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Hand or foot spasms

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Foot spasms; Carpopedal spasm; Spasms of the hands or feet

Home Care:

If vitamin D deficiency is the cause, supplemental vitamin D should be taken under the doctor's direction. Calcium supplements may also help.

Call your health care provider if:

If you notice recurrent spasms of your hands or feet, call your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination. Laboratory testing of blood and urine may also be done.

Medical history questions documenting hand or foot spasms in detail may include the following:

• Do the spasms appear to be involuntary or purposeless?
• Are they prolonged?
• At what age did the spasms first appear?
• Does the presence of spasms seem variable over weeks to months?
• Do spasms occur repeatedly (recurrent)?
• Do several spasms occur in a row (repetitive)?
• Are the spasms slow or rapid?
• Can the spasms be voluntarily suppressed?
• How long have you had spasms?
• Is it worse when you exercise?
• How much calcium-containing food do you eat (such as milk products)?
• What have you done to try to treat the spasms? How effective was it?
• What other symptoms are also present?
  • Do you have numbness or a "pins-and-needles" feeling?
  • Do you have muscle weakness?
  • Do you have fatigue?
  • Do you have muscle cramps elsewhere?
  • Do you have seizures?

Diagnostic tests may include the following:

• Blood tests to measure magnesium and calcium levels
• Hormone levels
• Kidney function tests
• Vitamin D levels ( 25-OH vitamin D )

• Review Date: 9/26/2006
• Reviewed By: Kenneth Gross, M.D., Neurology, North Miami, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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