Muscle spasms are part and parcel of many fibromyalgia sufferers symptoms and can occur at any time. So, what can be done to treat muscle spasms and fibromyalgia?

Spasms can occur anywhere in the body, but usually they will be in the back, buttocks and legs. There are a number of theories as to why these spasms occur; one offers the opinion that it may be due to a reduced blood flow and therefore the muscle tissues are short on oxygen. Another suggests that perhaps spasms in the muscles are caused by a reflex reaction. One theory looks at a possible genetic link where fibromyalgia sufferers are susceptible to small tears in the muscle fibers.

Either way these spasms can make sitting for prolonged periods difficult and can interrupt sleep.

When a muscle on either side of the neck is subjected to spasm, a headache will usually occur on one side of the head. This put pressures on the nerves in the neck, affecting those specific nerves that are connected to the stomach, which is why you can feel nauseous.

Those episodes of one-sided headaches are not normally migraines, because they usually don’t involve just one side of the head. One of the common fibromyalgia side effects is a headache accompanied by pains in the neck, shoulders and upper portion of the back.

Treatment for muscle spasms

Try some gentle stretching exercises at home to ease muscle spasms. By keeping the muscles supple and moving you’ll increase the blood flow and encourage healing. If you are unsure about what exercises to do speak to your doctor or make and appointment with a Physical therapist that has experience of dealing with fibromyalgia sufferers.

Regular massage and hot compressions can also work in relieving pain in the muscles. Try and keep your muscles warm as the cold can trigger muscle spasms. Wear layers that are easy to take on and off and always carry a sweater or coat to pull round your shoulders.

Acupuncture is another natural option that has proven helpful for a number of fibromyalgia patients, especially when the muscle spasms are centered on the trigger points as these correlate to some of the common acupuncture sites.

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Topical creams aimed at reducing muscle spasms have also shown some good results. Look for ones that contain MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane). MSM is naturally found in most plants and is found in high concentrations in the body in the skin, joints, nails and hair. Like most things the amount we retain reduces as we age leading to breakdown of tissues, fatigue and increased physical stress.

MSM has important anti-inflammatory properties that include an analgesic quality that reduces pain impulses, it increases the blood supply, softens scars and most importantly reduces muscle spasms.

When MSM is applied topically via a cream on the effected muscle the active ingredients penetrate the skin and get into the blood stream quickly and get to work on the painful muscle quickly. You can also take MSM as a supplement for long term relief.

Although MSM is not a drug, but a dietary supplement it would still be advisable to consult your doctor about taking to relieve muscle spasms and fibromyalgia symptoms.

By: Jane Thompson

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