What can be done to treat muscle spasms and fibromyalgia?
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Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:A combination of medication and stretching exercises can be used to treat muscle spasms and fibromyalgia. Often, pain and muscle spasms occur at the same time with fibromyalgia. These spasms usually occur in the parts of your body that you use the most: your neck, shoulders and feet.
There are medications available to treat muscle spasms. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about options, both prescription and non-prescription, that can help.
If you experience a sudden muscle spasm, gentle stretching can help. A physical therapist can teach you proper techniques for gentle stretching so that you can practice at home.A combination of medication and stretching exercises can be used to treat muscle spasms and fibromyalgia. Often, pain and muscle spasms occur at the same time with fibromyalgia. These spasms usually occur in the parts of your body that you... More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Muscle spasms can be a real problem if you have fibromyalgia. Some people complain that their muscles feel twitchy or crampy. Let your doctor know if muscle spasms are bothering you. In general, it's wise to get plenty of exercise, take warm baths, and consider getting massages to help with muscle symptoms. If muscle spasms persist, your doctor may prescribe medications called muscle relaxants.
Muscle spasms can be a real problem if you have fibromyalgia. Some people complain that their muscles feel twitchy or crampy. Let your doctor know if muscle spasms are bothering you. In general, it's wise to get plenty of exercise, take warm... More -
Celeste Cooper answered:We now know that most if not all fibromyalgia patients have myofascial pain syndrome (AKA chronic myofascial pain) as a comorbid condition. MPS/CMP is not specific to fibromyalgia, but they are great peripheral aggravators of pain that lead to the centralization found in FM.
The knotted up pieces of muscle fiber form what is called a trigger point, abbreviated MTP or MTrP. When these trigger points are located next to a nerve, they can cause a host of neurological phenomena.
Feel around the area to see if a trigger point is in the area or the spasm is in the referral area of the trigger point. Personally, I get these spasms in my upper back arm from trigger points that are located in the posterior part of my rotator cuff (where the shoulder and arm are attached). Treat the trigger point when you find it my using a stroking pressure motion by never letting your fingers leave the skin, stroke in one direction and apply about 80% pressure. You will know if you are on the trigger point, because it will hurt and the pain will radiate. In most instances MTPs are easily felt unless behind bone or deep in muscle layers such as the abdomen or buttocks. I also have these twitches in my upper thigh and have MTPs in the buttock area.
Sometimes, the muscle becomes fatigued and this spasm can occur. It may happen in a muscle that is trying to pick up the work load from a muscle with one or more MTPs, which shorten the muscle and make it weak and dysfunction, not to mention cause a great deal of pain. These compensatory muscles can develop MTPs too.
Pick up a book such as ours to learn more about these neurological imitators and how to treat them.
All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press and are not meant to replace medical advice. http://www.thesethree.com
Find out more about this book: Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofa...
We now know that most if not all fibromyalgia patients have myofascial pain syndrome (AKA chronic myofascial pain) as a comorbid condition. MPS/CMP is not specific to fibromyalgia, but they are great peripheral aggravators of pain that lead to the... More
