How To Ease Back Spasm Pain

Carefully Move To A Bed

The spasm that you have got clearly says that it is a sign of cautionary sign and you should not continue to move.

The reason is that the body is locking up and as a defensive device to safeguard you against wounding an additional part of your back that is damaged or injured. Even though this locked up muscle might be giving you loads of pain as it constricts, it is not the base of the injury.

How to use?

• You need to lay down as when you do this you will assist yourself by triggering these muscles and thus it can help to lessen both the intensity and period of the pain.
• If needed, remain on the floor with your pillows and cushions as they can give you great support. Remember to be calm and patient.

What Do Lower Back Spasms Feel Like

Lower back spasms happen when the muscles tense up and contract. The feeling ranges from mildly annoying to intensely painful.

People usually feel muscle spasms in a specific muscle in the lower back. However, the pain may radiate to other areas and cause tension in nearby muscles. Some people who experience back pain also develop hip or leg pain.

Some symptoms of lower back spasms include:

• tension in the lower back
• trouble moving after bending or picking something up
• sudden, intense pain in the lower back
• chronic pain in the lower back
• weakness in the lower back, or in nearby muscles, such as in the hips
• a cramping sensation in the back that comes and goes

People with lower back spasms often find that their pain gets worse when they do certain things, such as sitting or standing for long periods.

Most lower back spasms fall into one of two categories:

• Acute lower back spasms. These spasms happen suddenly, often while lifting something or changing position. Acute spasms may cause intense pain or make movement difficult.
• Chronic lower back spasms. Chronic spasms occur more regularly and may not seem linked to a specific injury. Some people develop chronic lower back spasms after a back injury.

Take These Steps When You Have Back Spasms

Back spasms are involuntary contractions of back muscles that fail to relax. Spasms can occur in any muscle in your body, and can cause sharp and intense pain.

Back spasm episodes may last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and when your muscle contracts, it may also feel hard to the touch or appear twisted under the skin.

From our expert at Premier Spine Institute, Dr. Bonaventure Ngu, here are the steps you should consider taking when trying to relieve your back spasms.

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Side Knee Drop Low Back Stretch

• Lie on your back and bring both knees up toward the chest.
• Keep the shoulders flat on the floor as you allow the knees to drop to one side only allow the knees to move as far as comfortable do not allow pain to develop.
• Keep the low back flat on the floor to avoid injury.
• Hold position for 30 seconds.
• Bring knees up to the midline and repeat on the other side.
• Hold position for 30 seconds. Repeat until back feels more relaxed and looser.

Relax And Stay Positive

Trying to relax is a crucial part of easing the pain as muscle tension caused by worrying about your condition may make things worse.

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Although it can be difficult, it helps to stay positive and recognise that your pain should get better. People who manage to stay positive despite their pain tend to recover quicker.

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Gently Stretch Your Joints And Soft Tissues Through Yoga

Yoga is an effective way to stretch your back, improve the health of muscles and joints, enhance distribution of healing nutrients through blood circulation, and increase the flexibility of the spine.12

See Healing Benefits of Yoga

When you start, perform the stretches slowly and advance only if you feel comfortable without pain. Gradually, you will be able to add more stretches to your routine. An ideal time for yoga is early morningto help loosen your spine and also reduce stiffness and aches in your back.

See 3 Beginner Yoga Poses for Lower Back Pain Relief

What Causes Lower Back Pain

Many injuries, conditions and diseases can cause lower back pain. They include:

• Strains and sprains: Back strains and sprains are the most common cause of back pain. You can injure muscles, tendons or ligaments by lifting something too heavy or not lifting safely. Some people strain their back by sneezing, coughing, twisting or bending over.
• Fractures: The bones in the spine can break during an accident, like a car crash or a fall. Certain conditions increase the risk of fractures.
• Disk problems: Disks cushion the vertebrae . Disks can bulge from their position in the spine and press on a nerve. They can also tear . With age, disks can get flatter and offer less protection .
• Structural problems: A condition called spinal stenosis happens when the spinal column is too narrow for the spinal cord. Something pinching the spinal cord can cause severe sciatic nerve pain and lower back pain. Scoliosis can lead to pain, stiffness and difficulty moving.
• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to cause lower back pain. Ankylosing spondylitis causes lower back pain, inflammation and stiffness in the spine.
• Disease:Spine tumors, infections and several types of cancer can cause back pain. Other conditions can cause back pain, too. These include kidney stones and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Spondylolisthesis: This condition causes the vertebrae in the spine to slip out of place. Spondylolisthesis leads to low back pain and often leg pain as well.

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Get Exercise Throughout The Day

Regular exercise throughout the day is key to alleviating back pain. Walking is among the best exercises, and you should aim for at least 10,000 steps per day. However, anything that gets you moving and on your feet can help keep your back strong.

Also, if you have an office job that involves sitting, its important to take frequent breaks. Stand up at least once every 30 minutes and stretch. Standing desks can also help keep the pressure off your back during the day at work so you wont suffer the consequences the next morning.

Lower Back Pain Treatment Options

, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke . Discomfort in the lower back can be chronic or ongoing. It can also be a sudden and brief condition known as acute pain.

Causes of lower back pain include:

• spinal abnormalities, such as a slipped disc or spinal stenosis

Treatment options for lower back pain range widely according to the cause of the condition. Read on to learn more.

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What Causes Muscle Spasm

Spasms of the back muscles are common and are most often due to overuse and muscle fatigue, and may also be related to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. Back spasms typically occur after a strain or injury to the soft tissues of the abdomen, hips, pelvis and spine, which include the muscles, tendons, fascia or ligaments. Injury may present itself suddenly as the muscles are trying to protect themselves or other sensitive tissues from movements that could stress or further injure, but not always do the symptoms present right away.

Sometimes back muscle spasms are related to an underlying anatomical problem such as facet joint osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis or a disc injury. In the case of an anatomical problem, the muscle instinctively reacts to the pain and inflammation by going into a spasm to limit movement, guard, or protect the area.

Don’t Rest An Achy Back

Doctors used to prescribe bed rest for back pain. But now we know that lying still is one of the worst things you can do. It can make back pain worse and lead to other complications. Don’t rest for more than a day or two. It’s important to get up and slowly start moving again. Exercise has been found to be one of the most effective ways to relieve back pain quickly. Try swimming, walking, or yoga.

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What Causes Upper Back Spasms

The major muscles of the upper back support the spinal cord and help maintain good posture. Spasms, or involuntary contractions of muscles, can cause pain and interrupt daily activities .

Common causes of back muscle spasms include:

• Overuse of the muscle through prolonged stress incurred by repetition of an athletic move or exercise. This is especially common in running or lifting .
• Acute injury from trauma due to a car accident, fall, or a similar situation that impacts the back or spine.
• Poor posture over a sustained period of time. This is a common culprit for back spasms in patients who sit at a desk for hours on end while working, or those who lean forward while looking at a screen . Poor posture places excessive pressure on the back muscles and can also weaken muscles in the legs and hips.
• Herniated spinal disc,when a spinal disc dislocates or ruptures. A herniated disc compresses local nerves, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the surrounding area. A herniated disc can also cause upper back muscles to tighten.

Spinal cord conditions like scoliosis and neurological diseases like polio and ALS can also cause upper back spasms .

Summary

Upper back muscle spasms are usually caused by a traumatic injury, overuse, or poor posture. Patients with herniated discs or conditions like ALS, polio, and MS may also experience back muscle spasms and other related symptoms.

How Is Lower Back Pain Diagnosed

Your provider will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. To check for broken bones or other damage, your provider may order imaging studies. These studies help your provider see clear pictures of your vertebrae, disks, muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Your provider may order:

• Spine X-ray, which uses radiation to produce images of bones.
• MRI, which uses a magnet and radio waves to create pictures of bones, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues.
• CT scan, which uses X-rays and a computer to create 3D images of bones and soft tissues.

• Electromyography to test nerves and muscles and check for neuropathy , which can cause tingling or numbness in your legs.

  Depending on the cause of pain, your provider may also order blood tests or urine tests. Blood tests can detect genetic markers for some conditions that cause back pain . Urine tests check for kidney stones, which cause pain in the flank .

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Six Stretches To Help Alleviate Low Back Pain And Tightness

Letâs admit it, having low back pain is no fun, especially when you wake up in the morning with it knowing that you have a full day at work ahead of you. That is why we believe that every morning you should spend a few minutes stretching out the most important and most engaged muscles in the low back.

Sitting at your desk all day can lead to lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder tightness, and other ergonomic issues. Performing daily stretches can help you loosen your muscles and improve your flexibility, making your body more resilient and better able to handle a full day at your desk.

• Knee to Chest

Use this stretch to align pelvis and stretch lower back and rear end muscles. Lie flat on your back with toes pointed to the sky. Slowly bend your right knee and pull your leg up to you chest. Wrap your arms around your thigh, knee or shin, and gently pull the knee towards your chest. Hold for 20 seconds and slowly extend the leg to starting position. Repeat three times each leg.

• Lying Knee Twist
• Use this movement to stretch the paraspinal muscles and strengthen the abdominal muscles. Lie on your back with your legs extended straight out. Bend the right knee up and cross it over the left side of your body. Hold in a position that allows you to feel a gentle stretch through the back and buttocks muscles for 20 seconds. Tighten your core muscles and rotate back to center. Repeat three times on each side.

Lower Back Stretches And Exercises For Muscle Soreness And Lower Back Spasms

Low back pain can make even small daily activities like getting dressed, bathing or going to the bathroom feel like they are impossible to do. Prompt and thorough treatment of even small back with back exercises pain can prevent the underlying problem from worsening. Doctors, therapists and sport rehab specialists will always put a lot of emphasis on the need to exercise tight and sore lower back muscles. But often not enough emphasis is placed on preparation the need to first get the muscles and other soft tissues ready to do back stretches for lower back problems. Taking enough time to properly warm up and stretch the back muscles can make the difference between lower back exercises helping or making the problem worse.

Knowing and using a few simple but extremely effective low back stretches can do wonders for muscle stiffness and pain and prepare you for a helpful series of low back exercise. If you have a history of a touchy low back that flares up easily, committing to a back stretching routine can mean the difference between having low back pain or not.

The following series of warm-ups and stretches are for sore and tight back muscles only, not for tears or back problems that have not been diagnosed. A serious back problem can be easily aggravated by making excessive demands on abnormal tissue. Always check with your doctor or chiropractor if you are not sure about a current back problem before doing these back stretches.

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Home Remedies For Back Spasms 7 Effective Ways To Treat

This type of home remedies for back spasms definitely works to decrease major aching.

How to use?

• When you move, roll or try to get up you must place all your fingers or tips of the fingers closer to the spine and over the spasm and start pressing down.
• Press harder and harder while you moving your fingers. In case if you have stood completely try and wait for a few seconds. This method certainly works great

Knee To Chest Stretches

Another stretch that will release the pressure on your lower back and ease spasms is one where you bring your knees to your chest.

This elongates your back and allows it to lengthen the muscles that are the primary culprits when it comes to back pain and discomfort.

The knee to chest stretches is also performed while on your back on the floor. However, instead of bending your knees and putting the soles of your feet on the floor, youll want to keep your legs straight and extended.

Bend your right knee and grab just below it, as you pull your knee closer to your chest.

Make sure the moves are slow and deliberate, stopping at the point where you can feel a slight pull in your lower back, but no pain. Release the knee and move your leg back to the floor.

Repeat this exercise with the other leg, being sure to bring it as close to your chest as you can.

Finally, finish by bringing both knees up at the same time and holding them so that you can feel the stretch through your entire back region.

Go through this sequence of the right leg, left leg and then both legs approximately 10 times for optimal lower back stretching.

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When To Contact A Medical Professional

• Back pain after a severe blow or fall
• Burning with urination or blood in your urine
• History of cancer
• Loss of control over urine or stool
• Pain traveling down your legs below the knee
• Pain that is worse when you lie down or pain that wakes you up at night
• Redness or swelling on the back or spine
• Severe pain that does not allow you to get comfortable
• Unexplained fever with back pain
• Weakness or numbness in your buttocks, thigh, leg, or pelvis

Also call if:

• You have been losing weight unintentionally
• You use steroids or intravenous drugs
• You have had back pain before, but this episode is different and feels worse
• This episode of back pain has lasted longer than 4 weeks

Inhale Slowly And Deeply For A Count Of 5 Seconds Pause 1 Second And Exhale 3

Visualization will help by imagining a tight knot being unraveled as you inhale. Picture the muscles extending as you inhale to stretch your rib cage fully.

As the muscles are contracting intensely, they are also over contracting, making it counter-productive.

Since you have already stopped moving, you are now trying to shut off the muscles need also to do this. Breathing deeply is key to relaxing a muscle which is becoming progressively shorter and more painful.

As you try to relax, avoid any movements that allow the muscle to shorten

Because of the intensity, duration and source of the injury, it is natural to react and to contract your body further. Even unwillingly.

To avoid this, focus on slowly inhaling while at the same time minimizing your movements. When in contraction, the reduced circulation and the build up of lactic acid makes you feel much worse.

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Stretches For Lower Back Spasms

Stretching reduces muscle tension and can stop muscle spasms. Many people experiencing sudden spasms are reluctant to move, but simply getting up and walking may help.

Some simple stretches for lower back spasms include:

• Child’s Pose. For this yoga pose, kneel on the ground with your knees apart. Stretch up and then fold forward, bringing your chest down to your thighs. Stretch your arms forward in front of your head, with palms downs down and elbows resting on the floor.
• Hip lifts. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet on the ground. Place your hands by your side. Gently raise your hips a couple of inches off the ground and hold the position. Repeat 510 times.
• Cat-Cow Pose. Get on all fours on the floor with your knees under your hips and your hands flat on the ground in line with your shoulders. Take a deep breath and arch your back while extending your head back. Then exhale and round your back while pushing your chin toward your chest. Repeat 510 times.

Some people find that experimenting with different stretches or that rolling the painful area on a foam roller offers a better stretch.