My 3-day back spasm is now on day 10...:(

[MarkRobinson]

I've cut WAY back on my activities, but still my wee-back spasm is now 10+ days.

Things I've done that have not contributed to it's recovery: trip to Vegas with 10+ miles of walking, nookie (though cut WAY back considering..), a soft bed at the Bellagio.

Things I've done to help: both prescription day/night muscle relaxers (no effect), ibuprofin (works a bit, but "no more than 6 pills within 24 hours" makes me worry).
Hot baths, very soft stretching, heating pad, sleeping with heating pad. No gym, no cardio, reduced diet, no lifting, bare minimum exersion on anything.

My doctor will not try another type of muscle relaxer & merely suggests getting an xray. I have a herniated disc but the issues from the disc differ from a typical back spasm as I've had the spasm's since I was 20: maybe once a year or so.

My next venture would be to see a back/spine specialist.

Anyone have any suggestions? I have too much on my plate to be sidelined for such a long time.

[Rikao4]

I'd get a new Dr.
it's not about him or his likes/dislikes..
it's about you..

pain over time starts affecting stuff elsewhere..
no need to be gorked..
but some flexaril does wonders for me..


Rika

[Dottore]

All I can say is get it checked out. I keep hearing stories about people who keep living with their back pain—when in fact it's a tumor or kidney issue. These pains are virtually indistinguishable. Get that x-ray or CT.

[DonDavis]

I speak from personal experience. Ruptured L5-S1, bulging L4-L5. I used ice ( heat was the worst thing I did for it ) and PT to get me back in shape. No surgery. However, I have a somewhat high tolerance for pain. YMMV, Docs were surprised I was even standing, let alone walking. That was '04, since then I run. work out, lift, hike, etc. But, ( there's always a but ) I do have some residual reminders. If I overdo it, I'm really restricted for a few days. I'm still bouncing back, tho.

Where is the pain? I'm guessing lower back? The Vegas trip definitely did NOT help things, but you know that. I would not use heat any longer. Heat expands the area and increases the pressure point of interest. You should ice your back. And insist on an MRI. Have you ever had one? That will tell the real story. The Xray is to rule out any structural issues then the MRI tells the soft tissue story.

Take all you read about your back carefully. Not something to guess around with. Me? I would strongly recommend an MRI, then if appropriate, Physical Therapy, and make a REAL attempt at it. Be VERY diligent at the home exercises they prescribe. It sucked but I avoided the knife, and feel fine now. The MRI Technologist that initailly scanned my back said she'd never had a patient walk in with a disc that badly hosed up. I'm lucky, but I also worked my ass off during PT.

[930addict]

I have a herniated disk in my lower back and also a mid-back injury from lifting weights in my 20's. My mid-back goes into spasm about once a year. When it goes out I can barely breath let alone walk as it wraps around my diaphram constricting its movement. I missed two weeks of work because of it just a few months ago. Muscle relaxers do nothing for me so my doctor prescribed vicodin to manage the pain.

What I noticed is that the less active I am the more problems I have. So I joined a gym and have been trying to make it there at least 4 days a week doing both cardio and weights. Massage also helps loosen the muscle up (while medicated).

[john70t]

Drink plenty of water in the evening, leaving time to urinate the excess before bed.
I've heard we are an inch taller in the morning because of disk fluid.

Change your sleeping habits to take pressure off the lower spine(back flat with knees raised)

Eat vegetables and fiber and smaller portions(stopped bowels contract and use a lot of energy).

Consider an inversion table, and massage and/or accupuncture. Lose the pills.

[porsche4life]

Get to a back specialist, they will get you some better drugs while they figure out what is wrong...

[timchar]

Going to an M.D. for back pain/spasms, is a waste of time. Ask around for a reputable chiropractor and give it a shot. I would also be iceing 20 mins every 2 hours...Tim, (retired chiropractor)

[MarkRobinson]

I guess I can try the Ice: heat does reduce some pain & restore some mobility, as I've used hot baths for as long as I can remember: it's always worked but wouldn't hurt to try Ice.

I did make it to the gym last (9 days ago) monday for about 30m of stretching an a 1hr spin class with medium exersion: did not appear to increase my issues.

According to my doc, the spasm is caused by my spine getting a false report that it's in danger, so triggers the muscles to sieze around the reported area to protect the spine: fun!

When I herniated a disc in my back (due to inactivity after 15 straight years of weight lifting), my syptoms were totally different: numbness in my legs. I had an MRI done at that time, to allow the Orthopedic to say "let it heal naturally the best it can...if it can't, then we'll consider surgery". That was 11 years ago. I'm ok with this injury as it is today, though I had back spasms since I was 20, most all of which are unsolicited (nothing unusual to cause them).

A deep tissue massage was also suggested..>I guess I could check into Massage-envy by my office, give it a try. Seeing a back specialist shouldn't hurt either.

[timchar]

.I agree, muscle spasms are typically a sign of nerve irritation somewhere in the joint. I am fully aware many folks are skeptical. I practiced 20 years gave approximately 400 thousand spinal adjustments for problems of this nature. The primary reason people seek help from chiropractors, are nerve related problems. try and keep your body moving, it helps reduce swelling in the disc and increase blood flow to tissues in the area of need. Good luck to you. Tim

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

And insist on an MRI...I would strongly recommend an MRI...

Hey, isn't this a conflict of interest or something?

Seriously, though, take it from another sufferer--get it checked out/scanned and get on the path to recovery whether it be via drugs, PT, or some combination of the two. Fire your doctor if he isn't interested in helping you feel better NOW. That's his JOB.

[DonDavis]

Blue,
I'm officially off the MRI ride. Now I'm firmly in the Nuclear Medicine realm. Wandering about aimlessly, I might add, but I'm here.

To the OP, I missed this part...

"I have a herniated disc but the issues from the disc differ from a typical back spasm".

So you know the drill regarding that. I'd still use ice, tho. I wish you the best in finding the right combination of treatment.

[GeorgeK]

Originally Posted by timchar

Going to an M.D. for back pain/spasms, is a waste of time.

This advice is borderline criminal.
First a solid diagnosis on which one can base a working plan. Then adapted treatment, which can often but noe necessarily nor exclusively include physical therapy, and yes chiropractic care.

[RWebb]

wait a few more days; get that massage; stretch and light exercise only

don't try to rely on heavy duty drugs

later on, you will want to do exercises specifically for back strength; maybe get a smaller wallet or shift its position; spend less time in a char and maybe get a new chair

[dennis in se pa]

"Ask around for a reputable chiropractor and give it a shot. "

I went through 4 chiropractors that did me NO GOOD. I finally found one that fixed me up. If you find a good one he will resolve your issue. As in any profession the truly qualified ones are hard to find.

And don't let your MD tell you not to do this. Mine did and I am glad I did not listen to him.

[Racerbvd]

I've been dealing with back issues for a long time, goes back to doing this..


I have been to a few different PTs(3 times a week), current one helps some, but I also have stretching exercises for home, I scanned them as they may help you, also, the rope they use for some of the exercises can be bought dirt cheap (less than $5) at Hope Depot, you just add the loop & knots...


I have been told that I need surgery, but and going to try every natural way before that, I also don't take the pain pills they gave me (and no, I'm not selling them). My goal is to fix it, not patch it, that is why I have avoided the pain pills, but have friends who have had good luck with acupuncture, so I may give that a shot if all else fails (Strengthening exercising & stretching)

[MarkRobinson]

I do about 1/2 of those exercises already, figuring out what relieves back issues as well as mandatory Spin class stretches: I'll continue on tonight.

Going to the University of Texas Athletic dept. tonight for their trainers to "work on me", we'll see how that goes. My biggest concern is whether or not some deep tissue rubbing will help: if so, then MassageEnvy is in my immediate future. Agree with you guys: my doctor should have done more for me. :/

Thanks for all the tips guys, appreciated.

[icemann427]

The deep massage may help short term. A warm shower is OK only first thing in the morning to loosen you up, but after that use only ice...20 minutes on, 20 minutes off as often as you can (like at night laying on the sofa while watching TV). You want to minimize your inflammation, not make it worse. Heat only makes it worse. Use Ibuprofen regularly (maybe 600mg three to four times a day) for a week or so to help with the pain and inflammation. Your hamstrings are probably very tight, as well. Stretch them many times per day...Slowly working up the stretch. Don't overdue it in the beginning. In three to four days you will start to feel much better. Keep up with your stretching after you feel normal.

[RWebb]

after this is over, tai chi will strengthen your back muscles

it has to be "difficult" tai chi - not air chi or anything that looks like a Celebrex ad...

[timchar]

George K, criminal? Wow, oh I see, you don't live in the U.S. Here in our great nation we have a thing called " freedom of speech". I took 20 years of bashing about my profession and most of it was from M.D.'s. It's also a waste of time to go to a chiropractor for a heart condition. Spines are all chiropractors know, so if you're seeing a G.P. for back pain, you are in most, not all cases, wasting your time and money. About 50% of the patients we see have already gone the medical route. If I get arrested for being a "criminal", I'm sure Obama will pardon me. Tim