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Do Panic Attacks Cause Muscle Spasms In Neck?
Question: what may cause's head/neck muscle spasms (sharp pains in head and neck) because of a minor panic attack? Am I likely to pass out or faint? So far I have not...
also, could it be a nerve, or is it a muscle spasm? And most of all, do they cause damage, as asked....faint or pass out. Will it hit something in my head or neck?
and again sorry, the sharp pains went away for a month....Xmas associated obviously, but they've only just returned.....I am thinking "tension", but I just do not know enough about how it is caused....heat in my right shoulder/neck (I'll wait for your repl...No headaches, ever so slight nausea.
also, could it be a nerve, or is it a muscle spasm? And most of all, do they cause damage, as asked....faint or pass out. Will it hit something in my head or neck?
and again sorry, the sharp pains went away for a month....Xmas associated obviously, but they've only just returned.....I am thinking "tension", but I just do not know enough about how it is caused....heat in my right shoulder/neck (I'll wait for your repl...No headaches, ever so slight nausea.
Brief Answer:
Muscle tension
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
From your history I gather that you have been experiencing neck pain with spasms. This is a common condition and frequently associated with tension. When we become over stressed our body fights back with sending signals and the most common is muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders. These symptoms are chronic but they do not cause long term damage.
For my patients I recommend using a mild pain reliever medication including ibuprofen and Tylenol. I also recommend using moist heat from either a heating pad or thermacare patches. This heat will get deep in the muscles and reduce the pain. In additional to dealing with the physical pain I recommend stress reduction. Using muscle relaxation exercises, stress reduction meditation, and yoga or general light exercise. I recommend for my patients a book called the Anxiety and phobia handbook by Dr. Bourne. The book will give you techniques to help with anxiety and relaxation exercises
Along with medication, relaxation exercises I fully recommend massage therapy. Allowing a therapist to help reduce tension and give you other exercises to reduce pain and spasms.
In Summary
1. Tension muscle pain
2. Ibuprofen or Tylenol to reduce pain
3. Moist heat
4. Stress reduction
5. Massage therapy
6. Seek medical attention for additional medications to reduce spasms
I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions
Muscle tension
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
From your history I gather that you have been experiencing neck pain with spasms. This is a common condition and frequently associated with tension. When we become over stressed our body fights back with sending signals and the most common is muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders. These symptoms are chronic but they do not cause long term damage.
For my patients I recommend using a mild pain reliever medication including ibuprofen and Tylenol. I also recommend using moist heat from either a heating pad or thermacare patches. This heat will get deep in the muscles and reduce the pain. In additional to dealing with the physical pain I recommend stress reduction. Using muscle relaxation exercises, stress reduction meditation, and yoga or general light exercise. I recommend for my patients a book called the Anxiety and phobia handbook by Dr. Bourne. The book will give you techniques to help with anxiety and relaxation exercises
Along with medication, relaxation exercises I fully recommend massage therapy. Allowing a therapist to help reduce tension and give you other exercises to reduce pain and spasms.
In Summary
1. Tension muscle pain
2. Ibuprofen or Tylenol to reduce pain
3. Moist heat
4. Stress reduction
5. Massage therapy
6. Seek medical attention for additional medications to reduce spasms
I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
why do the spasms just come and go (because I'm not stressed all the time)? I get the spasms even when I'm relaxed? Sharp pains for a second or two, then vanish? Then a few hours later perhaps, they just strike and go. Is it something to do with muscle contractions? And can you explain why does the body send signals in the form of a spasm? Greatly appreciated!
Brief Answer:
accumulative stress
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for returning to HCM with your questions
The reason your body gets the muscle spasms is due to accumulative stress. At the very moment you may not be stressed by the body has been stressed at other times. During stress the body is putting out high amounts of adrenalin. This is part of the fight or flight system that prepares you for immediate action in time of stress. This high level adrenalin works on the nerves and muscles to make them immediately ready for danger. This up regulates the nerves and muscles and more sensitive to outside stimulus. So even when you feel relaxed and not overly stressed the muscle is still hyper stimulated. Then perhaps from a slight irregular move or over worked area of the body becomes injured you experience spasms.
The treatment is to down regulate your adrenalin system so your muscle will be less inclined to spasm to minor stimuli or injury. Therefore doing relaxation exercises, meditation and light exercise will reduce your adrenalin. Once you can reduce your overall stress the muscles spasms and triggers will also reduce.
I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions
accumulative stress
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for returning to HCM with your questions
The reason your body gets the muscle spasms is due to accumulative stress. At the very moment you may not be stressed by the body has been stressed at other times. During stress the body is putting out high amounts of adrenalin. This is part of the fight or flight system that prepares you for immediate action in time of stress. This high level adrenalin works on the nerves and muscles to make them immediately ready for danger. This up regulates the nerves and muscles and more sensitive to outside stimulus. So even when you feel relaxed and not overly stressed the muscle is still hyper stimulated. Then perhaps from a slight irregular move or over worked area of the body becomes injured you experience spasms.
The treatment is to down regulate your adrenalin system so your muscle will be less inclined to spasm to minor stimuli or injury. Therefore doing relaxation exercises, meditation and light exercise will reduce your adrenalin. Once you can reduce your overall stress the muscles spasms and triggers will also reduce.
I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Dear Dr XXXXXXX
Thankyou so much, that was incredibly helpful.
So it's all about too much adrenaline!
I am getting accumulative stress spasms, left right and centre, over the most bizarre life experiences where I should not be having a reaction. A simple conversation with another person is doing it.
If all you've known all your life is anxiety, due to very early childhood trauma, do you honestly think one can overcome accumulative stress?
Thankyou so much, that was incredibly helpful.
So it's all about too much adrenaline!
I am getting accumulative stress spasms, left right and centre, over the most bizarre life experiences where I should not be having a reaction. A simple conversation with another person is doing it.
If all you've known all your life is anxiety, due to very early childhood trauma, do you honestly think one can overcome accumulative stress?
Brief Answer:
stress is accumulative
Detailed Answer:
Oh that is a most definite yes! Stress accumulates from our childhood, teenage years and into adulthood. they all make up what we call ourselves and impact our ability to cope. That is why there is so much anxiety and depression in our world today. Stress nearly encompasses from the moment we wake n the morning till we lay down at night to sleep.
I personally have read and use the methods listed in the Anxiety and Phobia Handbook. There several other publications dealing with stress and how to limit stress that may also help. Read and study until you find a method that works for you. I use the relaxation exercises and meditation exercises and daily light exercise to help me deal with stress.
Good Luck I hope I have helped you
stress is accumulative
Detailed Answer:
Oh that is a most definite yes! Stress accumulates from our childhood, teenage years and into adulthood. they all make up what we call ourselves and impact our ability to cope. That is why there is so much anxiety and depression in our world today. Stress nearly encompasses from the moment we wake n the morning till we lay down at night to sleep.
I personally have read and use the methods listed in the Anxiety and Phobia Handbook. There several other publications dealing with stress and how to limit stress that may also help. Read and study until you find a method that works for you. I use the relaxation exercises and meditation exercises and daily light exercise to help me deal with stress.
Good Luck I hope I have helped you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
i exercise almost daily now, every second, it certainly helps someone days, not others......
At least I finally know what it is...
At least I finally know what it is...
Brief Answer:
start relaxtion portion of your program
Detailed Answer:
Good to hear that you are exercising regularly. Now you can start on the stress reduction portion of your health and find better quality of life
start relaxtion portion of your program
Detailed Answer:
Good to hear that you are exercising regularly. Now you can start on the stress reduction portion of your health and find better quality of life
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I was also wondering today - And this would be a very last resort...work hard on techniques first.
Is there an operation to stop the muscle spams? If I do not ask, I will not know...I had an operation for a twisted testicle years ago, so anything is possible...what wouldve the surgeons done so it did not twist?
Is there an operation to stop the muscle spams? If I do not ask, I will not know...I had an operation for a twisted testicle years ago, so anything is possible...what wouldve the surgeons done so it did not twist?
Brief Answer:
No operations
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting me again with your questions. You were wondering if there is an operation to reduce the muscle spasms. There is no surgical way to correct the muscle spasms. But be reassured that with the exercises, relaxation, medication and massage therapy the spasms will stop. For a quick fix to help reduce the pain I recommend you see your doctor and obtain some pain medication and muscle relaxants. In addition to medication use ice or moist heat over the muscles and massage therapy. These modalities should get you over the lip and start you on the way to healing.
Good Luck
No operations
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting me again with your questions. You were wondering if there is an operation to reduce the muscle spasms. There is no surgical way to correct the muscle spasms. But be reassured that with the exercises, relaxation, medication and massage therapy the spasms will stop. For a quick fix to help reduce the pain I recommend you see your doctor and obtain some pain medication and muscle relaxants. In addition to medication use ice or moist heat over the muscles and massage therapy. These modalities should get you over the lip and start you on the way to healing.
Good Luck
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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