I am 34, female. How do I manage painful spasms in my body?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 34-year-old woman experiencing involuntary muscle contractions and spasms that cause my neck to twist painfully to one side, especially when I am stressed or tired. These contractions have also spread to my shoulders and arms, leading to repetitive movements and abnormal postures that I cannot control. The spasms are painful and interfere with my ability to work at a computer or drive safely, and they seem to worsen as the day progresses.

At times, my voice becomes strained and shaky, and writing has become difficult because my hand cramps and moves involuntarily. I have also noticed that touching certain areas of my face or neck can temporarily reduce the spasms, which feels unusual. Could these uncontrollable muscle movements and painful contractions be related to a neurological disorder affecting the brain’s movement control? How can I manage this?

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com,

I understand your concern.

I can understand how challenging and disabling these involuntary spasms and painful contractions must be. From your description, the involuntary neck twisting, abnormal postures, repetitive movements, and temporary relief when touching certain areas suggest a condition called dystonia. This is a neurological movement disorder where abnormal brain signaling causes sustained or intermittent muscle contractions, leading to twisting, cramping, or repetitive movements.

The possible causes of involuntary muscle contractions are:

Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis): Causes painful twisting of the neck.
Focal hand dystonia or writer’s cramp: Leads to difficulty with writing and hand use.
Spread to the voice or arms can also occur.

What you are experiencing is consistent with these patterns. Stress and fatigue often worsen the symptoms, which are common in dystonia.I would suggest the following measures:

Neurology consultation ideally with a movement disorders specialist.
MRI brain or spinal cord and blood tests to rule out secondary causes.

The following can be considered for treatment:

Physical therapy and voice therapy (if the voice is affected).
Stress management to reduce symptom severity.
Occupational therapy for writing difficulties and strategies to manage daily activities.

Although dystonia is a chronic condition, there are effective treatments available to reduce spasms and improve quality of life. An early neurological evaluation will be important in planning the best care. Regular follow-up is important for monitoring and adjusting treatment as needed.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.