Hand or foot spasms

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

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:

Lack of vitamin D
Lessened function of the parathyroid glands (hypoparathyroidism)
Alkalosis in the body
Ingestion of alkaline salts

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.

Home Care:

If vitamin D deficiency is the cause, supplemental vitamin D should be taken under the doctor's direction. Calcium supplements may help.

Call your health care provider if:

If you notice recurrent spasms of your hands or feet, call your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination. Laboratory testing of blood and urine may also be done.

Medical history questions documenting hand or foot spasms in detail may include the following:

Type
- Do the spasms appear to be involuntary or purposeless?
- Are they prolonged?
Time pattern
- At what age did the spasms first appear?
- Does the presence of spasms seem variable over weeks to months?
- Do spasms occur repeatedly (recurrent)?
- Do several spasms occur in a row (repetitive)?
- Are the spasms slow or rapid?
- Can the spasms be voluntarily suppressed?
- How long have you had spasms?
Aggravating factors : Is it worse when you exercise?
Diet: How much calcium-containing food do you eat (such as milk products)?
Relieving factors
- What have you done to try to treat the spasms?
- How effective was it?
What other symptoms are also present?
- Do you have numbness or a "pins-and-needles" feeling?
- Do you have muscle weakness?
- Do you have fatigue?
- Do you have muscle cramps elsewhere?
- Do you have seizures?

Diagnostic tests may include the following:

Review Date: 11/14/2002
Reviewed By: Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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