Muscle Spasms

[irishlady116]

I get 1 sharp pain in different parts of my body mostly upper thigh or ankle area and it causes me to jerk so badly.  I try to concentrate once I feel the first pain to prevent the twitching, sometimes I can and sometimes I can't.  It is starting to get scary especially because it happens when I am driving and my leg jerks off the brake or gas.

[MomJenn]

I agree with the post to you.  I also get muscle spasms from my fibromyalgia.  I take a medicine called neurontin that helps with the nerves.  I also have had to take a medicine called Robaxin for my muscle spasms.  I know from personal experience that trying to stop the spasms is not easy on the skin after a while.  By the way, I have had multiple muscle spasms at a time.  I was thoroughly checked out for the other things listed above. Take care!!!

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
The first thing to be ruled out is compression of the spinal nerves in the lumbo-sacral spine region. This can happen due to overuse of the lower back as in work requiring too much of bending, lifting weight, fall on the back, overweight, canal stenosis, bone disease, spondylosis, poor posture etc. A MRI of the spine will be definitely required and nerve conduction studies may also be needed. The treatment is to remove the compression. You have to discuss the best treatment option with a neurologist, which can range from medication to physiotherapy to traction, lumbar belts, lumbar corsets or even surgery.
I would suggest you get the blood levels of the following checked if they have not already been checked: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, vitamin B complex, or vitamins B1, B3, or B6 and Vitamin D. Generally deficiencies of any of the above can cause muscle twitching and spasms in localized or generalized areas of the body. Get your kidney function, parathyroid gland function and adrenal function tests done because these affect the electrolyte balance in the body. Stress, alcohol, caffeine and fatigue all cause similar symptoms. Hence if you take alcohol or coffee then cut this down. Sleep at regular hours and see if it helps. Certain sleep disorders and peripheral nerve disorders due to diabetes or hypothyroidism can also be the cause.
The best thing would be to consult a general practitioner or PCP and try and assess what is the cause of your problem. Then proper referral for concerned specialist can take things further and get you proper treatment. Take care!