Muscle spasms are common, and nearly everyone will have them at some point in their lives. In most cases, they’re minor and not a cause for concern. When they become constant or persistent, there may be times when you need expert evaluation.
Visit Doctors United at the most convenient of our five locations in the Bronx, White Plains, Ardsley, and Yonkers, New York, if you have a new or unusual occurrence of persistent muscle spasms. Today, we’ll take a closer look at this condition as well as outline the nine reasons you should seek medical attention.
Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions of muscles or muscle groups due to the misfiring of motor nerves, the signal conduits of muscle movement. The reasons why some people suffer from muscle spasms and others don’t aren't fully understood.
It is known that there are many reasons why spasms may occur in a patient who suffers from them. You may have one or a combination of factors, including:
In most cases, muscle spasms are harmless and occasional. Though they can be quite painful, the direct pain doesn’t last long, but the ache after a severe spasm may last for a day or two.
A condition called benign fasciculation syndrome affects fewer people. Twitches (fasciculations) are usually rapid-fire muscle spasms that can be bothersome, frequent, and persistent, and the reasons why are often unknown. These persistent spasms can happen virtually anywhere on your body.
Even though these twitches may be unsettling, there’s rarely cause for concern. As the name implies, these tiny spasms are benign, and they may also be present with larger, more severe muscle spasms.
When you have muscle spasms and twitches, you may be concerned about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive, degenerative neurological disease affecting motor nerves. In most cases, simple tests will rule out ALS.
Visit us for an expert evaluation when you experience:
Chances are you’re part of the wide population with a benign muscle spasm condition, but it’s always better to have a harmless condition ruled out by experts.
Contact Doctors United at our nearest location, online, or by phone, when you require medical assessment for a muscle spasm or twitch. We’re standing by to help.
