What is muscle spasm, its types and causes
Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions of muscle tissue.
Unlike natural contractions (for example, during the digestion of food, during exercise, swallowing water), spasms occur without any external or internal cause, in the absence of a person’s desire, and unpredictably. As a rule, muscle spasms in the head area affect the temples, forehead, and back of the head. Involuntary contractions of the masticatory muscles can occur due to the use of stimulants (caffeine, taurine, narcotics) or for internal physiological reasons. In the second case we are talking about:
- trismus - a spasm that provokes a tight clenching of the jaws;
- bruxism - involuntary muscle contractions that occur mainly during sleep, at night, and are accompanied by grinding of the upper and lower rows of teeth.
Muscle spasms in the cervical spine can be either unilateral or bilateral. They are often associated with pinched nerves or spinal pathologies (for example, a hernia).
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Types of head muscle spasms:
- episodic involuntary muscle contractions: headache, neck muscle pain lasts no more than 14 days over a period of 1 month;
- chronic spasms: 15 days a month or more.
Typically, the causes of spasms in the muscles of the head, jaws, and neck are:
- metabolic disease;
- lack of physical activity;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- vascular pathologies;
- deficiency of vitamins, microelements;
- stress: physiological, psychological, emotional stress;
- hypothermia;
- increased body temperature;
- obesity;
- genetic predisposition;
- injuries;
- pinching of nerve fibers.
Types of vertebral artery syndrome
The vertebral artery, most of it, together with the autonomic plexus and veins passes in the vertebral canal. The diameter of the latter in the cervical spine is smaller compared to the lumen in the thoracic and lumbar segments, so the likelihood of compression/irritation of the neurovascular bundle tightly adjacent to the bone structures is higher. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the vertebrae - proliferation of osteophytes, formation of pathological joints with uncovertebral arthrosis, excessive mobility of the vertebrae, subluxation - further contribute to a decrease in diameter, lead to constant irritation of the sympathetic plexus or compression of the vertebral arteries/arteries (compression-irritative version of the VA syndrome).
If vasospasm is a consequence of irritation of the afferent structures of the spinal nerve, they speak of a reflex-angiospastic form: pathological impulses cause disruption of the centers that control blood pressure and vascular tone not only of the head, but also of the heart.
Signs of involuntary muscle contraction are:
- with bruxism – grinding of teeth during sleep, a feeling of overexertion in the jaws after waking up;
- with spasms of the head muscles - hoop-shaped pain in the temples, in the forehead, in the back of the head;
- pressing, pulsating, squeezing nature of pain;
- feeling of heaviness in the area of spasm;
- pain when pressing trigger points (try to palpate the area of the head when it hurts: when you press certain points, the pain increases significantly);
- nausea, vomiting, dizziness;
- painful reaction to light, loud sounds (infrequently).
When to see a doctor:
- headaches appeared suddenly and do not go away;
- you are experiencing muscle pain for the first time after 50 years;
- pain is accompanied by dizziness, weakness, numbness of the limbs;
- pain lasts more than two weeks in a row;
- painkillers either do not work at all or give an insignificant short-term effect;
- the pain is localized on one side of the head/neck.
Muscle spasms that provoke pain indicate a disruption in the healthy functioning of the body. To prevent the development of the disease, it is important to consult a doctor in time. We advise you to visit a therapist, neurologist, endocrinologist, who will prescribe detailed laboratory diagnostics for you. Based on the research results, specialists of another profile may be involved in your treatment: an orthopedist, a cardiologist, a chiropractor. Complex treatment may include taking medications, a massage course, and therapeutic exercises. A good doctor will definitely give you recommendations on nutrition and daily routine.
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Neck muscle spasm due to nerves
Modern people often experience spasms in the deep muscles of the neck due to the negative effects of stress hormones. In moments of strong psycho-emotional stress, cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine are released into the human blood. They specifically act on all tissues:
- muscle fibers spasm and overstrain;
- the vascular wall contributes to the narrowing of the lumen of capillaries and arterioles, as a result of which the nutrition of myocytes is reduced;
- connective tissue begins to retain intercellular fluid, which causes the development of edema syndrome;
- ligaments and tendons become tense;
- there is a negative effect on the cerebral structures and the central nervous system, as a result of which nerve impulses are produced, instructing the myocytes to tense up.
A spasm of the neck muscles due to nervousness is a very dangerous condition. It is this that can provoke primary degenerative dystrophic changes in cartilaginous tissues, which will subsequently cause the development of osteochondrosis and its long-term consequences, such as protrusion, extrusion and herniation of the intervertebral disc.
What can you do at home if:
Head muscle spasms
To relieve spasm and pain, you can take aspirin, a painkiller tablet like Ibuprofen, or a painkiller in powder form (for example, Nimesil). Give yourself peace of mind. You can try pressing trigger points and stretching your earlobes.
Jaw muscle spasm
If trismus manifests itself, before the doctor arrives, you can self-massage the masticatory muscles, accelerating the blood in them, alternately pressing on the muscles constrained by spasm. It is also possible to use compresses (alternate warm and cold compresses, apply them to the lower third of the face).
Cervical muscle spasms
Make gentle rotational movements with your head, lower and lift it (without throwing it back too much), turn it right and left. You can try stretching your neck muscles with your hands. Warm compresses and rubbing are effective.
*Attention! The information is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
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