Muscle cramps may be associated with a number of conditions. Finding a cause for muscle cramps can help to plan a management strategy.
Conditions associated with muscle cramps:
(1) neurologic disease (with ectopic discharges from nerves or nerve terminals)
(1a) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
(1b) peripheral neuropathy
(1c) cramp-fasciculation syndrome
(2) hypomagnesemia
(3) hypocalcemia
(4) hypothyroidism
(5) renal disease
(6) liver disease
(7) dehydration
(8) excessive exercise (especially with dehydration)
(9) third trimester of pregnancy
Sometimes no cause can be identified (idiopathic muscle cramps). Continued evaluation over time may eventually identify a cause.
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Purpose: To identify possible causes of a patient's muscle cramps.
Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic
Objective: clinical diagnosis, including family history for genetics
ICD-10: R25,
