Muscle spasms — those sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that can stop you in your tracks — are more common than you might think. Whether it’s a mild muscle twitching or a severe charley horse, these spasms can strike anyone at any time.
While they’re most often felt in the legs, spasms can affect almost any part of your body. The discomfort can range from mildly irritating to downright painful, and they can last anywhere from a few seconds to over 15 minutes.
The good news? Most muscle spasms aren’t a sign of anything serious. In fact, they’re usually the body’s natural response to muscle fatigue, dehydration, or stress.
However, they can still be incredibly painful, and their sudden onset can disrupt daily activities, especially for those experiencing frequent muscle spasms.
Spasms occur when muscle fibers contract uncontrollably. Unlike voluntary muscle contractions — when you move your arm to pick something up, for example — spasms are involuntary, meaning they happen without your control. These episodes are usually brief, but they can be painful, especially if the affected muscle is already tired or overworked.
Sometimes, spasms occur as a result of your body’s response to a condition like chronic pain, and in some cases, the cramping can be persistent or recurrent, which is a sign of muscle spasticity.
Luckily, most spasms can be treated at home with simple remedies like stretching, massage, applying heat or an ice pack, ibuprofen, soaking in an Epsom salt bath or even using medical cannabis for those seeking a natural approach.
Incorporating lifestyle changes, such as staying hydrated, improving flexibility, and maintaining fitness, can also help prevent future cramps. Diet plays a significant role, especially in maintaining proper electrolyte balance. This is critical in reducing the chances of involuntary muscle contractions.
However, if you’re experiencing chronic muscle spasms or muscle spasticity that involves multiple muscle groups, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor to rule out any underlying neurological conditions. In such cases, medical marijuana may also be an option, but only with a medical marijuana card obtained from a medical marijuana doctor.
Muscle Spasm Causes
Muscle spasms, or cramps, occur when an involuntary muscle contraction prevents the muscle from relaxing. This condition is common among athletes and older adults and can be quite painful.
The most common symptom is sudden, sharp muscle pain, often affecting the legs, feet or back. During a spasm, the muscle may visibly twitch or harden, and the area can feel tight or lumpy.
These involuntary muscle contractions can make movement difficult. They may result in temporary loss of mobility or stiffness in the affected area.
After the spasm subsides, it’s common to experience muscle fatigue or weakness for a short period. In some cases, localized swelling or tenderness can occur.
Beyond the immediate symptoms, muscle spasms can have broader health effects. One common cause of frequent spasms is dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, which can lead to complications like heat exhaustion.
Spasms may also result from nerve compression. If left untreated, they can cause chronic pain or muscle weakness.
Circulatory problems, such as peripheral artery disease (PAD), can contribute to the recurrence of muscle cramps. These circulatory issues can worsen over time if not addressed.
Muscle spasms may also disrupt sleep, particularly when they occur at night. Similar to ADHD, this can lead to insomnia or daytime fatigue.
Recurrent spasms can limit mobility and physical performance. This increases the risk of injury and long-term muscle weakness.
Frequent muscle spasms, especially when accompanied by ongoing muscle pain, can negatively impact mental well-being. Over time, this can lead to anxiety or depression.
Common Triggers of Muscle Spasms
Here are some common factors that contribute to spasms:
- Dehydration: Your body needs water to function properly. When you’re dehydrated, you’re more prone to muscle cramp episodes. This is especially true for athletes or people who exercise frequently without replenishing fluids. The lack of proper hydration can reduce the flow of nutrients to your muscles, leading to painful contractions.
- Electrolyte Imbalance: Essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium play a significant role in muscle function. When these minerals are out of balance, involuntary muscle contractions can occur. Electrolytes are crucial for sending electrical impulses to your muscles, and any imbalance can trigger cramps, especially after exertion.
- Stress: Stress impacts many aspects of your body, including your muscles. When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can cause your blood pressure to rise. These hormones often lead to muscle stiffness, which can make your muscles more prone to spasms. Stress also contributes to chronic pain, which can exacerbate muscle issues over time.
- Lack of Sleep: Sleep is critical for muscle recovery and overall health. Without enough rest, your nervous system can become overly excitable, increasing the likelihood of spasms. Sleep deprivation can also affect muscle repair processes, which makes it harder for your muscles to recover from strain and fatigue.
- Excessive Caffeine: Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the nervous system, increasing the chances of muscle twitching or contractions. For individuals who consume large amounts of caffeine, this can make their muscles more prone to cramping, especially during stressful periods or after intense physical activity.
- Medications: Certain medications, including beta-agonist inhalers, diuretics, and statins, are known to cause muscle cramps as a side effect. If you are on long-term medications, check with your healthcare provider to see if they could be contributing to your spasms.
Serious Causes of Muscle Spasms
In some cases, muscle spasticity or spasms may be linked to more serious medical conditions.
This is especially true for individuals who experience chronic pain or have been diagnosed with a neurological disorder.
Persistent or frequent muscle spasms may indicate a deeper issue that needs professional medical attention. Here are a few conditions to consider:
- Pregnancy: About half of all pregnant women experience leg cramps, especially during the second or third trimester. These cramps are usually the result of weight gain, changes in blood flow, and hormonal shifts, all of which can affect muscle function.
- Heart Conditions: Reduced blood flow caused by heart issues can lead to painful contraction of muscles, especially in the legs. If you have a history of heart disease, it’s important to manage your cardiovascular health to reduce the risk of spasms.
- Liver and Kidney Conditions: Muscle spasms are common in people with liver diseases like cirrhosis. One study found that 88% of the patients with cirrhosis studied had muscle cramps (vs. 21% of those studied without liver disease). When their function is compromised, spasms can occur more frequently.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): People with MS frequently experience muscle stiffness, spasms, and chronic muscle spasms as part of their condition. According to the MS Society, spasms or stiffness can occasionally affect between 40% and 80% of people with MS.
- Spinal Cord Injury: Damage to the spinal cord can interfere with normal muscle function, causing involuntary movement and spasms. Injuries to the spine often disrupt nerve signals to the muscles, making them more likely to contract uncontrollably.
- Nerve Disorders: Nerve disorders like a pinched nerve or damage to motor neurons can cause involuntary muscle contractions that are painful and persistent. When nerves are compressed or damaged, they can send false signals to muscles, leading to spasms.
If you’re dealing with frequent or severe spasms, it’s important to see a healthcare provider who can help diagnose any underlying conditions.
Muscle Spasm Symptoms and Health Effects
Muscle spasms occur when a muscle involuntarily contracts and doesn’t relax. This painful contraction is common in athletes and older adults and can be linked to nerve disorders. Below is a breakdown of symptoms from most to least common, along with potential health effects.
Common Symptoms of Muscle Spasms
- Sudden, sharp pain
- Visible muscle twitching or hardening
- Involuntary muscle contractions
- Temporary loss of mobility or stiffness
- Muscle fatigue or weakness post-spasm
- Localized swelling or tenderness
The Long-Term Effects of Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms can cause various health effects beyond the immediate symptoms. Frequent spasms often signal dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, potentially leading to heat exhaustion.
Nerve disorders, such as nerve compression or pinched nerves, can also trigger spasms, which, if untreated, may result in chronic pain or muscle weakness.
Individuals with spinal cord injuries are particularly prone to spasms due to impaired nerve function.
Circulatory problems, like peripheral artery disease (PAD), can also contribute to recurring cramps by restricting blood flow.
Spasms at night can disrupt sleep, similar to ADHD, causing insomnia or daytime fatigue.
Recurrent muscle spasms may limit mobility and physical activity, leading to muscle weakness and a higher risk of injury.
Over time, they can contribute to chronic pain conditions like myofascial pain syndrome or fibromyalgia.
Muscle spasms can also affect mental health. The combination of chronic pain, disrupted sleep, and limited mobility often leads to anxiety or depression, particularly for those with nerve disorders or spinal cord injuries.
These emotional effects can exacerbate the physical discomfort, creating a challenging cycle for sufferers.
What Patients Say About Their Symptoms
Eric Rogers suffered from debilitating back spasms and found no relief through traditional treatments — until he tried cannabis.
In this video, he shares how one life-changing experience with the plant gave him near-instant relief and led him to become a passionate advocate and founder of LEVIA, Massachusetts’ first cannabis-infused beverage brand.
“I smoked a bowl, and within minutes, I just felt relaxation come over my body,” he says in the video. “It was incredible, the near-instantaneous relief that I got from this one simple thing.”
Muscle Spasm Diagnosis
If you’re dealing with occasional muscle cramps, there’s usually no need for medical intervention.
However, if your cramps become frequent, painful, or affect multiple areas, you should consult a doctor or medical marijuana doctor for a proper diagnosis. Your doctor might ask questions like:
- How often do you experience muscle cramps?
- How is your sleep quality?
- How often do you exercise?
- What is your diet like?
In some cases, blood tests might be needed to check for vitamin or mineral deficiencies. If a more serious condition is suspected, your doctor may order imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan to check for nerve or motor neuron damage.
Muscle Spasm Prognosis
Most muscle spasms resolve on their own, but persistent spasms caused by an underlying issue may require ongoing management.
For conditions like nerve disorders, physical therapy and changes to your daily routine can help. Increasing flexibility, staying hydrated, and reducing muscle strain can also help prevent future muscle contractions.
If a serious condition like MS or a spinal cord injury is the underlying cause, your outlook will depend on how effectively that condition is treated.
Some patients may benefit from alternative therapies like medical cannabis or muscle relaxants.
Muscle Spasm Treatments
Almost everyone will experience involuntary muscle contractions at some point in their lives, whether it’s a charley horse after a workout or a muscle cramp caused by dehydration.
For immediate relief, consider the following treatments:
- Stretching: Gently stretch the affected muscle to relieve tightness. Regular stretching can help prevent future cramps.
- Massage: Massage can increase blood flow to the affected muscles, easing spasms. Consider using essential oils for added relaxation.
- Hot or Cold Therapy: Heat can help loosen skeletal muscle tightness, while an ice pack can numb pain in more severe cases.
- Ibuprofen: This common pain reliever can reduce inflammation, though it might take 20-30 minutes to kick in.
- Epsom Salt Bath: Soaking in a warm bath with Epsom salts can help relax tight muscles and provide your body with magnesium, which can reduce muscle pain and cramping.
- Medical Marijuana: If you have a medical marijuana card, cannabis can be an effective natural treatment for reducing spasms, especially for those dealing with MS.
Adjunctive Therapy and Alternative Treatments
When traditional treatments aren’t enough, many turn to alternative treatments or complementary therapies. Here are a few that might help:
Essential Oils for Muscle Spasms
Essential oils contain dozens to hundreds of chemical compounds that are effective in treating all sorts of issues.
They’re potent, so proper dilution in a neutral carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, or almond oil is important. Below you’ll find oils that could help treat muscle spasms along with guidelines for safe usage.
Oils with anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease muscle pain include:
- Rosemary: In one study, 60% of people with muscle spasms reported their pain was cured within 15 minutes of using the oil. Dilution: 16.5% for Camphor CT, 22% for Pinene, and 6.5% for Verbenone CT Rosewood (Bois de rose, Pau-rosa), 5% for Aniba rosaeodora/amazonica/parviflora (e.g., 55 drops rosemary to 195 drops of a carrier oil such as coconut oil for Pinene Rosemary)
- Helichrysum: A study found that using this oil over 30 days lessened the pain associated with muscle spasms for the majority of participants. Dilution: 4% (e.g., 10 drops of helichrysum oil to 240 drops of carrier oil)
- Clove: A study of people with muscle spasms and muscle pain found that using clove oil cured 40% after the first day and all (100%) of them cured within three days. Dilution: Must be highly diluted! 0.5% (e.g., 1 drop of clove oil to 249 of a carrier oil.)
Cannabis for Muscle Spasms
Cannabis contains anti-inflammatory compounds, including cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and terpenes like limonene, myrcene, and linalool. These compounds interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors, reducing inflammation and easing muscle stiffness.
Medical cannabis also plays a significant role in promoting overall muscle recovery, especially for people suffering from chronic pain.
GW Pharmaceutical developed Sativex® (nabiximols), a 1:1 THC:CBD spray to treat spasms, spasticity, and neuropathic pain associated with MS. This product is only available for prescription in the U.K., but its efficacy results in muscle recovery are positive.
Patients with conditions like MS or severe muscle spasticity often find that medical marijuana helps to alleviate chronic pain and improves their overall quality of life.
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis that interact with receptors in the central nervous system. Some examples and what they do include:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): Calms muscle spasticity and provides pain relief
- Cannabidiol (CBD): An anti-inflammatory and slows down the chemical signals that cause the spasms
- Cannabinol (CBN): Has sedative effects that can aid sleep
- Cannabigerol (CBG): Reduces pain and inflammation
- Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA/CBDa): Anti-inflammatory
- Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA/THCa): May have antispasmodic and pain-relieving effects
Strains that contain a high concentration of cannabinoids include:
Terpenes and Terpenoids
Terpenes and terpenoids are the aromatic compounds of the cannabis plant. Some examples and what they do include:
- Myrcene: Anti-inflammatory, pain-reliever, and sedative
- Linalool: Anti-inflammatory
- Humulene: Anti-inflammatory, pain-reliever
- Beta-caryophyllene: Anti-inflammatory
- Pinene: Anti-inflammatory
- Limonene: Anti-inflammatory, pain-reliever
Strains that contain a high concentration of terpenes and terpenoids include:
- Blue Dream
- Dutch Treat
- Haze Berry
- OG Kush
- Strawberry Cough
- Bubba Kush
- Chemdawg 91
- Island Sweet Skunk
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are phytochemicals in plants that are high in antioxidants. Some examples found in cannabis and what they do include:
- Cannflavins A, B and C: Anti-inflammatory, pain reliever
- Quercetin: Anti-inflammatory
- Kaempferol: Anti-inflammatory
- Catechin: Anti-inflammatory
- Apigenin: Sedation, muscle relaxation
Muscle Spasms FAQs
What triggers a muscle spasm?
Spasms are usually caused by dehydration, pinched nerves, or nerve disorders. Overuse of large muscle groups and electrolyte imbalances are also common reasons.
How long do muscle spasms last?
Spasms can last from a few seconds to over 15 minutes. If they persist for longer or happen frequently, consult a doctor.
Can muscle spasms be a sign of something more serious?
Yes. Frequent spasms could indicate issues with your spinal cord, motor neurons, or nervous system. Seek medical advice if spasms are becoming a regular occurrence.
Can a medical marijuana card help with spasms?
Yes, cannabis can be effective for relieving spasms, especially in patients with conditions like MS. If you qualify, you can speak to a medical marijuana doctor to obtain a medical marijuana card and access products that interact with your cannabinoid receptors.
Can my diet impact muscle spasms?
Absolutely. Electrolyte imbalances due to poor diet are a common cause of cramps. Eating foods rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, while staying hydrated, plays a significant role in preventing muscle spasms.
References:
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Bonnet, J. P., & Gupta, A. K. (2019). Effects of caffeine and its analogs on muscles and cramps: A comprehensive review. Caffeine Research Journal, 4(2), 58-70. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/caff.2019.0003
Rubin, D. I. (2002). Neurological manifestations of muscle cramps: Diagnostic challenges. JAMA Internal Medicine, 162(14), 1644–1650. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1108671
American Pregnancy Association. (n.d.). Treating muscle cramps during pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/treating-muscle-cramps-during-pregnancy/
Davis, F. (1987). Muscle cramps and their treatment: A review. PubMed Central. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3805668/
Multiple Sclerosis Society. (n.d.). Muscle stiffness and spasms in MS. Multiple Sclerosis Society of the UK. https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/signs-and-symptoms/spasms-and-stiffness#:~:text=Muscle%20stiffness%20and%20spasms%20are,with%20MS%20at%20some%20time.
Rogers, E. (2021). Cannabis for muscle spasms: A patient’s experience. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0R5yiKW7Fk&list=PL8aBtyc5-eXtx9DtADJT-YVSsq3F2rpcM&index=17
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Muscle spasms and muscle cramps. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps
Author unknown. (n.d.). Electrolyte imbalances: Causes and solutions. EBSCOhost Database. https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A12%3A24806012/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A139165673&crl=c
Shankar, P. R. (2020). Muscle cramps during exercise: Pathophysiology and prevention. Journal of Exercise Science, 12(3), 45-58. https://archives.palarch.nl/index.php/jae/article/view/1446
Smith, R. A. (2021). The role of hydration in muscle recovery: Implications for cramps. PubMed Central. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33998900/
Jones, D. S. (2020). Caffeine and its effects on muscle performance. PubMed Central. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32091871/
Thompson, E. (2005). The impact of chronic dehydration on muscle function. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 45(2), 78-85. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25622554/
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Medicines.org. (n.d.). Muscle relaxants and their use in spasm treatment. Medicines.org UK. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/602/smpc#gref
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