Symptom: Muscle cramps

Introduction: Muscle cramps

Muscle cramps: spasmodic, painful, involuntary contraction of muscles. See free access online books about Muscle cramps below. See detailed information below for a list of 141 causes of Muscle cramps, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Muscle cramps: full list

Causes of Muscle cramps:

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

• Some causes of a simple muscle cramp include:
  • Exertion
  • Exercise
  • Muscle spasm
  • Electrolyte imbalance
  • Excessive perspiration
  • Loss of salt
• Infection - many infections cause muscle aches and pains.
  • Virus
  • Bacterial infection
• Muscle injury
• Muscle metabolism disorders
• Dermatomyositis - cause multiple muscle cramps
• Polymyositis - cramps in many muscles
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Diabetes - may cause muscle cramps if undiagnosed or poorly controlled
• Diabetic ketoacidosis - muscle breakdown may cause muscle cramps
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Thyroid disease
• Circulatory disorders
• Intermittent claudication - usually causing calf muscle pain
• Tetanus
• See also causes of muscle pain
• Unaccustomed excercise
• Cauda equine eschemia
• McArdle's disease
• Lipid storage myopathy
• Myophosphorylase deficiency
• Phosphofructokinase deficiency
• Hypocalcaemia

See full list of 141 causes of Muscle cramps

» Review Causes of Muscle cramps: full list

Causes of Types of Muscle cramps:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Muscle cramps:

• Hand cramps (1 cause)

More types of Muscle cramps

Muscle cramps: Multiple Symptom Checker

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

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Muscle cramps: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Muscle cramps and Muscle pain (117 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Muscle aches (116 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Pain (115 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Muscle symptoms (114 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Nerve symptoms (114 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Sensations (114 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Cramps (111 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Aches (109 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Weakness (89 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Muscle weakness (76 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Movement symptoms (64 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Behavioral symptoms (54 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Digestive symptoms (54 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Head symptoms (54 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Muscle spasms (51 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Seizures (51 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Weight loss (50 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Personality symptoms (49 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Face symptoms (46 causes)
• Muscle cramps and Mouth symptoms (46 causes)

See full list of 1093 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Muscle cramps

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Pain (2986 causes)
• Muscle symptoms (2574 causes)
• Muscle pain (449 causes)
• Muscle aches (365 causes)
• Cramps (200 causes)
• Sensations (3186 causes)
• Aches (326 causes)
• Nerve symptoms (3474 causes)
• Common symptoms (4555 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Muscle cramps

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

• Muscle pain (449 causes)
• Muscle weakness (2042 causes)
• Muscle symptoms (2574 causes)
• Cramps (200 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Muscle cramps

12 MEDICAL SYMPTOM BOOKS: FULL TEXT ONLINE! Read the full text of published book sections related to Muscle cramps from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Muscle cramps. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Muscle cramps

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

Misdiagnosis and Muscle 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...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Muscle cramps

Diagnostic tests for Muscle cramps:

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

• Physical examination
  • Inspect for muscle fasciculations (irregular contractions of small areas of muscle which have no rhythmical pattern, are present at rest but not during voluntary movement). This suggests motor neurone disease
  • Peripheral nervous system examination including muscular tone, power, reflexes and coordination
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count and ESR

See full list of 13 diagnostic tests for Muscle cramps

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

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Muscle 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:

• How long have you had muscle cramps? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• What exactly do you mean by cramps? - Cramps are painful muscle spasms.
• Which muscles in the body are involved? - e.g. Forearm cramps suggest motor neurone disease. Cramp in the legs are common, especially at night and after exercise. Cramps in the legs are only occasionally a symptom of disease, in particular salt depletion, lack of blood flow to a muscle and disease of a muscle (myopathy). Writer's cramp is the specific compliant of an inability to perform the motor act of writing.
• When do the cramps occur? - e.g. at night, in bed, after exercise.
• Is there a simple explanation for the muscle cramps? - e.g. exertion, exercise, excessive perspiration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, pregnancy.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Muscle cramps (16 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 Muscle cramps) may include:

• Symptoms of polymyositis and dermatomyositis? - e.g. muscle weakness, especially in thighs and upper arms, muscle aches, muscle cramps, joint pain, Raynaud's phenomenon, difficulty with swallowing. Dermatomyositis also features a characteristic violet colored rash over the eyelids, forehead, cheeks, hands, knees and elbows.
• Symptoms of chronic renal failure? - e.g. tiredness, reduced appetite, insomnia, frequency of urination, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps.
• Symptoms of Diabetes mellitus? - e.g. frequency of urination, excessive thirst, weight loss (especially in Type 1 Diabetes mellitus), tiredness, fatigue, increased infections especially of the skin and genitals, blurry vision, muscle cramps.
• Symptoms of progressive muscular atrophy? - e.g. muscle wasting and weakness usually beginning in the small muscles of one hand and then spreads throughout the arm, wasting soon follows on the opposite side, muscle cramps may occur. Muscle fasciculations (irregular contractions of small areas of muscle which have no rhythmical pattern) are present at rest but not during voluntary movement).

See Diagnosis Checklist for Muscle cramps (16 listings)

Stories from Users for Muscle cramps

Real-life user stories relating to Muscle cramps:

• Leg Cramping,muscle Tightness In Legs
• Muscle cramps throughout body
• acute torso muscle spasms/cramps
• calf cramp
• Severe & Frequent muscle cramps, thighs, legs, feet
• gassy, bloating, cramping daily! help please...
• Tremor Muscle Cramping Nausea
• Upper back/muscle cramp
• virus (?) for 1 yr causing muscle cramping, swelling, fatigue, low heart rate/BP?
• Please help-Severe Muscle Cramps
• Cramping
• Extreme muscle cramping all over body
• leg cramps, twitching muscles
• Fasciculation cramp syndrome
• PLEASE HELP ME-Severe muscle cramps
• ? acute bronchitis + voice hoarsness + muscle cramps
• Cramps

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

• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Genitourinary (The urination system) (138)
  • Burning In Penis After Urination. Std/urine Culture = Negative
  • Blood in urine (hematuria)
  • I KEEP PEEING AND I DONT KNOW WHY!! Iplease some1 help me
  • Excessive Burping..
  • Swollen (enlarged)Kidneys, normal blood tests (no stones)Dr.'s not helping
  • More user stories
• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • More user stories

Videos for Muscle cramps

Patient Surveys for Muscle cramps

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Medications or substances causing Muscle cramps:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Muscle 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.

• Gen-Xene
• Tranxene
• Clorazepate Dipotassium
• Apo-Clorazepate
• Novo-Clopate

See full list of 267 medications causing Muscle cramps

Drug interactions causing Muscle cramps:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Muscle 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.

• Bumex (Bumetanide) and Lanoxin (Digoxin) interaction
• Diachlor (Chlorothiazide) and Lanoxin (Digoxin) interaction
• Diuril (Chlorothiazide) and Lanoxin (Digoxin) interaction
• Diucardin (Hydroflumethiazide) and Lanoxin (Digoxin) interaction
• Saluron (Hydroflumethiazide) and Lanoxin (Digoxin) interaction

See full list of 13 drug interactions causing Muscle cramps

Organs affected by Muscle cramps:

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

• Muscle

Detailed list of causes of Muscle cramps

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

• Acanthosis nigricans muscle cramps acral enlargement - muscle cramps
• Acid-Base Imbalance - muscle cramps
• Alcoholic Neuropathy - cramps in calf muscles
• Alcoholic, reversible acute muscular - muscle cramp
• Alkalosis

See full list of 141 causes of Muscle cramps

How Common are these Causes of Muscle 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 Muscle cramps. Of the 141 causes of Muscle cramps that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 3 causes are "very common" diseases
• 4 causes are "common" diseases
• 1 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 6 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 133 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 141 causes of Muscle cramps

Conditions listing symptoms: Muscle cramps:

The following list of conditions have 'Muscle 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 Muscle cramps Based on Risk Factors

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