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Understanding Muscle Spasms and Spasticity

Muscle spasms and spasticity are terms often used to describe involuntary muscle contractions, but they represent distinct conditions with different characteristics.

What are Muscle Spasms and Spasticity?

Symptoms:

Muscle spasms and spasticity are terms often used to describe involuntary muscle contractions, but they represent distinct conditions with different characteristics.

Muscle Spasms:
Muscle spasms are sudden, involuntary contractions of one or more muscles. These contractions can range from mild twitches to intense cramping.

Spasticity:
Spasticity, on the other hand, refers to a condition characterized by continuous, uncontrollable muscle contractions. Unlike spasms, spasticity involves prolonged muscle tightness, making it challenging to relax the affected muscles. Spasticity is often associated with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or cerebral palsy.

Causes of Muscle Spasms and Spasticity

Muscle Spasms:
Dehydration: Inadequate fluid intake leading to electrolyte imbalances.
Muscle Fatigue: Overexertion or prolonged use of muscles.
Electrolyte Imbalances: Insufficient levels of minerals like potassium, calcium, or magnesium.Nerve Compression: Pressure on nerves from conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
Certain Medications: Side effects of medications, particularly diuretics or statins.

Spasticity:
Neurological Conditions: Conditions affecting the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy.
Spinal Cord Injury: Damage to the spinal cord affecting nerve signals.
Brain Injury: Traumatic brain injuries can disrupt communication between the brain and muscles.

Your Path to Relief

Understanding the complexities of muscle spasms and spasticity is the first step toward effective management. At Napa Pain Institute, we are committed to partnering with you on your journey to relief.

We have many options for treatment including:

Our personalized and multidisciplinary approach aims to address the challenges associated with muscle spasms and spasticity, enhancing your overall well-being.

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Neurovations, a patient care and innovation company, was founded in 1992 by CEO Dr. Eric Grigsby. We are a national leader in medical device and pharmaceutical innovation, clinical research, and a world-class education program focusing on pain and neuroscience. Dr. Grigsby is deeply connected to the healthcare community through our non-profit HealthRoots Foundation.

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DR. MELANIE D. JOHANSSON, MD, FACEP

Dr. Johansson comes to us as a fellowship-trained and board-certified pain management specialist with nearly a decade of experience. She completed her fellowship training at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD where she then became the associate program director of the pain medicine fellowship and an assistant professor of military and emergency medicine. She graduated from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia, was Pre-medicine at San Diego State University, and received her BSN from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Her breadth of experience comes from a full career of serving in the United States Navy where she was the recipient of multiple academic and military service awards including a Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, and numerous other individual, unit, and campaign awards. She has multiple published works and is the founding member of a military Pain Medicine Special Interest Group with the American Society of Regional Anesthesia.

In her free time, Dr. Johansson enjoys traveling, is newly married, loves dogs, and enjoys cooking and baking, as well as other creative pursuits. She has a particular interest in advanced procedural techniques for chronic pain relief and the effects of lifestyle on pain and healing. She looks forward to continuing our mission of providing our patients with the best care, every day.

Eric Grigsby, MD, MBA

CEO & Founder of Neurovations

Dr. Eric Grigsby enjoys a national reputation for excellence in the field of Pain Management. He has a background as a researcher, teacher and clinician and brings over 30 years of clinical experience to the Napa Pain Institute. Dr. Grigsby attended elementary and secondary school in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Economics from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He formed an interest in Pain Management as a career while working at Boston Children’s Hospital in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

After graduating from Boston University Medical School in 1984, Dr. Grigsby trained in General Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Pain Management at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He was invited to join the Medical Staff and teach at the Mayo Medical School until moving to California in 1989. The Dean of the University of California at Davis Medical Center then invited Dr. Grigsby to establish their first Pain Management Center, where he served as Medical Director until 1992. Following his post at UC Davis, Dr. Grigsby established his private Pain Management practice in Napa, California.

Today, he and his staff of over 50 professionals consult with patients throughout Northern California and the western United States.  More recently, Dr Grigsby completed his Masters in Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He speaks nationally on topics such as non-operative treatment of spinal disorders, the safe use of medications for the treatment of pain, and the legal and regulatory issues relating to the proper treatment of patients with chronic illness.