Do You Have a Spasm? or Is It a Twitch?

Do You Have a Spasm?

You know that thing where your skin or muscle starts to “jump”? Sometimes it will stop quickly and by itself. Other times it comes back over and over again, getting more annoying each time it recurs. If this sounds familiar it’s possible that you don’t just have a twitch; you have a spasm. So how do you know the difference and, more importantly, once you do know the difference what do you do to make it stop?

LegCramp

The Difference

twitch is something that occurs intermittently and is often caused by stress, anxiety and sometimes by over use of caffeine or certain medications or even something going haywire in your nervous system. It’s annoying but not painful. It almost always goes away on its own.

A spasm, on the other hand, is painful. It forces the muscles to harden and either to bulge or contract. It is often called a “cramp.” There are all sorts of causes of muscle spasms from dehydration to brain damage or disease.


How to Get Diagnosed

Most muscle twitches and even some muscle spasms are easy to diagnose on your own at home because the symptoms are so different. Still, it is important to go to your doctor to get the twitch or the spasm looked at, especially if it comes back over and over again. Why? Because only a doctor will be able to help you figure out exactly what it is that is causing these spasms and twitches. Determining the actual cause of the problem is the only way to figure out how to definitively fix it.

Treatment Options

The treatment you choose for your spasm or twitch is going to depend, as already discussed, on its cause. That said, here are some of the most common treatments for these problems.

  • If you suffer from a blepharospasm (the twitching that happens in the corner of your eye or eyelid), botox is one of the most common type of blepharospasm treatment.
  • Many different types of spasms and twitches can be helped by massage. Massaging the affected area can calm most twitches.
  • Walking, as hard as it might be, is the best thing that you can do when you suffer from a spasm or twitch in your calves or thighs. To this end, wiggling your toes at the first inkling of a spasm can often keep it at bay.
  • Making sure that you stay properly hydrated and get the right nutrition will keep most twitches and spasms from ever occurring.
  • These are just some of the different ways to treat your muscle jumps. If these methods aren’t working and you haven’t yet visited your doctor, make an appointment ASAP so you can get to the root of the problem and fix it.

 

This was a guest post by R. Wilcox

Comments

  1. Gina Brickell says

    I get the eye twitch periodiacally!! What a great reason to get botox! I could easily defend it then!

  2. My husband has this and he was diagnosed with RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) For him it is very painful. His dr. has him drink about 3 to 4 oz. of Quinine Water every night before bed. Something in the Quinine make the cramps subside. Thanks for sharing this.

  3. Mary Beth Elderton says

    I have a kidney “thing” that causes me to need a lot of water during the day. Besides the kidney effects, I can tell I am dehydrated when my legs start to spasm. To ward this off I have a banana sometime during the day and drink plenty of fluids. The fluids don’t have to be plain water but it does need to be low sugar–too much sugar seems to have a negative effect on the hydration.

  4. My husband has the best twitches. One in is eye lid and one on his shoulder. I can look into his eyes and see his lid twitch. He has the most beautiful blue eyes. As for the twitches, he says he’s had them forever and doesn’t notice most of the time. I’ll suggest botox – he’ll love that!

  5. Pamela Halligan says

    I have fibromyalgia and suffer from frequent muscle spasms. I find that massage and walking or bike riding is the best way to relieve spasms. Thanks for sharing.

  6. Mer says

    Very helpful! I get an eye twitch when stressed and have been thinking about getting botox for it…maybe one day.

  7. Jennifer Hedden says

    I get eye twitches every once in awhile. I do worry about it. I had no idea that botox could be used to treat it. I will definitely have to keep this as an option if they get worse and ask my doctor about this. Thank you for sharing.

  8. jamie braun says

    i had no idea there was a difference…or that spasms can be that bad! good to know!

  9. Sonya Morris says

    My mom gets spasms in her legs and they seem to be very painful!

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