Muscle Cramps: a Common but Very Painful Occurrence

Muscle cramps are common and very painful occurrences. Almost everyone gets a muscle camp at some time. A muscle cramp is an involuntary spasm of a muscle that does not relax. The spasm causes a visible and palpable hardening in the affected muscle.

Cramps are common in adults and increase as we age. Children also experience muscle cramps. Rest cramps are a type of muscle cramping that occur while we are resting or asleep at night. Older adults have these cramps frequently. The cause is unknown but they are usually caused by making a movement that shortens the muscle. An example of this is pointing the toe while lying in bed. The cramping usually occurs in the calf muscle.

Sports and vigorous activities can cause loss of fluid by perspiring, leading to dehydration which can cause muscle cramps. This usually occurs in warm/hot weather. Other things that can cause muscle spasms are body fluid shifts such as accumulation of fluid somewhere in the body, an example being in the abdominal cavity (as seen in severe liver disease). This type of cramping can also occur during kidney dialysis.

Low calcium and magnesium in the blood can cause muscle cramps. This frequently happens in pregnancy unless the minerals are supplemented by an adequate diet and vitamin pills. Taking diuretics, hyperventilation, excessive vomiting/diarrhea, inadequate diet, and a poor functioning parathyroid gland along with some other conditions can also cause low calcium and magnesium leading to muscle cramps. Low potassium levels can also cause muscle spasms.

Many medications can cause muscle cramps. Some examples of these include, donepezil/Aricept used to treat Alzheimer's disease; tolcapone/Tasmar used for Parkinson's disease. Nifedipine/Procardia for angina and high blood pressure; neostigmine/Prostigmine for myasthenia gravis; lovastatin/Mevacor to lower cholesterol; raloxifene/Evbista for osteoporosis; terbutaline/Brethine and albuterol/Proventil, Ventolin etc. used to treat asthma.

Muscle cramps are also seen in addiction withdrawal from medications having sedative effects like alcohol, barbiturates, anti-anxiety agents, narcotics and other drugs. Vitamin deficiencies can cause muscle cramps as well as poor circulation and lack of oxygen to the muscles.

Treatment for muscle cramping is stretching the affected muscle. This can be accomplished by standing up and walking around. If the cramp is in the calf, stretch the leg (if in bed) by pulling the toes upward. For hand cramping/writer's cramp, press the hand against the wall to stretch the finger flexor muscles.

Massaging the muscle often helps as does applying heat from a heating pad or soaking in hot water. If the muscle cramping is due to vigorous exercise, replace fluids and electrolytes by drinking a good sports drink containing sodium and potassium. Most cramps go away on their own.

Muscle cramps are inevitable, but by eating a balanced diet, getting adequate fluids and regular exercise, most cramping can be prevented.

Sources:

Doreen K. Satter, RN
http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_spasms/article.htm