 | | | | Medical Health Encyclopedia | |
Hand or foot spasms
Definition:
Spasms are contractions of the hands, thumbs, feet, or toes that are sometimes seen with muscle cramps, twitching, and convulsions (tetany). They can be severe and painful. Alternative Names:
Foot spasms; Carpopedal spasm; Spasms of the hands or feet Text Continues Below
Considerations:
Spasms of the hands or feet may be an important early sign of tetany, a potentially life-threatening condition. Tetany is a manifestation of an abnormality in calcium level, which can be linked to the following: These spasms are usually accompanied by the following symptoms: - Numbness, tingling, or a "pins-and-needles" feeling
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Cramping
- Twitching
- Uncontrolled, purposeless, rapid motions
Common Causes:
- Muscle cramps, usually caused by sports or occupational muscle injury
- Parkinson's disease and other neuromuscular conditions
- Hypocalcemia
- Causes diffuse, recurrent, or severe muscle cramping
- Severe hypocalcemia can produce convulsions.
- Hyperventilation -- calcium becomes temporarily unavailable to the body during hyperventilation
- Damage to a single nerve or nerve group (mononeuropathy) or multiple nerves (polyneuropathy)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Various medications
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. | |
|
.gif)
