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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is a muscle spasm?
• What causes a muscle spasm?
• What are the symptoms and signs of muscle spasms?
• How are muscle spasms diagnosed?
• How are muscle spasms treated?
• Muscle Spasms At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Muscle Spasms - Cause of Spasms
• Patient Comments: Muscle Spasms - Treatments
• Patient Comments: Muscle Spasms - Experience
• Patient Comments: Muscle Spasms - Symptoms
• Muscle Spasms Index

Most people have experienced a skeletal muscle spasm due to overexertion, especially in a warm environment and are able to self-diagnose. However, if the spasms are severe, last a long time, and keep recurring, the patient may present to a health-care professional for evaluation.

The diagnosis usually begins with a history and physical examination. It is helpful to know the circumstances surrounding the muscle spasms.

• When did they begin? How long do they last? How frequently do they come? Is it always the same muscle group of the body involved?
• Other information that is helpful includes whether there have been any recent illnesses or whether any medications have been taken, including prescription, over-the-counter, and food supplements.
• Past medical history may give a clue as to the reason for the muscle cramps. These may include a history of diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, and spinal cord injury.
• Work or exercise history may be of importance.

Sometimes the physical examination may be normal since the muscle spasms may not occur during the visit. However, the physical examination may useful in detecting underlying medical issues that may be helpful in making the diagnosis. For example, if the patient is complaining of leg muscle spasm, the examination may include palpating or feeling for pulses in the feet. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, may be associated with the loss of arterial pulse in the involved extremity.

For those having pain from smooth muscle spasm, the pain may be severe enough to present to an emergency department. The history and physical examination will be directed to finding the source of the pain, while at the same time trying to control the symptoms. Kidney stone pain (renal colic) and gallbladder pain sometimes require anti-inflammatory narcotic pain medication and antinausea medication for relief. Some patients with irritable bowel condition may also present with significant intestinal spasm.

For patients with recurrent muscle spasm where the cause is not easily diagnosed by history and physical examination, testing may be needed to give direction as to potential causes.

Blood tests may or may not be indicated depending upon the situation and whether or not the diagnosis can be made by history and physical examination. Tests may include a complete blood count (CBC) looking for anemia, electrolytes (especially sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium), glucose, and creatinine (to check for kidney function). Thyroid function tests may also be considered.

If there is concern that the spasms are due to a nerve or muscle disorder, electromyography (EMG) may be done to determine whether there may be an abnormality of the muscle, of the nerves, or both.

If there is concern about the potential for peripheral artery disease, tests of blood flow to the legs may be considered, including an ankle-brachial index (ABI) which compares blood pressures in the arms and legs and ultrasound and angiography (often using CT or MRI) to directly assess the blood vessels.