Muscle cramps
by Dr S. Chidambaranathan B.H.M.S, M.D Homeopathy Doctor Madurai
Anything in excess (including love & democracy) will lead to trouble. This
is true of muscular contractions too. The muscle usually remains in a partially
contracted state to support and give solid appearance to the body. When it gets
excessively squeezed or strained or gets deprived of oxygen or nutrients,
severe muscular contractions may follow, leading to cramps.
All skeletal muscles work voluntarily under our will, but cramps are
involuntary, painful, spasmodic contractions or increased muscle reflex in
these skeletal muscles. It may occur during an attempt to move or act quickly
or continuing vigorous act without any break or sometimes even at rest or
sleep. Children unknowingly jiggle their hands often while writing to get rid
of this cramp. Players used to warm up before their game to avoid cramps. Cramp
may involve single muscle or a group of muscles. It can also occur in smooth
muscles i.e. intestines, in that case it will be called colicky pain rather
than a cramp.
Reason for cramp nature of muscle – Cramp pain is the factor
which warns us about strain or stretch of the muscle. It also denotes that the
affected muscle is out of reach with oxygen or it is loaded with waste products
i.e. lactic acid or pyruvic acid. Cramps can also be considered as anti-tear
phenomena.
Incidences
Everyone
would have experienced cramp in some part of the body muscle at one time or the
other. Most commonly, it is experienced in the calf muscle, thigh, hip, hand,
neck, etc. Even though it can occur in anyone, it is most commonly experienced
by children, players, females, pregnant women and the elderly, when they
strain. Also, its incidences seem to be higher, particularly at night, after
strained day work or activity.
Causes
In most cases, the cause for cramps cannot
been identified. Also muscle cramps have a variety of causative factors, i.e.,
it may be due to Physiological
Fatigue of Muscle caused by
- Low nutrition –
vitamins or mineral deficiency
- Strain or strenuous
exertion or exercises or games (especially football, tennis, etc.) – here
overloading of waste products also accounts for fatigue and muscle cramp
- Sitting idle for a
long time in improper posture where blood vessels get compressed. Here
muscle gets low oxygen with reduced blood supply in case of compression of
blood vessels.
- Dehydration from
diarrhoea, fever or any other diseases or even with overdose of diuretics
- Exposure to extremes
of temperature
- High altitudes where
there is low oxygen supply
Pregnancy
Here the uterus compresses adjacent blood
vessels during first and last trimester of pregnancy where a major part of the
pelvis room will be occupied by the enlarging uterus (in first trimester) or
descending foetus (third trimester)Excessive sexual activity – Here major part
of blood will be naturally deviated to reproductive organs to deprive legs from
oxygenated blood.
Pathological
- Nervous disorders
- Muscular disorders
- Vascular disorders
- Hormonal disorders
especially of thyroid and diabetes
- Auto immune
disorders
Habits
of
- Excessive intake of
coffee
- Excessive intake of
drinks
- Excessive smoking
Symptoms
There
will be two main symptoms i.e. pain and contracture (sustained contraction) of
the muscles. In addition, weakness and fear of pain will be there for some more
time even after complete disappearance of the cramp. It may come in flashes and
go in flashes within seconds. Sometimes, it may be present violently up to
10-15 minutes. It also varies in intensity according the nature of muscles, its
nutrition, training and straining, i.e. slightest or painless eye twitch to
aggressive painful contracture.
Diagnosis
Most
of time, there won’t be any requirement for investigation. But, if cramps recur
often, then it is better to evaluate the complaint with the following tests, i.e.
Plain X-ray
Blood test – Tc, Dc, Esr, haemoglobin level, sugar, cholesterol, urea,
serum calcium, serum potassium, serum magnesium, etc. In children, if one is
not sure about the pain to which it is related i.e. either bone or muscles,
then it is better to evaluate ASO titre also to rule out rheumatic fever.
Hormones test – thyroid hormones, i.e. T3, T4, TSH
Urine – sugar, albumin and deposits
Finally, if required, one should evaluate with nerve conduction test to rule
out nervous disorders, Electromyography to rule out muscular disorders and
whole body MRI scan to rule out any other pathology.
Complication
Mostly,
there won’t be any complication at all. But recurrent cramps at night may make
sufferer sleepless and depressed. Cramps neither remain a serious illness nor
let the person free from the fear of having it again. It may also become a
hurdle to undertake /do hard work.
Prevention
Take
- Plenty of water with
glucose or juices
- Plenty of
vegetables, nuts and dry fruits
- A break when you
happen to walk/ work / travel continuously
- Rest with legs
elevated if there is any swelling or oedema
- Treatment for
vascular disorders or varicose veins, if any
Do
- Go for a walk before
going to bed
- Jog or shake the
part involved to get quick circulation
- Warm up of muscles
before straining them
- Stretch or massage
the muscles involved
- Regular exercise
(mainly stretching type)
- Keep legs warm by
covering it with blanket while sleeping
- Wear socks / shoes /
stockings in cold climate
Avoid
- Unnecessary
medications
- Standing in water or
walking or swimming for a prolonged time
- Tight under garments
and tight-fitting socks and shoes
- Smoking, drinking
and drugs
General treatment
As
everyone knows, cramps never complicates, so no one goes for treatment: they
just shake away or kick away or massage the part, i.e. most of the time,
treatment is neglected. However, if it happens to recur often and upsets normal
activities, treatment should be sought. Also, with treatment, only in the case
of severe pain, pain-killers are prescribed after ruling out other diseases.
Most of the time, supplements (vitamins and minerals) are prescribed with
analgesic ointments to ease the pain.
Homeopathic
approach
People treat cramps in their own way i.e. some with application of warmth, some
with external oil, some with external pain balms or analgesics and some even
apply turpentine / kerosene / camphor oil, etc. to sooth / ease the muscle
cramp and pain. These measures will not relieve the cramps wholly as such, but
just mask the suffering for the time being like a pain-killer, i.e. everything
needs to be repeated as routine schedule whenever it arises. This is common to
all external therapy with respect to cramps. Also using them continuously or
often will make it to become useless in the near future.
Repeated abnormal contraction i.e. cramps, can be rooted out easily with
internal Homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy medicines increase blood supply to
the muscles, increase stamina and the withstanding capacity of the muscles to
tolerate any strain. Instead, just providing a pain-killer for the cramp will
help only for that day. Homeopathy can ease discomfort and pain of the cramps
amazingly without any recurrences by clearing all possible causes.
Homeopathic medicines commonly used in case of cramps are Acid Benz, Actea
racemosa, Arg met, Arnica, Belladonna, Bryonia, Calc carb, Calc phos,
Causticum, Colocynth, Cuprum met, Ferrum met, Ferrum picricum, Gelsemium, Kali
phos, Kalmia, Lachesis, Ledum, Lycopodium, Mag phos, Nat phos, Petroleum,
Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, Secale cor, Zinc met, Zinc phos, etc. These Medicines
should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a qualified Homeopath.
for
new hope
Dr. S. Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi Homeo Clinic
24 E. New Mahalipatti Road
Madurai, TN 625 001
India
Tel: +91-984-319-1011 (Mob /
Whatsapp)
Clinic : +91-452-233-8833 |
E-mail: drcheena@gmail.com
(Disclaimer: The
contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content is not
intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for any health
problem or medical condition.)