Abdominal Muscle Spasms

[AngelinaB]

For almost 1 year now I have had horrible muscle spasms in my abs when I do sit ups. I do a lot of running and other exercise and my abs never tighten up like that any other time other than doing sit ups. Everytime I try to do sit ups I can get through about 10 then the upper right abdominal area completely tightens and feels like a really really bad charlie horse. I'm just looking for any advice or experience with this that anyone can give me. I saw my family doctor and he said it's not a hernia and it could maybe be my gallbladder. With everything I've read online about gallbladders it doesn't seem like that is it to me. Just wondering if anyone can give me some help!
Thanks

[lilairforce1]

I have had this same issue now for the past 4 years.  It started about a year after my 2nd c-section.  I was convinced someone left something in me.  I started getting charlie horses just getting under my bedsheets and using my abs.  I had them during pilates if I sat in one position for too long.  I would go to tie my shoes or put my strap on my heel and if I stood in the same position, it would go into a cramp!  It hurts so bad.  I have also been sick once while throwing up over the toilet, my stomach went into a charlie horse and I thought I was literally going to die!    The doctor at first just shrugged his shoulders not knowing what it was and just kind of said hmmm.

I later went to a plastic surgeon unhappy with the exterior of my belly after 2 csections and he assured me that I needed muscle repair.  I thought it would be the complete answer to my issues.  Lax muscles, seperated muscles, ect.  Well it's been over a year since my surgery to repair the muscles and guess what came back?  YES.  The muscle spasm/charlie horses.  I finally went in and had a CT scan.  They came back and found nothing.  My doctor thinks they may be adhesions attatching themselves to the insides causing havoc in there.  Adhesions are just like clumps of scar tissue.  They now want me to have exploratory surgery however if it is adhesions, I'm now adding more scar tissue to my body by going in.  I am on the fence as to what I should do.  

[Lovetocruise]

My husband is also having this horrible abdominal (muscle) pain.  His started about six years ago.  It usually starts below the chest and when the muscle spasms it extends out where you can see it.  It can last about 30 seconds, then will subside only to come back in a minute or so.  It also spasms in all four quadrants of his abdomen.  Sometimes, the spasms will last only about 15 minutes and the longest attack lasted 14 hours.  He has COPD (breathing disease) and one doctor said it was caused by his coughing so hard.  We've gone to numerous doctors and about eight trips to the emergency room.  They give him pain medication, then send him home when the spasms end.  The last attack about a month ago was the 14 hour one and we finally went to the ER again, even though we never get any help.  This time, they gave him morphine, and admitted him.  He's had about 12 CT scans, but no other tests.  This time, we were optimistic since they admitted him.  Again, no other tests were done.  We had a surgeon come in and we though he would have something that could be done, but he had never heard of this type of pain.  He was set up to to to physical therapy to try and build up the abdominal muscles, and had his first visit today.  Through the years, we have found a hand held heavy duty massager helps, along with hot showers and a heating pad.  Unlike a lot of posters here, he's not athletic.  He's 70 years old, and 25 pounds overweight.  I'm sure his weight contributes to it, and I'm now trying to help him lose weight.  I'm trying to get him to walk and get some exercise also.  It's hard to believe no one can figure out why people get this pain and how to get rid of it.  A lot of posters have recommended magnesium and potassium, so I've started him on those.  We are willing to try anything to get him some relief.  It's so hard wondering when the next attack will happen.  We've learned it happens when he bends over or twists, so he's learning not to do these things.  With all the doctors, we can't get them to do any tests, which is very frustrating.  All they have done is the Ct scans.  They say this shows all the organs and is much better than other tests.  He did have an upper GI test about six months ago which showed he had bad ulcers.  We were excited thinking this was the cause, but nothing has changed except his ulcers are healing.  I will continue to monitor this and hopefully soon, someone will have a solution we can investigate.  Good luck to everyone!

[tsuggs2013]

I thought that I was the only one!!! I have the exact scenario.  After my 2nd child and an emergency c-section I can no longer do sit ups.  The pain is excruciating.  You can see the muscles jump during the spasm.  I saw an episode on Dr. Oz where a woman was having the same problem and the doctors had to go in and sew her ab muscles back together because they were ripped down the middle.  

[Fit4fortyfive]

I am a physically fit 45 yr old  male. The last 6 days I've been getting muscle spasms on the upper right side of my abs. There is no pain, but I'm worried it could be serious, since it has lasted for almost a week. A friend suggested it could be due to IBS, but I have been fairly normal with my Bowel movements.

[Debb25]

Hi. I'm a 25 year old female who has had the exact same CHARLIE  HORSE spasms in my upper left side of abdominal since I was 21. The first time I had these Spasms I was having a bowel movement I thought holy smokes am I in labor and didn't know I was pregnant!? Bc it felt pretty darn close! ( I wasn't)  but I had to use " he he whooooo" breathing technique to get through cramping.. Other times it happens while throwing up when sick ( morning sickness, stomach bug ect...) doing sit ups and two days ago I was getting waxed and I tensed up and WHAM did it again! Now dr says dehydration I say hogwash bc I drink at least 80 oz aday of water! I'm frustrated and just don't know what's going on. I'm not fat I go to gym  3 to 4 times a week and I just want some help!

[Jrhodes21]

This has happened to me to few times In the last few years. I am 35 years old and work out 3-4 times per plus run about 15-20 moles per week. I always work abs in with my weight training. It happens mostly when doing an ab exercise.  It's comes fast and painful just like a charlie horse strain. I can see my ab muscle bulge up from under my skin. It's  like when you pull both ends up a jolly rancher wrapper and it spins around to unwrap. Very painful. I usually just aggressively massage the muscle back down to its natural position and size. I really wish I knew how to prevent this from happening. Only thing I can come up with was better hydration.