Hand cramping can occur for many reasons and cause significant discomfort in some people. Often, hand cramps are caused by muscle spasms, which are described as an uncontrollable or involuntary muscle contraction. These spasms or contractions do not allow the muscle to become relaxed and can become excruciating in some cases.
Serum levels of prolactin may increase as a consequence of epileptic seizures. The hormone release is caused by the propagation of epileptic activity, usually from the temporal lobe to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
The test, which must be used within 10 to 20 minutes after a seizure, measures levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland, but an area of the brain called the hypothalamus controls its release.