Marin Pain Management Solutions

It is widely believed in sports medicine circles that massage is a good muscle relaxer after intense exercise. Using massage to end pain from sports injuries or overuse including muscle spasms, cramps, sprains and strains helps to speed healing and relax the muscles.

A spasm is an unexpected, violent and involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles accompanied by a sudden burst of pain which is generally harmless but may interfere with function. It produces involuntary movement and distortion but ceases after a few minutes.

A spasm may occur due to a disease, strain, or injury to the muscle or nearby tissues. It could also be an impairment of circulation or disturbance of body chemistry which can be confined, severe or fairly generalized.

Painless or localized spasms are called tics. This involuntary movement of muscles, usually of the face, may seem to be a natural reaction or response to a certain stimulus but eventually, it will happen automatically even without any reason at all. Spasmodic muscle contraction may also be due to a large number of medical conditions, however, including dystonia.

Muscle spasms occur early after an injury takes place. It is characterized by a tightening of muscles in the area which could be painful at times but not always. Later on, when the basic injury is not fixed, muscle spasms form muscle knots which are painful and become part of the problem. Oftentimes, it is this pain from the muscle knots that pushes a person to seek muscle relaxer treatment. This is the case with injuries to the neck and back.

Muscle knots, also known as myofascial trigger points in medical term, are abnormal areas within the muscle which cause pain. There is still not much information as to what muscle knots really are. However, doctors made some biopsy test by cutting a piece out of muscle knots and results showed that some abnormal protein deposits seemed to be present in the sample tissue. Some treating practitioners believe that there is excessive connective tissue in these areas, but there is little evidence in the (unfortunately few) studies that have been done to support the idea of excess connective tissue.

The knots form because the spasm keeps the muscle working continuously around the clock which is beyond normal body function. Generally, our bodies move in normal activities with different muscles working in cycles. Since the muscles are not designed for such continuous work, time will come when muscle work overloads and forms these knots. That is why it is important that spasm is treated with available muscle relaxer treatments to help reduce this problem.

Treatment of muscle spasms and muscle knots must be done in close coordination with a medical professional or therapist. Aside from a relaxing massage, exercise is an important muscle relaxer method to help with muscle spasms and muscle knots. However, exercise and massage can become uncomfortable but the patient is expected to feel better later.

The treatments for muscle pains are as diverse as the causes. From over-the-counter and prescription drugs to mind-body techniques to acupuncture, if one approach doesn’t work, another one might. But when it comes to treating chronic pain, no single muscle relaxer technique is guaranteed to produce complete pain relief. Relief may be found by using a combination of treatment options.

Pain is the body’s reaction to an injury or threat such as burning heat or a wound. The cause may be a physical injury, a disease, or it could simply be an emotional upset. Considered as a common complaint, leg pain is also a common symptom for a lot of different causes such as muscle spasms or cramps, injuries, dehydration, or the depletion of minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium. It can also be classified as inflammatory, orthopedic, neurological, and vascular.

Sometimes, we feel this terribly intense pain at the back of our leg while asleep. This is called a Charley horse or muscle spasm which is characterized by a tightening of leg muscles that seems like forming into a hard knot, making your leg difficult and painful to move. When a muscle is in spasm, it contracts involuntarily and does not relax.

When working out, always take a lot of liquids to avoid dehydration. Low levels of minerals and electrolytes in the body can also predispose a person to muscle spasms. Some spasms occur because the nerve that connects to a muscle is irritated. While tired, over-used or injured muscle is prone to spasms. Activities like swimming, running, and jumping can also trigger the condition.

When muscle spasms strike, stop your activity or whatever you are doing at once. Stretch and massage the affected muscle area. Both heat and ice are natural leg pain relief which can help relax the muscle and soothe the pain. Pain medications such as non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs can reduce discomfort when muscles continue to be sore. In severe cases, consult your health care provider for anti-spasm medications.

Some helpful tips to prevent muscle spasms: