Cramps

Cramps: Introduction

General information about Cramps is below, or review more specific information about these symptoms: muscle cramp, stomach cramp, abdominal pain, menstrual pain or other types.

The words "cramps" and "cramping" are overused in the medical world and may mean several different types of cramps or cramping symptoms. For abdominal or stomach symptoms, see abdominal cramps. For cramping of muscles see muscle cramps. For female menstrual-like cramping see menstrual cramps.

» Review Causes of Cramps: full list

Causes of Cramps:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Cramps. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Pregnancy
• Exercise
• Excessive writing
• Excessive playing of musical instrument
• Dystonia
• Low plasma ionized calcium
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Malabsorption
• Inadequate dietary calcium intake
• Hypocalcaemia
• Acute alkalosis
• Hysterical hyperventilation
• Chronic renal failure
• Severe water and salt depletion
• Hard physical work in a hot environment
• Recovery from severe diarrhea
• Muscle sclerosis
• Alcoholic neuropathy
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Phosphoglycerate mutase
• Phosphoglycerate kinase
• Adenylate deaminase deficiency
• Tetanus
• Lead poisoning
• Strychnine poisoning
• more causes...»

See full list of 291 causes of Cramps

» Review Causes of Cramps: full list

Causes of Types of Cramps:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Cramps:

• Abdominal cramps (274 causes)
• Muscle cramps (232 causes)
• Menstrual cramps (12 causes)
• Hand cramps (1 cause)
• Cramping abdominal pain (16 causes)
• more types...»

Review causes of types of Cramps in more specific categories:

• Cramps in children (14 causes)
• Cramps in pregnancy (12 causes)
• more types...»

Review causes of more specific types of Cramps:

• Mild Cramps
• more types...»

See full list of 10 types for Cramps

Cramps: Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Cramps, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Symptom Checker

• Cramps: Symptom Checker

Symptom Checker

• Cramps and Pain (228 causes)
• Cramps and Nerve symptoms (212 causes)
• Cramps and Sensations (209 causes)
• Cramps and Muscle symptoms (205 causes)
• Cramps and Muscle pain (186 causes)
• Cramps and Muscle aches (183 causes)
• Cramps and Aches (182 causes)
• Cramps and Muscle cramps (173 causes)
• Cramps and Weakness (165 causes)
• Cramps and Digestive symptoms (157 causes)
• Cramps and Muscle weakness (136 causes)
• Cramps and Abdominal symptoms (135 causes)
• Cramps and Head symptoms (124 causes)
• Cramps and Movement symptoms (120 causes)
• Cramps and Bowel problems (114 causes)
• Cramps and Seizures (113 causes)
• Cramps and Bowel movements (113 causes)
• Cramps and Behavioral symptoms (111 causes)
• Cramps and Personality symptoms (106 causes)
• more...»

See full list of 2911 Symptom Checker combinations related to Cramps

Cramps: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available related to Cramps:

• Pain
• Arthritis & Pain
• Injury & Recovery
• Sleeping & Insomnia
• more product offers...»

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Cramps

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Cramps:

• Abdominal cramps (274 causes)
• Muscle cramps (232 causes)
• Menstrual cramps (12 causes)
• Abdominal pain (2377 causes)
• Stomach cramps (317 causes)
• Gastroenteritis (36 causes)
• Dysmenorrhoea (56 causes)
• Viral infection
• Ectopic pregnancy (8 causes)
• Miscarriage (272 causes)
• Pregnancy (471 causes)
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid disease (4 causes)
• Hypokalemia (138 causes)
• Hypocalcemia (12 causes)
• Restless legs syndrome
• Varicose veins (57 causes)
• Multiple sclerosis
• more symptoms...»

Diagnostic Guides for Cramps

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Cramps from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Cramps. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Cramps

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Cramps: Undiagnosed Conditions

Conditions that are commonly undiagnosed in related areas may include:

• Nerve Disorders: serious diseases commonly undiagnosed:
  • Diabetic Neuropathy -- Undiagnosed
  • Peripheral Neuropathy -- Undiagnosed
  • Multiple Sclerosis -- Undiagnosed
  • more ...»
• Chronic Pain Disorders -- serious medical disorders that may be undiagnosed:
  • Fibromyalgia -- Undiagnosed
  • Arthritis -- Undiagnosed
  • Chronic Pain Syndromes -- Undiagnosed
  • Migraine -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Cramps: Research Related Doctors & Specialists

• Nerve Specialists:
  • Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
  • Neurology (Brain/CNS Specialists)
  • Pediatric Neurology (Child Brain Specialist)
  • Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
• Pain Specialists:
  • Pain Medicine
  • Rheumatology (Arthritis / Joint Pain)
• Arthritis & Joint Health Specialists (Rheumatology):
  • Rheumatology (Joint Health)
  • Pediatric Rheumatology (Child Joint Health)
• more specialists...»

Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:

• Rate Your Doctor by Taking a Survey Online
• Research Your Doctor
• View Online Patient Surveys from Other Patients of Your Doctor
• Research local doctors and specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Misdiagnosis and Cramps

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various other causes. See causes of leg cramps or misdiagnosis of diabetes...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Cramps

Diagnostic tests for Cramps:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Cramps. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Inspect for abdominal distention - may suggest bowel obstruction.
  • Palpate the abdomen gently - to assess tenderness, rigidity of abdomen and to feel for any masses.
  • Listen to the bowel sounds - to assess possible bowel obstruction.
  • Examine for inguinal or femoral hernia - common causes of small bowel obstruction.
• more tests...»

See full list of 26 diagnostic tests for Cramps

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Cramps. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• Which part of the body are the cramps? - e.g. abdominal cramps or leg cramps.
• When did the cramps start - to determine if acute or chronic e.g. acute abdominal cramps suggests intestinal obstruction, renal stones, gallstones or common bile duct stones; chronic colicky pain suggests chronic cholecystitis, gallstones, renal stones or partial intestinal obstruction.
• Is the discomfort really cramp-like in nature? - i.e. colicky not steady (if not cramp-like in nature see abdominal pain).
• Are you pain free between the cramps?
• How often do the cramps occur?
• more questions...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Cramps (31 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Cramps) may include:

• Appetite change? - may suggest bowel cancer, gastric cancer, acute gastroenteritis or food poisoning.
• Weight loss? - may suggest colon cancer as cause of large bowel obstruction or gastric cancer as cause of gastric outlet obstruction.
• Nausea or vomiting? - may suggest gastroenteritis, food poisoning, acute cholecystitis or bowel obstruction.
• Diarrhea? - may suggest gastroenteritis, travelers diarrhea, food poisoning or partial bowel obstruction.
• Constipation? - may suggest intestinal obstruction (if constipation is absolute) or partial intestinal obstruction. Constipation itself may cause cramp-like abdominal pain.
• more symptoms...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Cramps (31 listings)

Home Diagnostic Testing and Cramps

Home medical tests possibly related to Cramps:

• Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Test Kits
  • Home Blood Glucose Testing Kits
• more tests...»

Stories from Users for Cramps

Real-life user stories relating to Cramps:

• Severe & Frequent muscle cramps, thighs, legs, feet
• calf cramp
• Forehead cramps
• gassy, bloating, cramping daily! help please...
• Cramps but no period
• Cramping
• Cramps

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Cramps or relevant symptoms:

• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (663)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Diastasis recti in adult male
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (606)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Eye twitch
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • So many symptoms but no diagnosis...GGRRR
  • More user stories
• Hematologic/Lymphatic (Blood and Lymph) (164)
  • High platelet count
  • Extreme neck pain, swollen lymph node -help
  • Swollen lymph nodes in groin
  • Nipple Discharge
  • Swollen Lymph Node for 2 1/2 months
  • More user stories

Videos for Cramps

Patient Surveys for Cramps

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Cramps
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Causes of Cramps listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Cramps as a symptom include:

• Amlodipine
• Bendrofluazide
• Bumetanide
• Cimetidine
• Frusemide
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Nifedipine
• Nitrendipine
• Phosphogylcerate mutase 2 deficiency
• Reproterol
• Salbutamol
• more causes...»

See full list of 291 causes of Cramps
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Cramps:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Cramps as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Fungizone Intravenous
• Dyazide
• Maxzide
• Maxzide-25
• Moduretic
• Aldactazide
• Spironazide
• more causes...»

See full list of 107 medications causing Cramps

Drug interactions causing Cramps:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Cramps as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Birth Control Pill and Vitamin C interaction
• more interactions...»

See full list of 1 drug interactions causing Cramps

Definitions of Cramps:

A sustained and usually painful contraction of muscle fibers. This may occur as an isolated phenomenon or as a manifestation of an underlying disease process (e.g., UREMIA; HYPOTHYROIDISM; MOTOR NEURON DISEASE; etc.). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1398)
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Organs affected by Cramps:

The list of organs typically affected by Cramps may include, but is not limited to:

• Arms
• Legs
• Muscles

Detailed list of causes of Cramps

The list below shows some of the causes of Cramps mentioned in various sources:

• Acanthosis nigricans muscle cramps acral enlargement - muscle cramps
• Acid-Base Imbalance - muscle cramps
• Acidic dry cell batteries inhalation poisoning - muscle cramps
• Acute alkalosis
• Acute tin poisoning - cramps
• Adenomyosis - menstrual cramps
• Adenylate deaminase deficiency
• more causes...»

See full list of 291 causes of Cramps

How Common are these Causes of Cramps?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Cramps. Of the 291 causes of Cramps that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 8 causes are "very common" diseases
• 6 causes are "common" diseases
• 3 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 9 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 276 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 291 causes of Cramps

Conditions listing symptoms: Cramps:

The following list of conditions have 'Cramps' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Cramps Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Cramps based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: