Hand or foot spasms

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Muscular atrophy

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Hand or foot spasms

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.

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

• 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
• Damage to a single nerve or nerve group (mononeuropathy) or multiple nerves (polyneuropathy)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Various medications

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