Car Popedal Spasms (CPS) are a rare but severe form of anxiety disorder which causes sufferers to experience intense fear or apprehension when they see or hear something that could cause them harm. They may even become violent and scream out in terror at the sight of anything that might hurt them. There have been no known cases where a person has died from CPS, however it does sometimes lead to death due to cardiac arrest.
Symptoms
The symptoms of car popedal spasm vary widely between individuals, but generally include:
Fear of being harmed or killed.
Anxiety attacks.
Nausea and vomiting.
Rapid heart rate and breathing rate.
Sweating profusely, with excessive sweating around the face and hands.
Feeling cold all over.
Extreme weakness, fatigue or drowsiness (in extreme cases).
Tremors in the limbs.
Difficulty swallowing.
Difficulty focusing or seeing properly (in severe cases).
Headaches and blurred vision.
Muscle spasms, either in a specific area or all over the body.
Feeling as if you’re about to pass out.
Rash, itchiness and hives appearing on the skin.
Carpopedal spasm causes
The exact cause of carpopedal spasms is not known, however it occurs most commonly in women between the age of 15 and 30. It is possible for anybody to develop CPS however, and sufferers have been as young as five and as old as fifty.
The most common cause of carpopedal spasms is being in a situation which someone feels threatened. This feeling of being threatened can be triggered by anything, and sufferers have experienced spasms when simply hearing a gunshot or seeing a picture of a spider.
It is also known for sufferers to experience spasms throughout their lives without any apparent trigger.
Treatment
There is no known cure for carpopedal spasms, however there are treatments available which can lessen the frequency and severity of attacks. If you suspect that you or someone else may have CPS then it is advised to visit a physician as soon as possible.
It is very important to catch the disorder early on, as delayed treatment can sometimes make the condition worse.
The most common treatment for carpopedal spasms is prescription medication. Various sedatives and anti-anxiety pills can be taken to improve the quality of life for sufferers.
Other treatments include therapy and surgery, however these are only recommended in extreme cases as they can have negative side effects.
Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent carpopedal spasms, however there are some things which you could do to make yourself feel safer. It might be a good idea to have a companion with you whenever possible, as this will make you feel less threatened and therefore less likely to have a spasm.
You might also want to avoid anything which you think might potentially harm you, such as scary movies or areas of town which you feel aren’t safe.
Carpopedal spasms are an uncommon, but very real condition which many people live with on a daily basis. If you or somebody you know is suffering from this disease then it is important to be patient with them, as CPS can be a very distressing and debilitating disorder.
If you do not have CPS then it is unlikely that you will ever experience it, however if you do suffer from it then it would be best for you to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Sources & references used in this article:
Chvostek’s Sign and Carpopedal Spasm by G Athappan, VK Ariyamuthu – New England Journal of Medicine, 2009 – Mass Medical Soc
Tocainide therapy in muscle cramps and spasms due to neuromuscular disease by TS Puniani, TE Bertorini – Muscle & Nerve: Official Journal of …, 1991 – Wiley Online Library
Tonic spasms in multiple sclerosis. Anatomic basis and treatment. by LS Honig, PH Wasserstein… – Western journal of …, 1991 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Congenital stenosis of medullary spaces in tubular bones and calvaria in two proportionate dwarfs—mother and son; coupled with transitory hypocalcemic … by J CAFFEY – American Journal of Roentgenology, 1967 – Am Roentgen Ray Soc
