Back Spasms

Dr. Mahdi Saeedi

What is a back spasm?

A back spasm is a sudden and involuntary contraction, or uncontrollable tightening, of a muscle in response to strain, overuse, weakness, or muscle pain related to injury or a disorder. Back spasms often occur near the spinal cord or near the nerve roots that lead in and out of the spinal cord. This can put pressure on one of these sensitive nerves, causing quite severe pain.

It is common for muscle spasms to occur when you are exerting a lot of energy or are straining, such as while performing heavy lifting, working out, or engaging in a strenuous sports activity. You are especially prone to muscle spasms if you are doing any of these activities when you have not hydrated yourself sufficiently first or if your stores of potassium or calcium are low.

Some spasms may be due to other disorders or the outside irritation of a nerve connected to that particular muscle. For example, a herniated disc often presses on spinal nerves and causes pain and spasm, while with spinal stenosis, the spinal cord is compressed because of a narrowing of either the spinal canal or the openings through which nerves extend away from the spinal column. When these hollow spaces narrow (a process called stenosis), pressure can be put on nearby nerves.

What other symptoms might occur with a back spasm?

Back spasm may accompany other symptoms that vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the back may also involve other body systems.

Musculoskeletal symptoms that may occur along with a back spasm

Back spasm may accompany other symptoms affecting the musculoskeletal system including:

  • Backache
  • Buttock or hip pain
  • Curvature of the spine
  • “Foot drop” (feeling of the foot slapping the ground; caused by leg weakness)
  • Muscle weakness or strain
  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Pain, numbness or tingling in one leg or buttock
  • Shoulder or arm pain
  • Stiffness in the spine

Neurologic symptoms that may occur along with a back spasm

Back spasm may accompany symptoms related to the nervous system including:

  • Headache, particularly in the back of the head
  • Nerve problems that cause pain, numbness or tingling in an arm, buttock, shoulder or leg
  • Sciatica (a shooting pain down the full extent of the back of one leg)

What causes a back spasm?

It is common for muscle spasms to occur when you are exerting a lot of energy or straining, such as while performing heavy lifting, working out, or engaging in a strenuous sports activity. You are especially prone to muscle spasms if you are doing any of these activities when you have not hydrated yourself sufficiently first, if your stores of potassium or calcium are low, or if you have other conditions that make your muscles vulnerable.

Fitness deficiency causes of a back spasm

Certain aspects of your physical conditioning can make you more prone to muscle spasms and include:

  • Dehydration
  • Low blood mineral levels, such as potassium and calcium
  • Tightness in the tendons that run down the back of the legs (the hamstrings)
  • Weak or tight back muscles
  • Weak stomach muscles

Pathologic causes of a back spasm

Back spasms can be a response to pain from another existing condition. Some spasms may be due to specific disorders or to pressure on either the spinal cord or other nerves extending from the spinal cord. Disorders that can cause back spasms include:

  • Arthritis in your spine
  • Curvature of the spine, such as lordosis or scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine)
  • Herniated disc
  • Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
  • Spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis (defects in the vertebral column or backbone)

Serious causes of a back spasm

In some cases, back spasm may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. These include:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis complications
  • Epidural abscess (localized infection along the spinal canal)
  • Gallstones
  • Kidney stones
  • Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
  • Tumor

Trratment

1. Stopping Activities

Even if you feel that your back spasm isn’t severe, it is important to immediately stop whatever activity caused it. You can rub or massage the area to get relief.

2. Rest

Rest is crucial to help your muscle injury heal more quickly. If muscle injury caused the back spasm you need to rest for two or three days. While resting, be sure to maintain some mobility such as walking slowly and gently. If you do not, your muscles may become stiff or tightened. When moving, however, it is important to avoid bending or twisting your trunk as this will increase the spasms.

3. Cold Compress

When you experience an injury, you may have increased blood flow or swelling which lead to pain. Applying a cold compress can relieve these symptoms the first time you have a spasm, but for future ones, you should try heat before cold. Apply the ice for around 15 minutes every two hours during the first day.

4. Heat Compress

All types of heat can relieve pain, but for best results try using a moist heat. The heat will relax the tensed muscles and you should always do this after applying a cold compress. If you don’t want to go out and buy an electric moist heating pad at your local store, you can try using a warm water bowel or a towel that was soaked in hot water. It can also help to take a warm shower or bath. You should apply the moist heat for around 15 minutes every four hours until your back spasms die down.

It is important to note that some people find that applying heat increases their pain and if this happens to you, stop this method immediately and only use cold compresses.

5. Leg Elevating

Most people who experience back spasms have a very hard time getting comfortable. Certain positions tend to provide more relief than others so here are some ones that may help you, all of which involve elevating your legs:

  • Elevate your knees higher than your hip level.
  • When you are sitting, try putting your lower legs or feet up on top of a foot stool.
  • You can try placing your legs on extra pillows to elevate them.
  • Lie down on a firm bed or the flower and rest your lower legs on top of a chair so that your knees are bent 90 degrees.

6. Relaxation Technique

Most people suffering from back spasms find it very difficult to relax but certain techniques can be truly effective in fighting the pain associated with back spasms. When you are able to distract yourself by thinking of something else (or erasing all thought) you will be able to relax and breathe better and this in turn will reduce the tightness of your muscles and decrease your pain. Some great ways to distract your mind including talking to a loved one, watching a TV show, reading and meditation.

7-Pain medications

If above self care techniques don’t help talk to your physician about taking over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to help back spasms, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. You can ask your physician for stronger dosage of NSAIDS. Prescriptions drugs are fast acting and more effective than their over-the-counter counterpart.

Muscle relaxants prescribe by your physician can also be used but I have some patients report drowsiness after taking them. If you are advised to take this please avoid driving.

8-Exercises that help relieve back spasm:

  • Keeping your back straight and walk around by lifting knees up higher than you normally do. This is more effective especially if you have a low back cramping or discomfort.
  • Gentle stretches on the back muscles by raising your arms over head. You can do this 10 repetitions with 5 to 10 counts hold three to four times a day.
  • Lie on the floor with the knees bent and feet flat on the floor, then pull a knee gently towards your chest, and hold for 10 seconds and then bring leg down back to the floor, and then repeat to other knee. Perform 5 to 10 repetitions, 2 to 3 times a day on each leg if you can tolerate. Don’t do this exercise if this increases your symptoms.

Note: Don’t do these exercises on the initial onset of back spasm. These exercises should be started when pain is less severe, or the cramping is minimal.

9. Physical Therapy

You can also try visiting a physical therapist or chiropractor. They will use muscle release techniques, ultrasound and heat to reduce the spasms. They will then move on to provide you with safe exercises that can increase your flexibility and strengthen your muscles.

10.Injection

Cortisone injections can give relief for several months and this is especially true when the spasms cause pain in the legs.