Muscle twitching, or fasciculation, can have several different causes – some are less serious while others can include neurologic disorders or peripheral nerve damage.
CAUSES:
Less Serious
Some of the most common causes include:
• Intense exercise or physical activity: Twitching can occur after such activities as the muscles are fatigued and need to repair themselves.
• Dehydration: Muscles need an adequate supply of fluids to function properly.
• Electrolyte imbalance: An imbalance of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium can cause muscle twitching.
• Nutrient deficiency: Especially notable are magnesium and potassium deficiencies
• Stress or anxiety: These can cause muscle tension, which can lead to muscle twitching.
• Side effect of medication: Statins and amphetamines are notorious for this.
More Serious
Fasciculations can also be a symptom of more serious underlying conditions, such as peripheral nerve damage or a more central neurological disorder such as:
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Examples of peripheral nerve damage include:
• Herniated or ruptured spinal disc, causing Injury to the S1 nerve
• Degenerative scoliosis
• Arthritis
• Bone spurs
• Failed back surgery syndrome
• Injury to the tibial nerve
TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Traditional
If you’re experiencing calf muscle twitching, it is of the utmost importance to connect with the right doctor in order to obtain a fast and accurate diagnosis. In the case of a compressed nerve, traditional treatment typically involves physical therapy and medications to reduce inflammation and pain. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve the pressure on the nerves.
Spinal nerve compression surgery, also known as spinal decompression surgery, is a major procedure that aims to relieve pressure on the nerves in the spine. While it can be an effective treatment option for certain conditions, there are potential dangers and risks including:
• Infection: Any surgical procedure carries a risk of infection, and spinal nerve compression surgery is no exception.
• Nerve damage: Spinal nerve compression surgery involves working in close proximity to the nerves in the spine, which can result in nerve damage. This can lead to numbness, weakness, or even paralysis.
• Bleeding: Spinal nerve compression surgery can involve significant bleeding, which can be dangerous if not managed properly.
• Blood clots: Blood clots can form after any surgical procedure, including spinal nerve compression surgery. These can be potentially life-threatening if they travel to the lungs or other organs.
• Failed surgery: In some cases, spinal nerve compression surgery may not provide the desired results, which can result in continued pain and other symptoms.
The recovery time and difficulty can vary depending on the individual patient and the specific details of the surgery. In general, patients can expect to spend several days in the hospital after the procedure and may require several weeks or months of recovery time.
Take the time to learn more about the potential risks and benefits of this surgery before making a decision. We have witnessed cases where the correct diagnosis and treatment are unnecessarily delayed to the detriment of the patient.
Regenerative – SEE REAL CLIENT RESULTS
If the root cause is compression of the spinal nerve, RMRM offers regenerative therapeutic options to avoid invasive surgical intervention. These include extracorporeal shockwave, platelet rich plasma or platelet lysate therapy, stem cell therapy, exosomes, hormone optimization, and peptide therapy. These therapies are non-to minimally invasive, and have had exceptional, long-lasting results with little to no downtime.
It’s never a good idea to ignore persistent calf muscle twitching. When nerves aren’t functioning as they should, it’s best practice to find and treat the root cause at the emergence of the first warning sign rather than waiting until it’s advanced to something bigger and more difficult to manage.
The Ivy League trained providers at RMRM have the expertise across traditional and regenerative medical practices to adeptly diagnose and treat spinal disorders with minimally invasive procedures offering long-lasting, effective results.
RMRM physician Dr.Vassily Eliopoulos recently published the largest Stem Cell Therapy in Spinal Disorders paper to date in the International Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy, which documents a 79% pain improvement out to 2 years with a single intervention. Surgery and drugs can’t match this type of success rate.
