Muscle Cramps

It was just a muscle cramp, caused by the involuntary contraction of muscle groups. Muscles are linked to the brain via nerve fibers and can send pain signals to indicate something has gone wrong. Contractions are painful, but most cramps don’t lead to any long-term damage or side effects. Still, it’s unpleasant and a little scary when a part of your body is rendered useless until the pain subsides. And some people suffer nighttime cramps so frequently that it often interferes with their sleep.

Most cramps will go away on their own within a few seconds to minutes. Stretching or massaging the muscle will help it relax. Heat is soothing to tense muscles. Apply a heating pad or warm wet washcloth to help loosen up the muscle.