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Suggest Treatment For Severe Muscle Spasms

Posted on Fri, 24 Jul 2015

Question: Hi, I suffered from a terrible back spasm on wednesday and it was so bad that I could not stand the whole day. Now its getting better but I would like to the get to the root of problem so that it never happens to me again. I have visited a doc n he gave me painkillers n a muscle relaxant which iv been having. But the most effective has been the ointment which I purchased over the counter. I'm approaching this website to help understand why it happened and so to take preventive measures. is it my posture coz I sit the whole day on a couch which has a relaxing posture and I keep my legs raised. or was it my new diet which was prescribed by a licenced nutritionist and I must admit I was feeling weak with it - like something wad missing in my diet and my body is not getting the right nutrition. It was 10 days after my diet started that this tragedy happened. should I start potassium or some supplements

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can be due to your posture.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM.

I have gone through your query. Your problem can be due to repetitive stress on muscles which can be given by your posture. Decrease in vitamin D or calcium can make more prone to such injuries.

You can check your vitamin D levels. If it is below 20 then taking vitamin D supplements will be helpful. You don't need separate potassium supplements. You can take bananas or dates or green leafy vegetables for potassium.

Giving enough exercises for back muscles after you recover from this will be helpful not to get such episodes. You can lie down on back and perform such back muscle strengthening exercise.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (14 hours later)

Hi,

I have both vitamin D & calcium deficiency. My Vitamin d was 24 when I git it tested a few months ago. I guess I will start with both supplements today itself. Is Vit D3 the right one to take. I currently take multivitamins and Vit C supplements as Im aheavy smoker. Do you think smoking could have caused this. I really want to give up smoking.

Regarding the posture - is my work posture (sitting on a sofa with the back relaxed and not straight) with laptopn in my lap and legs propped / supported on an exercise ball (which i use as a leg support) bad for me ? Where can I do research for posture & back strengthening exercises and how soon can I start as my back feels better today but not completely healed ?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You can take vitamin d3

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up query.

You can take vitamin d3 and vitamin c supplements. Vitamin C should not be exceeded more than 100 mg per day.
Don't remain on one posture all time. Change posture every fifteen minutes. You can give Some stretching for back , hands and legs at intervals. Make your self enough hydrated. Better to take plain water for this. Posture which gives curving of back for long time is not good. It is bad for intervertebral discs.

You can start back strengthening exercises 1 to 2 weeks after recovering from your back pain. You can get tips for doing exercise from sites like http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/backstrengthening exercises.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (3 hours later)

Thank you for your reply. I just purchased vit d3 supplements with calcium. But I think the quantity of d3 in each tablet is too low. Each tablet contains 600 mg calcium and 125 IU vit d. shpuld I take 1 or 2 tablets per day ? I also bought magnesium supplements 100 MG per tablet. surprisingly iv been taking 1000mg of vitamin c per day in 1 tablet for last 3 months but I didn't get any cold or bronchitis even once though I smoke a pack a day

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Calcium and vitamin D 3 you can take twice daily.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up query.

The calcium and vitamin D 3 supplements combination you can take twice daily. Only 1 mg per Kg weight of body vitamin c is necessary for the body. The excess ones will be excreted through urine. So if you take 1000 mg Daily there is risk for kidney stone formation. 100 mg will be enough. Usually such mega doses 1000 mg is recommended when you getting cold.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar