A 30-Year-Old Male with Severe Cramps

Muscle cramps are a common complaint. When not associated with weakness, the course is usually benign but can still be frustrating to patients. Diffuse cramping may be indicative of a neuromuscular disorder. Cramps can be associated with a metabolic or endocrine disorder or medications. Normal nerve conduction studies and electromyography are reassuring for a benign cause of cramps. In motor neuron disease cramps are common. There are rare spontaneous activity syndromes associated with cramping. Stiff person syndrome is rare and usually has severe axial rigidity. It can be treated with immune modulating medications. McArdles disease has a prominent symptom of diffuse muscle cramping associated with activity. Unfortunately not always will a specific cause for cramps be discovered. Various treatment modalities are presented.