Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps can occur occasionally, for example at night or during sports. But some are plagued by cramps night after night. Often, this causes a foot to deform like a claw. A muscle cramp can last for several minutes and be very painful. Sometimes stretching the muscles helps to stop the cramp. Muscle cramps can occur as symptoms of a disease, for example, hypothyroidism, or muscle inflammation, side effects of certain medications, such as cholesterol inhibitors (statins) and antihypertensives. However, the nervous system could also play an important role, especially increased excitability of the nerves in the spinal cord. If these are irritated, for example, by a herniated disc or a narrowing in the spinal canal, muscle cramps in the legs occur more frequently. The problem probably lies in the interaction of nerves and muscles. Stimulus transmission takes place at the ends of the motor nerves; nerve impulses cause the muscles to contract (contraction). If uncontrolled discharges occur, the muscles cramp or they react hypersensitively to normal stimuli.
Symptoms
What To Expect
The brain controls the contraction and relaxation of muscles via the nerves. A muscle spasm occurs when this controlled signal transmission is disturbed. The first signs of such a disturbance are small, involuntary twitches, for example at the eye. Then, only individual muscle fibers are affected, whereas a cramp causes an entire bundle of muscle fibers to contract. Cramps can occur anywhere in the body. Mostly, however, the striated skeletal muscles are affected, especially the thighs, calves, feet and hands. It is controlled by the central nervous system. In comparison, smooth muscles cannot be controlled voluntarily. These include, for example, internal organs such as the intestines or blood vessels. But these can also spasm - for example in the form of abdominal cramps in biliary colic. An exception is the heart muscle, which cannot cramp. If the muscle cramps occur over the whole body, they are called generalized seizures, which are usually caused by fever, epilepsy or meningitis.
Made Worse By
Magnesium deficiency, stress and diabetes promote cramps. Nerves also play a role. For example, muscle cramps often occur with overexertion, stress and fatigue. Other risk factors for magnesium deficiency include: Circulatory disorders, foot deformities, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, epilepsy, varicose veins. In these cases, muscle cramps are a symptom of an underlying disease. Especially if the muscle cramps occur several times a week, you should therefore consult a doctor to clarify the causes. In any case, alcohol and drugs should be avoided. Some drugs have muscle cramps as a side effect.
How Common
The literature describes an incidence of 37-40% for the occurrence of muscle cramps in the total population, and also an increase in frequency with age.
Diagnosed By
In the vast majority of cases, muscle cramps are harmless and do not require further diagnosis. An examination of the liver and kidney values, the electrolytes and the thyroid values can be carried out by your family doctor in order to detect possible internal causes.
Products that may help Muscle Cramps
Herbs that may help Muscle Cramps
Remedies that may help with Muscle Cramps
Repeat Muscle Cramp remedy
- Take 1 tsp tincture.
- Mix with water.
- Drink up to 3 times a day.
Cramp Bark treatment for Muscle Cramps
- Rub neat tincture firmly into the affected area.
- Repeat 3 times a day.