Muscle spasms (cramps)

Alternative names:

spasms, muscle

Home care:

Slow stretching often brings relief.

Follow prescribed therapy.

Call your health care provider if:

• there are severe, prolonged or recurring muscle spasms or cramps that are unexplained or that aren't relieved by simple stretching.
• there are prolonged or persistent muscle twitches that are unexplained.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting your muscle spasms in detail may include:

• When did the spasms first begin?
• How long do they last?
• How often do you experience muscle spasms?
• What muscles are affected?
• Is it always the same location
• Are you pregnant?
• Have you been vomiting, had diarrhea, excessive sweating, excessive urine volume, or other possible cause of dehydration?
• Have you been exercising heavily?
• What other symptoms are also present?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• extremity angiography or extremity arteriography
• blood flow studies
• serum calcium
• serum sodium
• thyroid function tests
• electromyography
• myelography
• spine CT
• spine X-ray

Pain relievers (analgesics) may be prescribed. Job, school, and home lifestyles may be explored and levels of stress noted.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to muscle spasms to your personal medical record.