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What Causes Severe Muscle Spasms And Tight Knots In Stomach?
Question: My father is having terrible muscle spasms in his stomach. In the past three years hr has had two endoscopic back surgies don't know if that is related at all. Only happens first thing in the mornings when he first wakes, very severe, it feels like tight knots and it takes some time for him to get over it. What do you think is the cause and how can he fix it? He is73 yeas old
Brief Answer:
He might be having gastro esophageal reflux disease.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing into health care magic.
This is Dr.Riyanka, glad to answer your query.
It is possible that your father is experiencing stomach muscle spasms due to gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD. In this condition, overnight acid gets accumulated in the stomach and then flows upwards into the food pipe called esophagus. This can cause severe burning and discomfort especially in the morning hours when he just wakes up.
This is unlikely to be related to any back surgery done using an endoscope. However, endoscope examination of the stomach might be required to know any features of the above mentioned condition which is suspicios for GERD.
Your father should avoid a long overnight fast. Through the day he should take frequent small meals every four hours. He can discuss the symptoms with a doctor and also start taking anti gastritis medications, meant to be taken on empty stomach to reduce acid formation in stomach.
Hope your queries are answered to your satisfaction.
Should there be are any more clarifications kindly write back to me.
If you are satisfied with my reply kindly close the window and leave a feed back.
Wishing you and your father good health.
Thank you,
Dr.Riyanka
He might be having gastro esophageal reflux disease.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing into health care magic.
This is Dr.Riyanka, glad to answer your query.
It is possible that your father is experiencing stomach muscle spasms due to gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD. In this condition, overnight acid gets accumulated in the stomach and then flows upwards into the food pipe called esophagus. This can cause severe burning and discomfort especially in the morning hours when he just wakes up.
This is unlikely to be related to any back surgery done using an endoscope. However, endoscope examination of the stomach might be required to know any features of the above mentioned condition which is suspicios for GERD.
Your father should avoid a long overnight fast. Through the day he should take frequent small meals every four hours. He can discuss the symptoms with a doctor and also start taking anti gastritis medications, meant to be taken on empty stomach to reduce acid formation in stomach.
Hope your queries are answered to your satisfaction.
Should there be are any more clarifications kindly write back to me.
If you are satisfied with my reply kindly close the window and leave a feed back.
Wishing you and your father good health.
Thank you,
Dr.Riyanka
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
I don't believe that it is GERD, the muscles at the bottom of his stomach, just like a XXXXXXX horse that you might have in the calf of you leg. Only happens first thing in the morning when he is trying to get out of bed, he is then bent over for 10 to 15 minutes.
Brief Answer:
Bending forwards can cause muscle cramps in various hernias.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back with an update.
Your clarification is appreciated. It is possible that at 73 years age, your father might have a hiatus hernia. This happens due to a weakness in the diaphragm and when the person bends over, the stomach might move slightly upwards and into the thorax. This can cause the typical discomfort and muscle spasm after bending for a duration of 15 minutes. This is an internal hernia and cannot be felt from the outside.
The other possibility would be a ventral hernia, which is in the anterior abdominal wall itself. However this appears as a soft to firm swelling more prominent and felt after bending forwards. This also can cause spasm in surrounding muscles and is felt as muscle cramps. This is an external hernia and usually felt when bending or during cough.
Hope your queries are answered to your satisfaction.
Should there be are any more clarifications kindly write back to me.
If you are satisfied with my reply kindly close the thread and leave a feedback.
Wishing you and your father good health.
Thank you,
Dr.Riyanka
Bending forwards can cause muscle cramps in various hernias.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back with an update.
Your clarification is appreciated. It is possible that at 73 years age, your father might have a hiatus hernia. This happens due to a weakness in the diaphragm and when the person bends over, the stomach might move slightly upwards and into the thorax. This can cause the typical discomfort and muscle spasm after bending for a duration of 15 minutes. This is an internal hernia and cannot be felt from the outside.
The other possibility would be a ventral hernia, which is in the anterior abdominal wall itself. However this appears as a soft to firm swelling more prominent and felt after bending forwards. This also can cause spasm in surrounding muscles and is felt as muscle cramps. This is an external hernia and usually felt when bending or during cough.
Hope your queries are answered to your satisfaction.
Should there be are any more clarifications kindly write back to me.
If you are satisfied with my reply kindly close the thread and leave a feedback.
Wishing you and your father good health.
Thank you,
Dr.Riyanka
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Why would it only happen in the morning when he tries to get out of bed?
Brief Answer:
Bending forwards causes muscle contraction associated with spasms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back with an update.
Since you have mentioned that the problems are associated with bending forwards, there are few causes associated with bending that can trigger a muscle spasm in the upper abdomen. A hiatus hernia and ventral hernia can be among them.
A clear history of bending causing the muscle spams makes me opine that the underlying causes can be one of the above listed conditions. Bending forwards increases the intra abdominal pressure and contracts the muscles and this might cause spasms.
Hope your queries are answered to your satisfaction.
Should there be are any more clarifications kindly write back to me.
If you are satisfied with my reply kindly close the thread and leave a feedback.
Wishing you and your father good health.
Thank you,
Dr.Riyanka
Bending forwards causes muscle contraction associated with spasms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back with an update.
Since you have mentioned that the problems are associated with bending forwards, there are few causes associated with bending that can trigger a muscle spasm in the upper abdomen. A hiatus hernia and ventral hernia can be among them.
A clear history of bending causing the muscle spams makes me opine that the underlying causes can be one of the above listed conditions. Bending forwards increases the intra abdominal pressure and contracts the muscles and this might cause spasms.
Hope your queries are answered to your satisfaction.
Should there be are any more clarifications kindly write back to me.
If you are satisfied with my reply kindly close the thread and leave a feedback.
Wishing you and your father good health.
Thank you,
Dr.Riyanka
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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