be depleted of energy, causing a spasm. This is true of athletes who are performing on a hot day, or with construction workers who are laboring on projects out in the heat. It can also result from such activities as snow shoveling or other chores.
5) Narrowing of the arteries – People with atherosclerosis or peripheral artery disease may experience muscle spasms because of inadequate blood flow and nutrient depletion.
TYPES OF SPASMS
Leg spasms are often related to strain during exercise, but nocturnal leg cramps and restless leg syndrome are two types that can affect the calf and toe during or just after sleep. For unknown reasons, these sleep cramps increase as we age, and research has yet to undercover a cause.
Those who have back or neck pain can often go into muscle spasms. The chest, neck, upper back and lower back have large muscle groups, and their spasms are usually caused by injury or the development of arthritis. Some hormone-related diseases like diabetes, anemia, kidney disease and thyroid issues can also trigger spasms.
Nervous system diseases are another cause of muscle spasms. Things like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injuries can be a cause of muscle spasms. Kidney stones passing can also affect the smooth muscles in the walls of the ureter, causing them to spasm and creating pain.
Internally, smooth muscles can spasm and cause significant pain. When a hollow internal organ that is filled with fluid or ear is squeezed by a muscle spasm, it creates pain that comes and goes. Muscles that surround the esophagus can be irritated with reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD. Similarly, diarrhea can cause muscles in the colon wall to spasm before a watery bowel movement, and menstrual cramps can cause the uterine walls to spasm.
Even the heart can spasm. Coronary arteries have smooth muscle in their walls that can spasm, causing chest pain. This can be triggered by stress, alcohol withdrawal, stimulants or narrowing of the blood vessels.
WHAT OCCURS
Pain is the biggest factor in a muscle spasm, particularly if it is forceful. Spasms can occur in an entire muscle or just in parts of a muscle, or in adjacent muscles. They usually occur abruptly and are relatively short-lived. Most spasms are relieved by gently stretching the muscle.
Other forms of muscle spasms come and go, a process termed colicky pain. This is usually associated with such conditions as diarrhea, gallbladder pain, menstrual cramps and/or passing kidney stones.
In dystonia muscle spasms, including torticollis and blepharospasm, medications may be needed to help with spasming muscles. Botox injections are sometimes used to calm twitching muscles and relieve spasms.
A muscle spasm is different from a muscle twitch. A twitch (sometimes called a fasciculation) is an uncontrolled fine movement of a small segment of a larger muscle that can be seen under the skin.
If the muscle is worked in unfamiliar ways, it can trigger a spasm. Abdominal spasms can happen when a person does too many sit-ups too quickly, or a writer can cramp by working the hand and fingers hard during a long session.
DIAGNOSIS
Doctors will usually perform a physical and ask about recent activities, medications taken and/or illnesses experienced. A past history of endocrine-related diseases should be acknowledged as a potential cause for the muscle problems. The doctor will ask about the type of work the patient performs to see if there is a possible link to recurrent muscle spasms.
Muscle spasms are painful, but they may point to an underlying condition that’s far more serious. It may very well be that the pain experienced during a cramp turns out to be a good thing if it helps diagnose undetected heart disease or some other potentially serious issue.