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Muscle cramps
Alternative Names:
Cramps - muscle
Home Care:
Slow stretching often brings relief. If muscle cramps continue, see your doctor.
Call your health care provider if:
Call your doctor if your muscle cramps are severe, last a long time, or keep coming back and do not go away with simple stretching.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your medical history, such as:
-
When did the spasms first begin?
-
How long do they last?
-
How often do you experience muscle spasms?
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What muscles are affected?
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Is it always the same location?
-
Are you pregnant?
-
Have you been vomiting, had
diarrhea
,
excessive sweating
,
excessive urine volume
, or other possible cause of dehydration?
-
What medications do you take?
-
Have you been exercising heavily?
-
Have you been drinking alcohol heavily?
Tests that may be done include:
-
Blood tests for disorders of the following:
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Calcium, potassium, or magnesium metabolism
-
Thyroid function
-
Kidney function
-
Pregnancy test
-
Electromyography
-
Myelography
Pain relievers (analgesics) may be prescribed.
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Review Date: 7/21/2006
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Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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