Rehydrate And Rebuild Your Nutrient Stores
Make sure that you are drinking enough fluids as dehydration and loss of electrolytes affect the length and success of your recovery. Low blood calcium, magnesium and potassium levels can affect some people who suffer from spasms.
These levels will fall drastically during intense exercise and can contribute to the problem of muscle contractions. If you allow these conditions to become chronic, you end up with muscle imbalances which will put your back at risk again.
A very good friend of mine told me about her chronic nightmares of spasms and pain. She tried everything only to finally resolve them by increasing her calcium, magnesium and potassium levels adequately with a supplement. It didnt take long for her to feel a lot better. She said it was like night and day. Its definitely worth a try if you havent considered it yet?
When Is It A Medical Emergency
If you are having back spasms that are accompanied by a sudden loss of bowel or bladder function, this is a condition called cauda equina syndrome. It is a medical emergency and you should get to your healthcare provider or emergency department right away.
When visiting your healthcare provider
about your back spasms, they will likely perform various tests to determine the mechanical cause of your pain. These tests may include:
- A physical examination
- Computed tomography scan
- Electromyographical tests, especially if you have sciatica along with your back spasms
These tests are designed to give your healthcare provider an idea of your movements and the status of the bones, nerves, discs, and muscles of your low back. Then, an accurate diagnosis can be made as to what is causing your back spasms. The right treatment can then be initiated for your back spasms.
What Is A Back Spasm
A back spasm is an involuntary contraction of the back muscles. Moving in a certain way may trigger a back spasm. More often than not, spasms happen because of muscle weakness, overuse, or injury.
Chronic back spasms may be the result of an underlying condition. If muscle spasms are particularly severe, they may stem from nerve irritation or damage.
Read Also: Exercise For Lower Back Pain Mayo Clinic
Recognizing And Dealing With Back Spasms
A back spasm is a tight or twitching muscle located anywhere in the back. They are extremely common and may develop from overuse, problems with the spine, or seemingly nothing at all. The pain from a back spasm can be a mild inconvenience, or it can be severe and interfere with daily functioning.On their own, back spasms are not usually considered serious, although they can signal a bigger problem.
Treating Back Spasms With Chiropractic Care
During your initial visit, your chiropractor will determine the cause of your muscle spasm. If it is caused by strain or injury, they might perform spinal adjustments or soft tissue therapy to ease the pain and discomfort.
However, if the chiropractor finds an issue with a spinal disc, then you may require different treatment or further imaging. The requisite rehabilitation may involve different exercises and stretches. In some instances, you may also be referred back to your medical doctor for additional care.
If youre worried about the treatment hurting, dont worry chiropractic care is gentle and is always a discussion between you and the treating practitioner.
Also Check: Ibuprofen For Back Pain Dosage
What To Do At Home
Acute low back pain caused by muscle strain is usually due to overexercising your back, especially if the activity is strenuous or new, according to AAOS. But also, “People with wear-and-tear arthritis and a worn-out disc may get acute lower back pain from sleeping the wrong way in bed or without any obvious cause,” Dr. Cornett says.
In any case, most acute low back pain can be managed at home. Dr. Cornett suggests that you:
- Rest your back until the muscle spasms go away and the pain haseased.
- Avoid prolonged rest. Once you can move, start some gentlestretching and try to get up and moving. Avoid strenuous exercise or anyactivity that makes back pain worse.
- Use an ice pack on your back early and alternate ice and heatafterwards, depending on what works best for you.
- Take an over-the-counter pain medication, either a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen or another type of pain reliever like acetaminophen.
When you’re ready for stretching, the Mayo Clinic recommends several stretches for back pain, including the cat stretch. For this stretch:
Read more:Exercises for Muscle Spasms in Your Back
Traction Ultrasound And Tens
If your back pain doesnt respond to conventional treatments, you may need to consider alternative options.
Traction uses a system of weights to align your spine and possibly help slipped discs move back into place.
Ultrasound involves massaging the soft tissues around your back injury with sound waves that warm the muscles, causing them to relax and heal more quickly.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is electronic stimulation of the nerves through electrodes placed on your skin.
The electricity blocks pain signals that travel through the nerve paths.
Ask your doctor about these treatment methods.
You May Like: How Much Advil Can I Take For Back Pain
Is It Sciatica Pain
Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve in your spine becomes irritated and causes pain. Because this extra-long nerve extends down your legs, it can cause pain anywhere from the lower back to the toes. Pain can be mild or severe.
Its typically a symptom of something else. A herniated disc, for example, can cause sciatic nerve compression or inflammation. Its also one of the most common reasons for this type of radiating nerve pain. Other conditions that may cause sciatica include:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Blood tests
Stop Your Activity And Find Immediate Rest
This may already make sense, but many of us prefer to keep moving. Some professionals actually recommend that you stay in motion, but if you are the unfortunate one to have a disc or nerve problem, then that is poor advice. You may end up visiting them for that instead.
Dont try to actively work or move until you know the source of the injury.
A very common reaction is to keep moving but MAY be dangerous. Although this might feel helpful, it is important to determine whether your pain is more than just muscular in nature.
Why you should NOT move:
Moving when you have any of these injuries can cause further injury, intensifying the pain.
If you have a history of ANY of these injuries or suspect that your lifestyle may contribute to it , then rest is a better than simply muscling through it with medication.
Lastly with this first tip, you should know that you should also apply this caution to not just your back but also to your hips, knees and neck.
Forcing yourself to move when these areas are injured can be very risky. Make sure that you arent adding to the pain. The wrong movement can set you behind.
Read Also: Is Advil Good For Back Pain
What Are The Symptoms Of Lumbar Strain
. Each person’s symptoms may be different. Symptoms may include:
- Sudden lower back pain
- Spasms in the lower back that result in more severe pain
- Lower back feels sore to the touch
Some of these symptoms may be caused by other health problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
The Initial Causes Long Term Lower Back Pain Spasms Sciatica
A tight hip can also lead to pain in the lower back. It can make you sit awkwardly and can affect your posture. To test if your hip flexors are tight, place an ankle on your knee and fold your torso forward. Repeat this exercise for 60 seconds and then switch sides. Tight hips can cause problems in your low back, knees, and sacroiliac joints. To test if you have tight or tighter hip flexors, try these simple exercises.
The best way to stretch tight hips is to do a gluteus-hamstring stretch. A gluteus-hamstring stretch is a great choice. Your pelvic floor is crucial in your pelvic floor. You need to have a strong pelvic space, and strengthening your glutes and hamstrings will help you improve your posture. If your glutes and hamstrings are weak, you should do a lower body strengthening routine to strengthen them.
A tight hip can cause lower back pain while standing and affect your ability to walk. A tight hip can also affect your knees and sacroiliac joints. It is important to know your bodys signals and make an effort to open your hips. You can also perform a hip flexors test on your own by lying down and raising your leg up. If your knees are tight, your hips may be the culprit.
You May Like: How Does A Diuretic Help Back Pain
> > > Why Static Stretching Is Not The Answer Click Here< <
Compression can help relieve hip flexor pain. Using an elastic bandage or heating pad on the infected area will also reduce the swelling. Hot showers and heat patches are also helpful for relieving tightness. Medications should not be taken for more than ten days, as they may lead to bleeding in the stomach. Likewise, people who have strained their hip flexor muscles should refrain from activity for ten to fourteen days.
Cold therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation. Ice packs can be applied for up to 15 minutes at a time, but heat can also be applied to relieve muscle tightness. You can also use moist heating pads or ice to help alleviate the pain. To reduce muscle tightness, hot showers are recommended. Anti-inflammatory medicines and over-the-counter medications can be effective for pain relief. It is essential to consult a medical professional if these remedies dont relieve your symptoms.
Home pain relievers can be an effective method of treatment. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs can be used as a temporary solution to help relieve pain and inflammation. However, if your symptoms do not improve, you should see your healthcare provider immediately. Although these measures are effective, they may not be enough. If you have sustained a severe injury to the hip flexors, you should seek professional help.
How Do Doctors Treat Back Pain
“Doctors may start you on physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support your back. In some cases, we may use a steroid medication to reduce swelling,” Dr. Cornett says.
Chronic back pain is typically treated by starting with simple, low-cost treatments and moving toward more aggressive interventions as needed, NINDS explains. There are a number of complementary and alternative treatments that may be recommended, from acupuncture and various relaxation techniques to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and spinal manipulation. Surgery might be considered if other options fail.
“If imaging studies show a long-term disc problem, we may recommend surgery in some cases,” Dr. Cornett says.
You May Like: Will Aleve Help With Back Pain
When To See A Healthcare Provider
Most episodes of low back spasms will go away on their own, but sometimes your condition may require that you visit your healthcare provider for proper treatment. Symptoms that indicate you should visit a medical professional right away for your back spasms may include:
- Spasms that came on after significant trauma
- Back spasms that are accompanied by tingling, numbness, or weakness in one or both of your legs
- Spasms accompanied by difficulty initiating urination or difficulty holding in a bowel movement
- Low back spasms that prevent you from sitting or standing with an upright posture
- Spasms that come on with fever or within a few weeks of unexplained weight loss
- Spasms that do not improve with a week or two of rest
Naturally, if you have any symptom that causes you to worry that something serious is going on, call your healthcare provider. There is no harm in having a discussion about your spasms with your healthcare provider. They can then determine if you need to be seen and can offer guidance on how to best treat your condition.
Ways To Relieve A Back Spasm
Several home remedies can provide relief for back spasms, especially in the early stages of the condition. A simple shift in your daily habits such as exercising regularly and good posture will set you on the right road to recovery. Common relief methods for back spasms include:
Lets get into the specifics of each remedy in detail.
Read Also: Will Aleve Help Back Pain
When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider
- Can’t stand or walk
- Temperature over 101.0°F
- Chills
- Frequent, painful, or bloody urination
- Severe belly pain
- Pain or numbness in your leg
- Pain in a new area of your back
- The pain isnt decreasing after more than a week
- Pain radiating down the leg.
- Pain that is accompanied by fever or chills, leg weakness, or loss of control of the bladder or bowels.
Faq About Back Spasms
We prefer using heat to help stop back spasms. The heat will reduce muscle tension and bring blood flow to the area which can speed up healing.
Absolutely! A hot tub is one of the best things that you can for back spasms.
The heat will help relax the muscles and you can use the jets to help massage the area that hurts.
Just be cautious and don’t spend more than 30-40m minutes without taking a break.
Not right away! We recommend being able to walk 30 minutes without an increase in pain or spasms before you try to run.
This may take a few weeks before you are able to run without pain.
Swimming is an excellent activity to do to help with back spasms.
The bouncy of the water can help decompress the spine and relax the muscles.
It may take a few weeks before you are able to swim laps like normal,
Yes you can drive with back spasms as long as you are not currently taking narcotic pain medication.
Try rolling up a towel or using a pillow behind your back to provide support and reduce to intensity of back spasms.
Read Also: Aleve Or Ibuprofen For Back Pain
Can I Prevent Lower Back Pain
You cant prevent lower back pain that results from disease or structural problems in the spine. But you can avoid injuries that cause back pain.
To reduce your risk of a back injury, you should:
- Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight puts pressure on vertebrae and disks.
- Strengthen your abdominal muscles: Pilates and other exercise programs strengthen core muscles that support the spine.
- Lift the right way: To avoid injuries, lift with your legs . Hold heavy items close to your body. Try not to twist your torso while youre lifting.
Other Treatments For Lower Back Spasms
In the long-term, exercise is the best way to manage lower back spasms and prevent them from recurring. However, if youre looking for more immediate relief, one or more of the following treatments can help.
Rest plus ice/heat application: If you have severe back pain due to muscle spasms, a period of rest is advisable until your symptoms are better. Both ice and heat can help relieve the pain from lower back spasms. Ice and heat reduce muscle tension and inflammation. You may find that alternating between hot and cold packs is particularly helpful.5
Massage therapy: Pressure in the lower back area can soothe your symptoms by reducing tension in your muscles. Apply firm pressure in circular motions in the affected area for 30-60 seconds. The pressure should be firm, but not painful. Avoid massage if you can feel a pulse in the area.5 You can also use a foam roller to loosen up your lower back muscles and relieve tightness. However, be aware that using a foam roller incorrectly can lead to injuries. Its best to talk to a trainer or healthcare provider before using one.
Medications: Medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are available over-the-counter for pain relief. Your doctor may prescribe some muscle relaxants if your lower back spasms are severe.
Remember, you may need to try several treatments or combinations of treatments to get the best outcome. Lifestyle changes can increase the effectiveness of any treatment for lower back spasms.
Read Also: Tylenol Or Aleve For Back Pain
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.
How To Get Rid Of Lower Back Spasms
While a spasm itself is a brief jolt of pain, the problem is that some people can have these spasms on and off for extended periods of time. If you are a sufferer, no doubt you feel desperate at times to get rid of the pain. Most people who have lower back spasms due to injury try alternating between an ice pack and heat. Ice helps reduce the inflammation and heat helps to improve the blood flow.
Unfortunately, there are those who dont get any relief with ice and heatthey need a different muscle spasm treatment. Some may turn to medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly referred to as NSAIDS. Muscle relaxants can also help relieve symptoms.
Alternative therapies such as chiropractic care and physiotherapy are other possible approaches. It is important to consult with a doctor and get a proper diagnosis before engaging in alternative treatment methods. You want to be sure that you arent further damaging your back. For instance, if the doctor deems your muscles are healthy enough, you should be able to participate in physical therapy.
Recommended Reading: Advil Or Tylenol For Back Pain
