What Causes Muscle Spasm in Fibromyalgia?
There are certain reasons why your muscles undergo contraction. At times, it may even happen without any apparent reason even if it does happen frequently. For most people, muscles contract because of extreme physical activities. Some experience muscle spasms due to postoperative outcome and injury etc. However, fibromyalgia muscle spasm is possibly a result of myofascial trigger points (TrPs) or muscle knots.
TrPs, like its second name, are almost literally knots in the muscles. They develop when muscle tissues heal abnormally, usually after a muscle injury like a strain, forming a hard nodule. TrPs are the main symptom that characterize myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). It is so common for MPS and fibromyalgia to coexist in a patient that some doctors believe that both conditions are the same illness.
TrPs can hurt when you apply pressure on it. Interestingly, it causes referred pain in another part of your body which is seemingly unrelated to the origin’s point. For instance, a muscle knot on the neck can lead to pain at the top of the head and under the eyes. In fact, a study found that by influencing TrPs, researchers were able to recreate fibromyalgia pain in other parts of the body. The study concluded that TrP is the reason behind muscle spasm and suggested that it can also be the reason behind fibromyalgia for some people.
Nevertheless, there are also other factors that can cause muscle spasm such as over-reactive nerves and nutrient deficiencies.
I dread lower back muscles going into spasm as I cannot straighten up for a few days. Used to get spasms behind the shoulder but those don’t occur now.
Mostly it is back and leg pain now. Need another new hip really too!
My arthritic hip has horrible muscle spasms. Very intense, but thankfully, usually not long-lasting. My feet and thighs cramp so hard that but only can I feel the muscle tighten and “move ”, but I can actually see them do it. I use a magnesium spray and chew a few magnesium tablets when it is the worst. What type of oral magnesium do you recommend, and what dosage? I take a fibro drug and opiate pain pills as well.
I’ve been on Flexeril for 7 yrs. at least 2x a day. I would like to get off of it. My spasms have gotten worst from Fibro. I get them under my ribs, my toes lock up, as well as my hands, in the middle of the night. Gabapentin has helped a lot with the neuralgia pain. Yes on pain meds as well. 2x a day on NSAIDs, Diclofenac, oral and cream. 2-3x a day Tramadol. What other options do I have?
I have weaned off Lyrica, Cymbalta, Flexeril, codeine, MIrapex…maybe a fe w more and am now living with a lower pain level using medical marijuana. IN New York all they allow is THC vapor, which I am immune to now, and CBD which is great but very expensive. It can take a couple hours to get ready to sleep with epsom salts baths, chamomile teas, vapor, CBD caps, prana breathing, mild yoga stretches and meditation. I get spasms in all my long muscles but can breathe thru most of the pain. I also am getting epidurals for herniated discs thanks to tight muscles and such. Withdrawal is worse than the problem for which I was given pills… eventually the pills make the pain and spasms much worse plus they change your brain chemistry, muting your emotions.
Have been having spasms and sharp pain down my tail bone then my legs turn to noodles I have to lower myself down it only last a few seconds but is so scary.