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

[soaperbeth]

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.  

[Rlyons99]

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.

[kevinhaswell]

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.

[stephanieinontario]

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?

[Sue920]

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?

[PPPR12]

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 :)

[Ebeth28]

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?