Muscle Spasms (cont.)
What are the symptoms and signs of muscle spasms?
The symptoms of muscle spasm depend upon the muscle involved and the
circumstances leading up to the spasm.
Skeletal muscle spasm usually involves muscles that are being asked to do
excessive work. There is acute onset of pain as the muscle contracts. There may
be a bulge seen or felt underneath the skin where the muscle is located. Most
often, the spasm resolves spontaneously after a few seconds though it may last
many minutes or longer. Usually, the patient will feel the need to stretch the
muscle involved, thus relieving the spasm and resolving the episode.
A muscle fasciculation or twitch may last just a few seconds or may be a
recurrent event. Usually, it's just a momentary repetitive contraction of just a
few muscle fibers in a localized area served by one nerve fiber usually
involving the eye, calf, or thumb. They often come and go and may be related to
stress or anxiety. Ingestion of stimulants like caffeine and pseudoephedrine
found in over-the-counter cold medications may also cause the twitch. Others
include albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, AccuNeb, Vospire, ProAir) used for the treatment of asthma and medications used to treat
attention deficit disorder. These twitches are considered benign fasciculation.
However, muscle twitching may also be associated with neurologic disorders such
as muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and myopathy (a primary
muscle illness). With these diagnoses, associated symptoms include weakness,
muscle wasting with loss of muscle size, and change in sensation.
Smooth muscle spasm will cause colicky pain that comes and goes. The symptoms
will depend upon the organ involved.
Next: How are muscle spasms diagnosed? »
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