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Abdominal Muscle Spasms
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
Thanks
It does NOT sound like gall bladder ( I have had mine removed). I have had something like this happen but not under the same secomstances. I would look at your mineral and electrolyte intake. You might need to bump up on that
Thanks for the advice! I will take a look at that!
Thank You for this section, I have been having the same identical problem for years now. I sincerely want to get back in shape and lose weight, but excerise comes to a SCREECHING HALT when it comes to sit-ups due to the pain associated after reaching 4-10 sit-ups.
At first I thought it may have been from childbearing, perhaps the loss of muscles or maybe some damage was done. Throughout all the weight gain over the years and unstable weight fluctuation I became confused! Afterall, childbirth can do a lot of damage to a womans body. But others have also recommended increasing water intake and electrolyte suppliments of some sort. I will give this a try because in all honesty I do not drink as much water as I should. (ashamed @ this!)
Thank You once again!
At first I thought it may have been from childbearing, perhaps the loss of muscles or maybe some damage was done. Throughout all the weight gain over the years and unstable weight fluctuation I became confused! Afterall, childbirth can do a lot of damage to a womans body. But others have also recommended increasing water intake and electrolyte suppliments of some sort. I will give this a try because in all honesty I do not drink as much water as I should. (ashamed @ this!)
Thank You once again!
I had the same problem a few weeks ago. I was doing sit-ups in the gym when suddenly my stomach "knotted" together and it was so painful. It had happened before but I don't know when it will strike next. I first had these spasms like about 15 years ago, but it was only like three or four times in over a 6 years period. It was really painful, and I had consulted doctors and no logic answers was given. I thought I was experiencing some kind of weird pain. Then I had a few other guys told me that they had that problem too. So, what caused it ? I think it happens to both gender and it is not fun. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
I would look into bumping up your potassium intake. It might be muscle cramps
I have had this exact same problem and asked my doctor about this. When I do a sit up right below my breast bone will knott up like a charlie horse. I am 51 and out of shape. A nurse friend also recommended potassium. My doctor said to do as man sit ups each day that as my muscles began to take shape this cramping should go away. It is very painful and when it happens it takes along time to be able to sit back up. LOL!! I hate it and I will get back in shape.
I have had this problem for nine years now. It happens when doing sit-ups, but also when I'm just relaxing....normally on my right side.
My feet, ankles and calves also have this problem.
I'm healing from a broken tibia which I believe was all related to these spasms. I was a long distance runner, but was told by my doctor not to run anymore.
My feet, ankles and calves also have this problem.
I'm healing from a broken tibia which I believe was all related to these spasms. I was a long distance runner, but was told by my doctor not to run anymore.
I am 45 year old male and have had the same problem over the past 3 years. Thought it could be hernia or gallbladder but doctor said no. I had a appendectomy 12 years ago that left a big scare and apparently a lot of scar tissue underneath. My doc recommended Calcium Citrate with Magnesium plus more water during the day. It still happens once in a while but not as much.
I am an athletic person who works out about 3-4 times a week. Last week I had a re-occuring injury while cleaning up the house. When I bend down too many times my stomach contracts and I feel pain in my abdomin and testicles. I only feel pain on my lower right side abdominal wall. I went to my family doctor who could see visual swelling from one side of my stomach more than the other. The doctor told me that it was not hernia but an abdominal strain instead that it would take time to heal. I just wondering does this sound right? How do I prevent this from happening? Why does my right side testiles hurt than?
Can anyone give me some advice or treatment? I want to work out again but I can't.
Can anyone give me some advice or treatment? I want to work out again but I can't.
I have the same thing.
It is brutal! You can actually see the spasm in my stomach when it happens. It is deadly!
I was told that it was because I did too many abd exercises while pregnant, and I have seperated my muscles. When activated too much, they spasm up. I was told it COULD go away, but it has been 7 years for me now, and it still hasn't, so I don't have my hopes up anymore.
I just sloooowly work away at it, and stop when I feel something coming...
OUCH! though eh?
It is brutal! You can actually see the spasm in my stomach when it happens. It is deadly!
I was told that it was because I did too many abd exercises while pregnant, and I have seperated my muscles. When activated too much, they spasm up. I was told it COULD go away, but it has been 7 years for me now, and it still hasn't, so I don't have my hopes up anymore.
I just sloooowly work away at it, and stop when I feel something coming...
OUCH! though eh?
I have been having abdonimal muscle spasms for about 7 years. Lower right quadrant. It feels like a very sharp, squeezing pain, such as a leg cramp. At first it was thought to be an onion allergy, but that does not seem to be the case. It comes on for no apparent reason. I've been hospitalized several times, had all kinds of tests - CAT scans with and without contrast and dye, blood work, etc. etc. They've ruled out kidney stones, gallstones, appendix, ovarian cause, growths, etc. But the pain is so severe that I faint. It can last anywhere from 1/2 hour to many hours. Sometimes, Gas-x and advil seem to help. What helps the most is lying down and stretching in the opposite direction of the spasm. (that is, putting a pillow under my lower back and stretching my arms back over my head.) It's been suggested that, since I have 2 herniated disks in my lower back, this might be a cause. It does seem to happen more when I do a lot of crunches, or strenuous work such as mowing the lawn. ( i have reel mower - no power)
The last doctors at the ER felt "something" in that area, but nothing showed up on any of the imaging. Voiding my bladder seems to relieve it somewhat. I've been home from the hospital for 2 days, and still have residual soreness, which is eased by a heat patch right on the area.
Bizarre and frustrating, isn't it?
The last doctors at the ER felt "something" in that area, but nothing showed up on any of the imaging. Voiding my bladder seems to relieve it somewhat. I've been home from the hospital for 2 days, and still have residual soreness, which is eased by a heat patch right on the area.
Bizarre and frustrating, isn't it?
1 Comments
you might have some allergy that's affecting your digestive tract. that happens to me when I eat any kind of gluten. My body has a very difficult time digesting it, so it takes longer than normal. I had tests done for a while and they would never find anything wrong. I would test for allergies and see if that helps. Good luck :)
I am thankful to have found this online. I have had this issue ever since my 2nd c section 2 yrs ago. I had a 10lb baby so my abs were damaged. The "charlie horse" description is perfect to describe the pain and the "lock" of the muscle. Afterwards I am so sore for days and the pain is so severe.
I am having a CT scan tomorrow. I am wondering if surgery can repair the muscle?
I am having a CT scan tomorrow. I am wondering if surgery can repair the muscle?
well, i might as well join the club. yesturday at the shaq gym i was doing crunches on the hammer strenght machine and woe, the spasm hurted so bad, icouldn't breath, it was in my lower right abs and this afternoon in my upper right abs. I could on do 20 crunches at a time, three sets. i guess that can work since i already ahave abs.
About three weeks ago, i had my right side just under my breast bone - do the cramp up thing. Then the following week, my breast ached like a toothache but sharper. so went to that dr. and she said all was fine i pulled a chest muscle. She ran a mamogram and ll looked good too. The following week after that i noticed a lump where i felt the cramp initially so had it xrayed and ultrasounded and nothing. so back to muscle pull idea.
then today at my desk - that terrible cramping again where the lump was! what is up with this. it was numb in that area over the weekend- so i called the ultrasound tech- cause i thought maybe she used some kind of numbing gel. but she said it was probably a nerve that was bothered by the test the week before.
so now what? ive given up lifting for three weeks - except lower body stuff. only walking or bike riding for exercise.
then today at my desk - that terrible cramping again where the lump was! what is up with this. it was numb in that area over the weekend- so i called the ultrasound tech- cause i thought maybe she used some kind of numbing gel. but she said it was probably a nerve that was bothered by the test the week before.
so now what? ive given up lifting for three weeks - except lower body stuff. only walking or bike riding for exercise.
And to think I thought I was the only one!!! I'm female, small framed and had 1 extremely complicated pregnancy and 1 difficult pregnancy. My ab muscles, too, were separated due to pregnancy, but I don't believe that is a contributing factor as the problem didn't occur until my son was about 5 years old.
My cramping occurs on the upper left area of my abdomen when doing crunches or everyday movements that simulate that of a crunch. Not only can I see my abdomen knotting up in that area, but I feel if it does not stop, I will literally die! I hate that I can't do many crunches, but it's just not worth the agony. I have tried to slowly increase crunches, but that doesn't work for me either.
I feel bad for all of you who deal with this, but it is comforting to know that there are others with this same problem.
My cramping occurs on the upper left area of my abdomen when doing crunches or everyday movements that simulate that of a crunch. Not only can I see my abdomen knotting up in that area, but I feel if it does not stop, I will literally die! I hate that I can't do many crunches, but it's just not worth the agony. I have tried to slowly increase crunches, but that doesn't work for me either.
I feel bad for all of you who deal with this, but it is comforting to know that there are others with this same problem.
Just like discussed, up your potassium intake and lower your sodium intake. "no salt is a good replacement for regular salt" as "no salt" is potassium based and is very hight up to 1,000mg or more per serving. Next, drink water, water, water; depending on your size I would say around 3 litres is ideal.
Good Luck All
Jen
Good Luck All
Jen
I have this all the time, but mostly if I am constipated. I will sit up, get this horrible spasam in my right side under my breast plate. It goes all the way across my stomach like there is something in there. DR told me I had a diveticuli sac there, but that seems odd. Lots of water, and staying bowel clean seems to help. I have not other symptoms, just this. I am bloated too, and most likely need to lose weight, but have tried everythign, and at 66, does not seem like that will happen. It makes it worse with exercise, so no help there. Even when I go to the bathroom, at times it hurts all the up to there. DR has done all kinds of tests, no reason for this, except maybe constipation. I wish I knew what this was, cause when it hurts it really hurts, then my breast plate hurts for days.
I've been having this problem for the past 5 years. I can workout fine but when it comes to abs, I'm really hesitant to try again, cause I know its going to "attack" again.
As soon as I do some situps, right after they just lock up and start exploding. It's so painful and embarrassing at the gym. The other day I tried after not doing ab exercises for months and I had to roll off the sit up bench. This *****, I used to really enjoy doing ab exercises and now I fear them. No one knows the proper term for this problem? I'll try upping my potassium and water intake.
As soon as I do some situps, right after they just lock up and start exploding. It's so painful and embarrassing at the gym. The other day I tried after not doing ab exercises for months and I had to roll off the sit up bench. This *****, I used to really enjoy doing ab exercises and now I fear them. No one knows the proper term for this problem? I'll try upping my potassium and water intake.
I hear you on that embarassing moment in the gym. I just started taking a boxing class the other day and my lower right abs seized up into that excruciating pain you all know and I was done for the rest of the class. I run 3-4 times a week and have worked out religiously about 5 days a week for the last 10 years. However within the last year I have noticed that just after a few sets of abs my abs have a tendency to spasm. I think I get enough water, but maybe not getting adequate sleep at night (6hrs avg). I will try uptaking my potassium and cutting down on artificial sweeteners in gum, coffee, etc.., and try to cut sodium as well. Definitely a very annoying ailmnet. Whatever guidance anyone else may have that may have helped I would most greatly appreciate.
Sounds like I'm having the same issue as a lot of people. I've worked out 4-5 days a week for years and never had any problems. Last week all of sudden doing some situps I had an excruciating pain in my right side. For the last week I've felt spasms or a pulsating in my right side and my right testicle has felt a dull pain. I'm hoping its an ab strain and rest will help.
I'm sorry to hear that others are experiencing these Abdominal spasms but it is comforting to hear that I am not the only one. I have been athletically active for about the last ten years., I have gone to gym off and on more on than off. Until a few years back I had never had a charlie horse in my abdominals but this now seems to be the case when I do 20-40 crunches the pain is excruciating and a litte worrisome because you can't move. What I did realize a few years back was that when I started to take prilosec for acid reflux I would experience these spasms but once I got off the prilosec and allowed my body to get rid of it I was fine. I have since taken the prilosec off and on for the past 3-4 years but have not really tried to do too many crunches out of fear. I do now from research that this acid reducers prevent the body from making vitamin b and magnesium which is essential for muscles. I plan on going to a sports medicine doctor and see what he proposes. I just wondered if anyone else on this post my have taken som sort of acid reducer. Hope everyone gets better. Will check for future posts.
I've got a new idea that I think'll help you guys. Earlier this year I had an abdominal spasm while in a train station, and it was excruciating. What did I do? Massage it out for the 3 hours I was on the train. It went away quickly, and most of the massaging on the train was spent making sure I didn’t have a relapse.
What to Do For Best Results
If your abs are really painful, take a hot bath first to get them more relaxed. Then, after filing your nails down to the quick, dig into your stomach to massage out those muscle knots. Search for muscle knots and massage them out the same way you would massage a friend’s tight shoulders: hunting for the ‘good’ painful muscle, and then working on that. Try using the thumb of one hand and use the other hand to help apply pressure. Try massaging in 5-10 minute bursts a few times a day.
If not immediately, you should see results within a few days.
These days I have to massage between workouts and right after them too, but I can keep exercising. Only if I stop massaging does the pain come back. This treatment falls under the umbrella of trigger point therapy. I got the idea from The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies, and it works for me.
Tell me how it works for you guys.
What to Do For Best Results
If your abs are really painful, take a hot bath first to get them more relaxed. Then, after filing your nails down to the quick, dig into your stomach to massage out those muscle knots. Search for muscle knots and massage them out the same way you would massage a friend’s tight shoulders: hunting for the ‘good’ painful muscle, and then working on that. Try using the thumb of one hand and use the other hand to help apply pressure. Try massaging in 5-10 minute bursts a few times a day.
If not immediately, you should see results within a few days.
These days I have to massage between workouts and right after them too, but I can keep exercising. Only if I stop massaging does the pain come back. This treatment falls under the umbrella of trigger point therapy. I got the idea from The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies, and it works for me.
Tell me how it works for you guys.
I am so glad that I have finally found information on this horrible problem!
I had gastric bypass surgery four years ago and after a year, I had a 'tummy tuck' to get rid of the extra skin. After having the surgery and allowing enough time for healing, I tried to do crunches to keep my stomach toned..I swear I felt like there was an alien in there trying to come out!!! I think my sister felt I was faking a problem to get out of working out. Needless to say, I too have tried to stay away from ab workouts, but this morning, thanks to a bad chest cold that I have, the spasm found me again just from coughing! I am at my wits end on what to do about this. My sister thought that it might be adhesions, but when I talked to my gyn, he did not feel that was the case, but could not offer any remedy.
***Thanks for the advise. I will definetly up my potassium and get an electrolyte supplement. I have hyptertion, so I need to be carefull with anything that has a lot of sodium.
I had gastric bypass surgery four years ago and after a year, I had a 'tummy tuck' to get rid of the extra skin. After having the surgery and allowing enough time for healing, I tried to do crunches to keep my stomach toned..I swear I felt like there was an alien in there trying to come out!!! I think my sister felt I was faking a problem to get out of working out. Needless to say, I too have tried to stay away from ab workouts, but this morning, thanks to a bad chest cold that I have, the spasm found me again just from coughing! I am at my wits end on what to do about this. My sister thought that it might be adhesions, but when I talked to my gyn, he did not feel that was the case, but could not offer any remedy.
***Thanks for the advise. I will definetly up my potassium and get an electrolyte supplement. I have hyptertion, so I need to be carefull with anything that has a lot of sodium.
I get a painful charlie horse/spasm/knot below my right breast when I bend over. Also, if I'm sitting up with my legs straight out in front of me and lean slightly forward I get the same spasms/knotting. After the pain goes away it has a tingling feeling similar to what ultra sound therapy feels like. The tingling can happen at any time. I also get this sensation when I'm laying on my side in bed. Doesn't matter whether it is my left or right side. Does anyone else have these symptoms? It is not only bothersome but scary.
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