Muscle spasms can feel like a stitch in the side or be agonizingly painful. You may see a twitch under your skin and it may feel hard to the touch. Spasms are involuntary. The muscles contract and it takes treatment and time for them to relax.
Muscle pain, fatigue, and overuse are the most common causes of muscle spasms. Other causes include stress or anxiety, which can lead to muscle twitches in the face. Trapped nerves can result in spasms in the back.
Examples of this type of muscle spasm include torticollis (where the neck muscles spasm and cause the head to turn to one side), blepharospasm (where there is uncontrolled blinking of the eyes), and laryngeal dystonia that affects the muscles that control speech.
Muscle cramps usually disappear on their own and are rarely serious enough to require medical care. However, see your doctor if your cramps: Cause severe discomfort. Are associated with leg swelling, redness or skin changes.
A back spasm can occur after any type of strain or injury to the soft tissues (muscles, tendons or ligaments) in the spine. This type of soft tissue injury typically heals enough within a week or two for the muscle spasms to stop.
Cyclobenzaprine is the best studied of the muscle relaxants. In more than 20 studies—most of which involved people with back or neck pain and lasted for two weeks—cyclobenzaprine was consistently more effective than placebo on various measures of pain relief, functional ability, and muscle spasm.
This is a combination product containing 2 medications: methocarbamol and ibuprofen. It is used to relieve pain associated with muscle spasm such as strains and sprains, back pain, and tense neck muscles.
Methocarbamol. Methocarbamol is an OTC nonbenzodiazepine, antispasmodic medication. A common brand name for it in the U.S. is Robaxin. People usually take this drug orally, but doctors can prescribe IV or intramuscular forms.
Rest. Perhaps the best and most natural way to relax your muscles is to rest. Make sure to get lots of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and try not to overwork the affected muscle. Using heat pads or ice packs on the muscle can provide immediate relief.
Heat will get your blood moving, which is not only great for circulation (more on that later) but can also help sore or tight muscles to relax. The addition of epsom salts in your warm bath has been proven to help reduce inflammation in your joints caused by arthritis or other muscular diseases.
Its maximum central nervous system effects are reached in about 30-60 minutes. Caffeine increases heartbeat, respiration, basal metabolic rate, and the production of stomach acid and urine; and it relaxes smooth muscles, notably the bronchial muscle.
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To date, no study of the possible relationship between caffeine and muscle cramps in healthy humans is available. The case reported below suggests that caffeine can increase susceptibility to muscle cramps.
New in the New England Journal this week: Skeletal fluorosis from consumption of very strong tea, and a lack of proven benefit for arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. A 47-year-old woman reported a five-year history of pain in the lower back, arms, legs, and hips.
The scientist who reported this case pointed out that the flavoring in Earl Grey tea is bergamot oil, which can block the movement of potassium in muscles. This leads to muscle cramps and twitches.
Too much caffeine amps up your nervous system, and in turn can lead to muscle twitching, cramps, and spasms. According to Bustle, "the stimulants in caffeine can, in high amounts, cause small involuntary tensions of muscle fibers across the body."
Nighttime leg cramps may be related to foot position. We often sleep with our feet and toes extending away from the rest of our bodies, a position called plantar flexion. This shortens the calf muscles, making them more susceptible to cramping.
Water. An effective way to get rid of your jitters is to flush out your system with water. Drinking water will decrease the effects of caffeine in a relatively short time. Being dehydrated can sometimes enhance your jitters, so filling up on some good ole' H2O will only help.
Muscle contractions: Another side effect of consuming green tea in excess is that it may cause muscle tremors and contractions. You may experience muscle spasms and twitching.