Learn About Medical Conditions

Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions or spasms in one or more of your muscles. They often occur after exercise or at night, lasting a few seconds to several minutes. It is a very common muscle problem.

Muscle cramps can be caused by nerves that malfunction. Sometimes this malfunction is due to a health problem, such as a spinal cord injury or a pinched nerve in the neck or back. Other causes are:

• Straining or overusing a muscle
• Dehydration
• A lack of minerals in your diet or the depletion of minerals in your body
• Not enough blood getting to your muscles

What treatments are available?

Cramps can be very painful. Stretching or gently massaging the muscle can relieve this pain. Most muscle cramps are temporary, but when cramping occurs frequently or when cramps last a long time, they need to be brought to your doctor’s attention. When spasms or cramps become chronic they can be treated in various ways. Medications to relax the muscle are commonly prescribed. Physical therapists can provide warm-up or cool-down regimens to reduce the risk of cramping during exercise. Acupuncture is another treatment choice for frequent muscle cramps.

A blepharospasm, or involuntary tight closure of the eyelid that becomes permanent may be treated with Botox™ to stop the twitch from damaging the surface of the eye.