Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSensationCausesWhat to DoMedical InterventionsUnknown Causes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sensation
Causes
What to Do
Medical Interventions
Unknown Causes
If you’ve ever felt a sudden, intense tightening in your muscles, you’ve experienced a muscle spasm, also referred to as a charley horse. These spasms, often felt in areas like the neck, legs, or back, can cause significant discomfort.While they may seem similar to cramps, muscle spasms are distinct in their abrupt onset and intensity.
This article explores what muscle spasms are and their link to pain and provide insights into the best medications and exercises to alleviate this discomfort when they strike.
Vadym Petrochenko / Getty Images
How Muscle Spasms Feel
A muscle spasm feels incredibly tight, often likened to a knot in the affected muscle. The pain associated with a spasm can be severe, causing discomfort and restricting movement. During a spasm, the muscle contracts involuntarily and remains in a state of tension without relaxing. Symptoms include the following:
Muscle spasms can occur in any muscle in the body but are frequently experienced in the legs. These cramps can affect a specific part of a muscle, the entire muscle, or multiple muscles within a group. The muscle groups most frequently affected are:
Causes and Triggers of Muscle Spasms
These factors can individually or collectively contribute to the onset of muscle spasms, causing discomfort and temporary impairment of muscle function.
Risk factors for muscle spasms include:
Neurological Disorders That Cause Muscle Spasms
Several neuromuscular disorders can also significantly impact muscle function, leading to symptoms like muscle spasms and twitching. These conditions may include:
Medications That Cause Muscle Spasms
Individuals taking these medications must be aware of potential side effects and consult their healthcare provider if they experience muscle spasms or related symptoms.
What to Do During a Muscle Spasm
During a muscle spasm, it’s important to take certain steps to alleviate discomfort and promote relaxation of the affected muscle. Here’s what you can do during a muscle spasm:
If muscle spasms occur frequently, are severe, or are associated with other concerning symptoms, it’s essential to seek medical evaluation to identify underlying causes and receive appropriate treatment.
Medical Interventions for Muscle Spasms
In some cases your healthcare provider may prescribe a medication to help manage muscle spasms. These may include:
Muscle Relaxants
Benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepines are primarily used as a sedative, anxiety-reducing (anxiolytic), and anticonvulsant medication, they can also be used as a muscle relaxant to help alleviate muscle spasms.
Examples include:
It is important to note that diazepam should be used cautiously and under the guidance of a healthcare provider. This medication can have sedative effects (inducing sleep) and may cause dependence or withdrawal symptoms if used long-term or in high doses.
Anticonvulsants
Some anticonvulsant medications, such as gabapentin or pregabalin, may also be used to help control muscle spasms, especially in conditions like multiple sclerosis or neuropathic pain where spasms are common.
Botulinum Toxin Injections
If the Cause of Muscle Spasms Is Unknown
While most muscle cramps are typically harmless, they can sometimes indicate underlying health concerns, such as:
It’s important to consult your healthcare provider if you experience:
These symptoms may indicate a more serious health condition and require medical evaluation.
Summary
By implementing strategies such as gentle stretching, applying heat or cold, staying hydrated, and seeking medical advice for severe or frequent spasms, individuals can find relief and improve their quality of life. If you or a loved one is experiencing muscle spasms, talk to your healthcare provider for guidance and a treatment plan that is right for you.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Medline Plus.Charley horse.Medline Plus.Muscle cramps.OrthoInfo.Muscle cramps.Medline Plus.Muscle cramps. (Also, called: Charley horse).Medline Plus.Neuromuscular disorders.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Spasticity and multiple sclerosis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (ALS).Mahrous A, Birch D, Heckman CJ, Tysseling V.Muscle spasms after spinal cord injury stem from changes in motoneuron excitability and synaptic inhibition, not synaptic excitation.J Neurosci. 2024;44(1). doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1695-23.2023The Texas Heart Institute.Diuretics.Kon JJ, Kon AA.Severe muscle pain and stiffness due to dexmethylphenidate.Clinical Case Reports. 2020;8(3):420-422. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.2628UK National Health Service.Side effects: Statins.Medline Plus.Caring for muscle spasticity or spasms.Medline Plus.Baclofen.Medline Plus.Dantrolene.Medline Plus.Diazepam.Medline Plus.Lorazepam.Medline Plus.Clonazepam.Yasaei R, Katta S, Saadabadi A.Gabapentin. In:StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Park SJ, Yoon KB, Yoon DM, Kim SH.Botulinum toxin treatment for nocturnal calf cramps in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A randomized clinical trial.Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2017;98(5):957-963. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.01.017.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Medline Plus.Charley horse.Medline Plus.Muscle cramps.OrthoInfo.Muscle cramps.Medline Plus.Muscle cramps. (Also, called: Charley horse).Medline Plus.Neuromuscular disorders.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Spasticity and multiple sclerosis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (ALS).Mahrous A, Birch D, Heckman CJ, Tysseling V.Muscle spasms after spinal cord injury stem from changes in motoneuron excitability and synaptic inhibition, not synaptic excitation.J Neurosci. 2024;44(1). doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1695-23.2023The Texas Heart Institute.Diuretics.Kon JJ, Kon AA.Severe muscle pain and stiffness due to dexmethylphenidate.Clinical Case Reports. 2020;8(3):420-422. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.2628UK National Health Service.Side effects: Statins.Medline Plus.Caring for muscle spasticity or spasms.Medline Plus.Baclofen.Medline Plus.Dantrolene.Medline Plus.Diazepam.Medline Plus.Lorazepam.Medline Plus.Clonazepam.Yasaei R, Katta S, Saadabadi A.Gabapentin. In:StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Park SJ, Yoon KB, Yoon DM, Kim SH.Botulinum toxin treatment for nocturnal calf cramps in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A randomized clinical trial.Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2017;98(5):957-963. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.01.017.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Medline Plus.Charley horse.Medline Plus.Muscle cramps.OrthoInfo.Muscle cramps.Medline Plus.Muscle cramps. (Also, called: Charley horse).Medline Plus.Neuromuscular disorders.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Spasticity and multiple sclerosis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (ALS).Mahrous A, Birch D, Heckman CJ, Tysseling V.Muscle spasms after spinal cord injury stem from changes in motoneuron excitability and synaptic inhibition, not synaptic excitation.J Neurosci. 2024;44(1). doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1695-23.2023The Texas Heart Institute.Diuretics.Kon JJ, Kon AA.Severe muscle pain and stiffness due to dexmethylphenidate.Clinical Case Reports. 2020;8(3):420-422. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.2628UK National Health Service.Side effects: Statins.Medline Plus.Caring for muscle spasticity or spasms.Medline Plus.Baclofen.Medline Plus.Dantrolene.Medline Plus.Diazepam.Medline Plus.Lorazepam.Medline Plus.Clonazepam.Yasaei R, Katta S, Saadabadi A.Gabapentin. In:StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Park SJ, Yoon KB, Yoon DM, Kim SH.Botulinum toxin treatment for nocturnal calf cramps in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A randomized clinical trial.Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2017;98(5):957-963. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.01.017.
Medline Plus.Charley horse.
Medline Plus.Muscle cramps.
OrthoInfo.Muscle cramps.
Medline Plus.Muscle cramps. (Also, called: Charley horse).
Medline Plus.Neuromuscular disorders.
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The Texas Heart Institute.Diuretics.
Kon JJ, Kon AA.Severe muscle pain and stiffness due to dexmethylphenidate.Clinical Case Reports. 2020;8(3):420-422. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.2628
UK National Health Service.Side effects: Statins.
Medline Plus.Caring for muscle spasticity or spasms.
Medline Plus.Baclofen.
Medline Plus.Dantrolene.
Medline Plus.Diazepam.
Medline Plus.Lorazepam.
Medline Plus.Clonazepam.
Yasaei R, Katta S, Saadabadi A.Gabapentin. In:StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Park SJ, Yoon KB, Yoon DM, Kim SH.Botulinum toxin treatment for nocturnal calf cramps in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A randomized clinical trial.Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2017;98(5):957-963. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.01.017.
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