There you are, minding your own business when suddenly, out of nowhere a part of your body seizes up in an uncontrollable muscle spasm. Gripped in paralyzing pain, you look for a place to sit down, taking deep breaths and waiting for the spasm to subside. When muscle spasms hit, the world stops until the pain becomes tolerable again. Whether you experience regular muscle spasms, or they seem to come out of nowhere, you don’t have to let them rule your life.
What Causes Muscle Spasms?
By definition, a muscle spasm is a sharp, sudden pain that can occur in any muscle in the body. They can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on their underlying cause. So what, exactly causes muscle spasms?
Dehydration
Up to 60 percent of the human body is made of water. However, muscles are made up of around 79 percent water. When dehydrated, electrical impulses that travel normally throughout the muscle to allow it to contract and relax begin misfiring. What results are painful, sudden, sharp muscle spasms.
Fatigue
It may seem strange to have a tired muscle suddenly go into a spasm, but fatigue, especially chronic fatigue, and muscle spasms go hand in hand. When the muscle becomes fatigued, it cannot contract and relax properly. When a muscle contraction happens abruptly and without warning, you experience tightness and pain.
Subluxation
Considering the entire nervous system radiates from the brain and spinal cord, it’s not surprising that poor spinal positioning may result in “pinched” nerves and resulting muscle spasms. If the subluxation is allowed to continue, the nerve slowly deteriorates, often leaving permanent damage behind.
Treatments for Muscle Spasms
Most muscle spasms will go away on their own, with rest, or with proper hydration. However, persistent muscle spasms are often the result of an underlying condition. Many people reach for pain medication to deal with the spasm, but it only serves to dull the pain, not treat the cause of the spasm itself. So, how do you treat persistent muscle spasms?
Chiropractic Care
If your muscle spasms are the result of poor positioning of your vertebrae, chiropractic care can help reposition the spine and allow the nerves emanating from your spinal cord to work properly. While most people feel better after their first treatment, chiropractic has a cumulative effect. Over time, the body readjusts to the proper positioning of the spine, holding the adjustment for longer periods of time.
Acupuncture
For hundreds of years, Eastern medicine has relied on acupuncture to relieve pain and help the body function better. Small, thin needles are placed just below the surface of the skin in specific parts of the body. Not only do patients experience fewer muscle spasms, but most also report a general feeling of relief and wellness during and after their treatments.
Massage
The pain-relieving, stress-busting benefits of massage are no secret. Take the power of human touch and add expertise in human anatomy, and massage becomes a powerful tool for easing muscle spasms. By applying varying levels of pressure to specific points in your body, a massage therapist can quiet the nerves that are causing the muscles to spasm and ease any stiffness, pain, and associated discomfort.
Nutrition
We have all heard the adage, “You are what you eat.” But with so many fad diets out there, it’s hard to know what we should be putting into our bodies. Experts in functional medicine and nutrition can create a customized eating plan, paired with targeted supplementation, that reduces inflammation and decreases muscle spasms.
Whether you are suffering from persistent muscle spasms or you can’t seem to stop cramping up, Pure Wellness can help. Call our office today or schedule a consultation online and start living a life that is spasm free.