MUSCLE CRAMPS
Muscle cramp is a generally minor condition involving the sudden contraction of a muscle. This can occur all over the body and is very common among athletes.
Muscle Cramps
Least Effective Exercises Slideshow
Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD ...
Muscle Cramps: a Real Pain
Medical Author: Melissa Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: Barbara K. Hecht, PhD ...
Muscle cramps are involuntary and often painful contractions (movements) of the muscles.
Considerations
Muscle cramps are common and may be stopped by stretching the muscle. The cramping muscle may feel hard or bulging.
Muscle Cramps / Twitching: Overview
Many people have an occasional muscle twitch somewhere on their body. They can range from mildly annoying to a persistent aggravation and pain that can nearly drive one mad.
Muscle cramps are common and may be stopped by stretching the muscle. The cramping muscle may feel hard or bulging.
Muscle spasms are different than muscle twitches, which are covered in a separate article.
Common Causes ...
Muscle cramps are usually not serious and can be easily treated. Anti-inflammatory medication may sometimes be recommended to relieve inflammation and ease the cramps.
Muscle Cramps At A Glance
Muscle Cramps At A Glance
A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax.
Almost everyone experiences a muscle cramp at some time in their life.
Muscle cramps occur most often in the legs, arms and back. They happen due to muscle overuse or strain, injury or dehydration, or after a prolonged period of inactivity, such as sitting in the same position for too long.
Muscle cramps usually occur after muscle fatigue, dehydration or heavy exercise. Simply remaining in the same position for a prolonged time may contribute to a cramp. Avoid those problems and you can avoid muscle cramps -- usually.
The classic feature is tetany - a syndrome of muscle cramps and twitching, carpopedal and facial muscle spasms, and seizures, possibly with stridor. Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs may be elicited.
Muscle cramps need water not salt
Some people believe that salt has to be replaced during hot weather or strenuous exercise to avoid muscle cramps. This is not correct. What you need to replace is water.
(Muscle Cramps; Nocturnal Muscles Cramps; Age-Related Cramps)
by Ricker Polsdorfer, MD
Definition ...
(Muscle Cramps; Nocturnal Muscles Cramps; Age-Related Cramps)
by Ricker Polsdorfer, MD
Definition ...
Muscle cramps, usually caused by sports or occupational muscle injury
Parkinson's disease
Hypocalcemia (low calcium levels in the blood)
Hypermagnesemia (high magnesium levels in the blood)
Thyroid disorders
Dystonia
Huntington's disease ...
Muscle cramps
Restrictive cardiomyopathy refers to a group of disorders in which the heart chambers are unable to properly fill with blood because of stiffness in the heart.
Causes ...
muscle cramps and twitching
weakness in your hands and painless difficulty with small tasks, such as fastening buttons, turning a key, or opening a door ...
Muscle cramps or spasm
Thickening and calcification (arteriosclerosis) of the arterial walls
Specialists
Cardiovascular Internist
General Surgeon
Interventional Radiologist
Neurologist
Radiologist ...
muscle cramps and spasms
Overview and causes of HYPOCALCEMIA - click here
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Muscle cramps in your legs also can result from:
Inadequate blood supply. Narrowing of the arteries that deliver blood to your legs (arteriosclerosis of the extremities) can produce cramp-like pain in your legs and feet while you're exercising.
Muscle cramps are very common among endurance athletes (i.e., marathon runners and triathletes) and older people who perform strenuous physical activities.
Muscle cramps are also part of certain conditions such as nerve, thyroid or hormone disorders, diabetes, hypoglycemia and anemia.
When to seek medical advice ...
Muscle cramps are involuntary and often painful movements (contractions) of the muscles.
The most commonly involved muscle groups are:
Back of the lower leg/calf (gastrocnemius)
Back of the thigh (hamstrings)
Front of the thigh (quadriceps) ...
MUSCLE CRAMPS (Muscle Pain, Leg Cramps; Charley Horse)
SYMPTOMS"A pain in a body muscle, most often in the legs (especially the calf muscles) or feet.
muscle cramps
no urine output or high urine output
history of recent infection (a risk factor for acute renal failure) ...
Muscle cramps
Intestinal and metabolic symptoms (change in appetite, diarrhea, weight loss)
Fever and intolerance to heat ...
muscle cramps and spasms
tetany and/or convulsions
mood changes (depression, irritability)
dry skin
brittle nails
facial twitching ...
muscle cramps, which go away in 10 to 15 minutes
temporary swelling of your feet or ankles
red bumps at the sites of the injections, which fade within a few days.
Muscle cramps.
Decreased breast size.
Flushing.
Oily skin and hair.
Depression.
Acne.
An increase in male characteristics, such as increased facial hair and body hair (hirsutism) or deepening of the voice, which may be permanent.
Muscle spasms [Muscle cramps]
"Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
[ read ]
Abdominal rigidity [Abdominal muscle spasm, involuntary guarding]
"Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
[ read ] ...
For muscle cramps, your doctor may prescribe phenytoin (for example, Dilantin), benzodiazepines, or gabapentin (Neurontin).
For depression, your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medicines.
Other symptoms of myopathy can include include muscle cramps, stiffness, and spasm. Myopathies can be inherited (such as the muscular dystrophies) or acquired (such as common muscle cramps). Myopathies are grouped as follows: ...
Stomach flu symptoms, like fever and muscle cramps, can be relieved by taking Tylenol. Stomach flu symptoms of dehydration are usually caused by vomiting and diarrhea and extensive fluid loss they cause.
Contact your physician if the following occurs: repeated nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; skin rash; hives; muscle cramps; weakness; fatigue; dizziness. 2. Lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position may occur.
Her symptoms included muscle cramps, intense headaches, rapid weight gain, fatigue, edema, intolerance to heat, excessive sweating, joint pain, tingling in her hands and feet, frequent bone fractures, acid reflux, intense anxiety and panic attacks, ...
Low blood calcium makes the nervous system highly irritable with tetany (spasms of the hands and feet, muscle cramps, abdominal cramps, and overly active reflexes).
For example, heroin withdrawal can cause vomiting, muscle cramps, convulsions, and delirium. With the continued use of a physically addictive drug, tolerance develops; i.e.
However, others may have a history of frequent diarrhea; pale, foul-smelling, bulky stools; abdominal pain, gas, and bloating; weight loss; fatigue; canker sores; muscle cramps; delayed growth or short stature; bone and joint pain; seizures; ...
The symptom complex of claudication is defined as muscle cramps in the leg(s) that occur following exercise and are relieved by resting. In any individual patient, the exercise distance at which claudication occurs is quite constant.
Side effects of Danazol include weight gain and fluid retention, decreased breast size, acne and oily skin, excessive male pattern hair growth (facial, chest, back), mood swings, muscle cramps, fatigue, irreversible deepening of the voice, ...
Neurologic manifestations: Muscle cramps involving the back and legs are common. Insidious hypocalcemia may produce mild, diffuse encephalopathy and should be suspected in patients with unexplained dementia, depression, or psychosis.
Quinine is used to treat resistant malaria, nocturnal muscle cramps and can also act as an abortifacient. In much smaller amounts, quinine is an ingredient of tonic drinks, acting as a bittering agent.
In severe cholera, the patient develops violent diarrhoea with characteristic "rice-water stools," vomiting, thirst, muscle cramps, and sometimes circulatory collapse. Death can occur as quickly as a few hours after the onset of symptoms.
Side-effects with loop diuretics are similar to those seen with thiazides, although side-effects such as muscle cramps and skin rash may occur.
Sprue causes many different types of symptoms, such as diarrhea, weight loss, weakness, paleness, poor appetite, pain in the bones, muscle cramps, a smooth and shiny tongue, and open sores in the lining of the intestine. There are two forms of sprue.
Muscle cramps
Nausea, vomiting
Headaches
Feeling hot, sweaty, weak, and/or dizzy
Infection of the abdominal cavity
Inflammation of the heart sac ( pericarditis )
Neurologic problems ...
muscle cramps
Without prompt treatment, about half of people with the most severe symptoms will die within a few hours, ...
heat cramps - painful muscle cramps and spasms caused by exercise and sweating in high heat. It is the mildest form of heat injury.
heat exhaustion - heat injury due to extreme heat and excessive sweating without adequate salt and water replacement.
Salmonella bacteria can cause infections that may result in fever, nausea/vomiting, chills, muscle cramps and pain, and/or diarrhea. Symptoms usually pass within a few days, but can last much longer in children and people with weakened immune systems.
Muscle cramps and pain in the face, hands, legs, and feet
Cataracts on the eyes
Malformations of the teeth, including weakened tooth enamel and misshapen roots of the teeth
Loss of memory
Headaches ...
stiffness and muscle cramps known as rigidity, particularly affecting the arm, leg and neck.
slowness in initiating movement known as bradykinesia.
poor balance and unstable walking (shuffling, difficulty in turning, falls).
El-Tawil S, Al Musa T, Valli H, et al; Quinine for muscle cramps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Dec 8;(12):CD005044. [abstract]
Daniell HW; Simple cure for nocturnal leg cramps. N Engl J Med. 1979 Jul 26;301(4):216.
Tablets. Take 250-500 mg 3 times daily. Stops muscle cramps at night.
Do not use Scutellaria if you have diarrhea.
Tilden flower
Tincture. Take 1-3 tsp (4-12 ml) with water 3 times a day. Reduces the risk of migraine attacks during anxiety.
Some of the Hashimoto's disease symptoms are: fatigue, weight gain, depression, excessive sleepiness, cold intolerance, dry hair, constipation, dry skin, muscle cramps, increase of the cholesterol level, decreased concentration, ...
muscle cramps and/or bone pain
pain in the joints
tingling numbness in the legs
delayed growth
fatigue
painful skin rash
missed menstrual periods (which is linked to excessive weight loss)
tooth discoloration or loss of enamel ...
Not drinking enough fluids can cause muscle cramps. You may feel faint. Usually your body can reabsorb fluid from your blood and other body tissues.
Heat exhaustion
Headache, profuse sweating, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting caused by excessive exposure to heat.
Hematuria
The presence of blood in the urine.
Thyroid: signs mimic those of hypothyroidism (fatigue, muscle cramps, weight gain, and constipation)
Skin: one or more patches of brown or red-brown lesions, largely on the extremities or back
Breast: painless lump on the breast ...
Heat cramps are the mildest form of heat injury and consist of painful muscle cramps and spasms that occur during or after intense exercise and sweating in high heat.
What is heat exhaustion?
Symptoms include weight gain, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, confusion and convulsions.
Incidence: approximately 1 in 100,000.
Acronym: SIADH ...
 See also: Muscle Cramp, Cramp, Cramps, Symptom, Weakness
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