Muscle Pain
A muscle spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden contraction of an orifice. It is sometimes accompanied by a sudden burst of pain, but is usually harmless and ceases after a few minutes. Spasmodic muscle contraction may also be due to a large number of medical conditions, however, including the dystonias.
A subtype of spasms is colic, an episodic pain due to spasms of smooth muscle in a particular organ. A characteristic of colic is the sensation of having to move about, and the pain may induce nausea or vomiting if severe. Series of spasms or permanent spasms are called a spasmism.
In very severe cases, the spasm can induce muscular contractions that are more forceful than the sufferer could generate under normal circumstances. This can lead to torn tendons and ligaments.
Muscle spasms can cause cramps and are usually brought on by the following:
- Muscle fatigue
- Heavy exercise
- Dehydration
- Pregnancy
- Hypothyroidism
- Reduced levels of magnesium or calcium in the body
- Other metabolic problems
- Alcoholism
- Kidney failure
- Medications
Slow stretching often brings relief. If muscle cramps are severe, last a long time, or keep coming back and do not go away with simple stretching, see your doctor. Muscle pain relief medication may be recommended.
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