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Getting Rid of Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms

A muscle spasm occurs due to an involuntary contraction of the muscles and can cause mild to severe pain, that can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Muscle spasms are usually self-diagnosed because generally the spasms will have subsided by the time the doctor sees the patient. Most muscle spasms subside over a short period of time but if the spasms do not subside or become a reoccurring event, then medical attention should be sought to determine a cause.

Since this is caused by an involuntary action, a person will not able to stop it just by telling the brain to stop.

A muscle spasm can occur in many areas of the body like the legs, back or neck and can be caused by several different factors. Muscle spasms can occur due to dehydration or having a poor diet that lacks the necessary nutrients and vitamins like magnesium or calcium. Stomach or leg muscle spasms are often caused by added stress put on the muscle during exercise or sports. There are several different medical conditions that can cause muscles spasms to occur including multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, thyroid problems and anemia.

The best way to get rid of muscle spasms is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Several things can be done to avoid muscle spasms like drinking lots of water to keep the body hydrated and eating a well-balanced diet that provides the necessary vitamins and nutrients. A vitamin supplement can be taken to help ensure proper nutrition. Before starting to exercise or play a sport, a warm-up routine should be done to properly stretch the body’s muscles.

If the muscle spasms cannot be prevented then there are several steps to take to help stop the muscle spasms. Start by stretching the muscle out to try to break the contraction and then gently massage the area until the pain subsides. For muscle spasms in the back, one should lay down to keep the stress off of the muscles until the pain goes away. Heat by means of a heating pad, steam or hot bath can be used to help relax the muscles and stop the spasms.

There are also several types of pain medication that can be used to help relieve the pain that is associated with muscle spasms. Some of these medications are pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen and muscles relaxants. These medications can be especially helpful for those who suffer from back muscle spasms. There are also efficient home remedies for muscle spams which you read about here.

{ 15 comments… add one }
  • Michelle March 31, 2011, 2:11 am

    I had upper back surgery a few months ago. The actual surgery part has healed and is doing fine, however, I am experiecieng horrible back spasms when I lay down for bed. My question is why does this occur at night only and is there anything I should be doing to prevent it.

    • Joel June 4, 2014, 2:10 pm

      After abusing my lower back by doing too much lifting of my father and too much in the garden, my back finally went from chronic to acute and severe pain, including spasms – these made me cry out in terrible pain. I assume that it is hard for you to get in and out of bed because muscle tension occurs, or let’s at least assume that some sort of aspect of the becoming supine to getting up again is excruciating. I might suggest that you sleep for a while on a bed that’s at an angle. Even sleeping in a sitting position might help but sitting often puts too much strain on the back muscles (this is somewhat true in my case). Make sure you keep ibuprofen, aspirin, ben-gay, and asper-creme handy at all times in case you get locked up and need immediate relief. Consult with a doctor as the mix of aspiring and ibuprofen is not recommended for certain patients (heart patients usually). In that case, just use the ibuprofen (motrin, advil are same thing). But at some point you need to find an exact position that allows the muscles to heal (preferably under little or no stress). I suspect that they will heal (albeit slowly) if there is only a little stress on them. Try to note the point at which the spasms go away and hopefully, this signals the worst of it. By putting the mattress at an angle, you won’t get stuck. I got stuck in a narrow cot a few days back – it was horrible. I finally muscled my way out of bed. I am in pain now but no spams for 3 days – perhaps I will slowly heal – I don’t know yet. But when it’s real bad, take pain-killers – perhaps get a prescription for percoset. I feel for you as this is my most painful life event despite other calamities I’ve endured. I hope you’re ok now – 3 years later.

  • heather April 3, 2011, 11:46 pm

    I’ve had body cramps from head to toes, up to 19 a day, for over 14 years. I was put on lemictal for bi-polar and within 48 hours they stopped. Now I’ve been taken off and the cramps are coming back. Could I have epilepsy?

    Oh, and vit, minerals, h2o and muscle relaxers did nothing… nor did pain killers, physical therapy, etc. I’ve tried it all.

  • Tiffany Kemp June 24, 2011, 10:07 pm

    I had muscle spasms for years. How do I treat it. Been to doctor and they never come to conclusion of the pain. The doctor just give pain killers. I have also had ultrasound done and nothing to report. My muscle spasms occur on different parts of my body. One time it is legs, neck, arms. What can I do about pain without going back to doctor. Thanks

  • Anthony August 28, 2011, 1:00 pm

    I have contractions in both of my hands and i cant move them at all and i dont know what to do to get movement back to my hands can some body please help me.

  • Jamie Lloyd August 28, 2011, 11:44 pm

    I have endless amounts of muscle spams, in my chest around the left lung area, usually the pain goes after a few minutes, but this time, i’ve had it for about 1-2hours, and it really, really, hurts to breathe in deeply.. i have applied a boiling hot flannel and stretched my chest but it wont go..

  • avery September 8, 2011, 4:37 pm

    these things hurt like hell and they never go away i get them after volleyball so i feel paralized and right now im laying in the computer room floor at school with a spasm in my leg

  • Jillian March 20, 2012, 2:06 pm

    I have a muscle spasm in my lower back but i also do sports and its hurts to ,ove around but none ofmy family is takign this as seriously as i am

  • Alissa August 3, 2012, 5:14 am

    I have these constant spasms in my upper left leg and I can’t get rid of them . I don’t what the cause is because I always stretch before and after my practices, drink plenty of milk, take daily vitamins , and have massaged the area. What else could I try to do to get rid of them?

  • gladys coles February 26, 2013, 9:27 pm

    What is the best remedy for muscle spamus in your arms and chest? Drinking water as it has a lot to do with dehydration?

  • Jessica December 23, 2014, 6:01 pm

    I have MS… And I found that when you stay in one position too long you get leg spasms. I have to try to stand up and sit down regularly to make the spasms go away. Stretching does help. You have to stretch consistently every day several times a day.

  • Anna July 15, 2015, 2:13 pm

    I had spinal fusion surgery a week ago and although I am healing well, I have had frequent, painful muscle spasms whenever I lie down to go to sleep- anyone have any ideas?

  • Roland minix March 25, 2016, 2:28 am

    I have muscle spasms in both sides of my chest that will not go away I’ve tried just about everything u can think of ,if they r any tips u can give me I would b great full b you do b leaf I’m 51 I just had heart surgery 2 months ago and the pain is very bad thank u for your time and may God bless u.

  • Richard Frohnhoefer August 5, 2017, 6:49 pm

    I have had 4 back surgeries and not one has helped me. I also had my SI joint fused. I have very severe muscle spasms in my right thigh. Does any body know how I can get rid of them?

  • Finlay Cedar June 2, 2019, 2:03 pm

    Been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2015, and I was a woman of 50. They put me on Rebif which I took until 2017 and was switched to Copaxone. I had two relapses on Rebif, none so far on Copaxone. I do notice my balance was getting worse, and my memory, as well as erectile dysfunction and spasms’ had no choice to sick for other solution and I was introduce to totalcureherbsfoundation c om which I purchase the MS herbal formula from the foundation, the herbal supplement has effectively get rid of my multiple sclerosis and reversed all symptoms. 

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