Can pleurisy cause muscle spasms?

Let’s talk about a condition that makes it feel like you’re being stabbed with tiny knives whenever you breathe in. A condition that will make even the calmest of us scream in agony: Pleurisy.

But wait, can pleurisy cause muscle spasms? This is an important question because if it does, it could mean double trouble for those suffering from this debilitating disease.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of pleurisy and explore whether or not muscle spasms are part of the package deal when it comes to this vile illness. But don’t worry – I promise to inject some humor throughout so you don’t feel like your own lungs are collapsing while reading.

What is Pleurisy?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of whether or not pleurisy causes muscle spasms, let’s first define what exactly pleurisy is.

Pleurisy (also known as pleuritis) is a painful inflammation of the two-layered membrane (the pleura) surrounding your lungs and lining your chest cavity. It occurs when these layers rub together during breathing and become irritated or inflamed due to infection, injury or other underlying conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or cancer.

Symptoms can include sharp chest pain (especially with inhalation), coughing, shortness of breath and fever among others depending on severity and underlying trigger/condition. In severe cases where fluid accumulates between layers (pleural effusion), patients may experience complications such as collapsed lung (pneumothorax) which requires immediate medical attention.

Muscle Spasms: The Uninvited Guest

Now back to our original query – can one experience additional symptoms such as muscular cramps/spasms along with classic signs/symptoms during bouts of pleuritis?

The answer is somewhat nuanced. While muscular cramps/spasms are not explicitly listed as a common symptom of pleurisy, it is possible for those with underlying conditions that cause muscle spasms (e.g., fibromyalgia or nerve damage) to experience them during bouts of breathing-related pain.

Muscle tension and shortness of breath associated with pleuritis can trigger increased anxiety in some people, leading to hyperventilation which may provoke rather intense contractions in chest wall muscles (involuntary tetanic contraction).

If your body suddenly starts writhing like you’re starring in an exorcism movie while experiencing sharp chest pains – it could be due to other medical conditions such as pulmonary embolism (a potentially life-threatening blockage of arteries supplying blood to lungs), which should be ruled out by a healthcare professional.

Possible Causes

So why do some people experience muscle spasms/tension during episodes of pleurisy?

  • Hyperventilation: As discussed earlier, anxiety-driven rapid breathing can cause overactive diaphragm contractions resulting in involuntary tensing of other chest muscles.
  • Nerve Damage: Conditions associated with nerve injury/irritation/inflammation (e.g., shingles) can cause persistent tingling/burning sensations along the sternum or ribcage area triggering muscle spasms.
  • Fibromyalgia/Fibrositis: A chronic disorder causing widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness may mean that any strain on respiratory muscles caused by labored breathing/excruciating coughs may result in additional soreness/twitches throughout torso/muscles near the affected area.

Keep note that regardless if your annoying twitches are part and parcel of being an unlucky recipient diagnosed with pleuritic agony or they stem from aforementioned causes unrelated – Your GP will diagnose based on their observation/findings during physical examination/tests conducted upon presentation.

Treatment & Prevention

Now that we’ve answered the question can pleurisy cause muscle spasms? let’s move on to treatment and prevention.

To relieve symptoms of pleuritis, your doctor may recommend medications such as antibiotics (if bacterial infection is present), Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, analgesics for pain relief, and vapour therapy(for cough).

If underlying conditions that prolong soreness/spasms/joint aches like fibromyalgia are diagnosed; treatment should target underlying condition whilst maintaining non-narcotic pain management(avoiding addiction risk). Regular exercise/physical activity can be useful – but too much exertion/over-stimulation risks triggering additional inflammation/muscle tension in inflamed areas.

Conclusion

At this point, it is safe to say that the relationship between usual signs/symptoms of pleuritic chest pain/tightness with spontaneous muscular cramps spreading across limbs after prolonged periods remains elusive among clinicians due to lack of adequate research.

In conclusion: Can pleurisy cause muscle spasms? Maybe yes…maybe no… either way if you’re concerned about experiencing anything unusual while battling fiery stabbing chest pains…make sure you consult with your GP immediately!

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