View Full Version : Back spasm
I had a really bad back spasm today that put me out of commission when I was working on my car. I do not know if I hurt it worse by finishing up my project first, I went to the Hospital when it hurt so bad I could not breathe. My question is how fast can I get over this? And have any of you had this happen? I only ask cause the Doctors just give me pills to take instead of fixing the problem. Thanks
Pacman89
06-09-2012, 23:12
I had a really bad back spasm today that put me out of commission when I was working on my car. I do not know if I hurt it worse by finishing up my project first, I went to the Hospital when it hurt so bad I could not breathe. My question is how fast can I get over this? And have any of you had this happen? I only ask cause the Doctors just give me pills to take instead of fixing the problem. Thanks
i got them a few times playing hockey in the past & it put me out for a couple days.. doc just gave me muscle relaxers. if possible try stretching your back out. get better[Beer]
stretching and time will definitely help
Valium helps me with back spasms. I had one recently that I swore felt like I'd torn something. Took a couple Valium and it vanished. It was like a charley horse, only in my back.
Valium helps me with back spasms. I had one recently that I swore felt like I'd torn something. Took a couple Valium and it vanished. It was like a charley horse, only in my back.Yeah this hurts every time I move, and when it starts hurting it gets hard to breathe. I was hoping I could go put the rest of my front end together tomorrow. I am one of those guys that cannot stand laying in bed cause there is always something that needs to be done. When I got into my car accident in 09 the doctors found out that I had no idea what take it easy means, and I still need to learn as I do not want to hurt myself worse.
Fentonite
06-10-2012, 02:04
You don't want to lay in bed. Strict bed rest will make a back spasm worse. Take it easy, but continue activity as tolerated. I like heat; I'll lay directly on a heating pad, and it helps me (I've had back surgery and always have some level of pain). Other people like to alternate ice and heat. No good studies proving one is better - do what helps you. Good luck.
You don't want to lay in bed. Strict bed rest will make a back spasm worse. Take it easy, but continue activity as tolerated. I like heat; I'll lay directly on a heating pad, and it helps me (I've had back surgery and always have some level of pain). Other people like to alternate ice and heat. No good studies proving one is better - do what helps you. Good luck.Thank you
BPTactical
06-10-2012, 06:51
Once it settles down start a core strengthening schedule. It really helps if it is just muscular issues.
Doesn't do a darn thing though if you have nerve issues like my back.
Once it settles down start a core strengthening schedule. It really helps if it is just muscular issues.
Doesn't do a darn thing though if you have nerve issues like my back.
What he said.
Also, don't take the opinion or advice of just one doctor. Did they do any x-rays or an MRI? I was in the same predicament for years. Fighting sharp pain in my lower back that would come and go. All the doctors ever wanted to do was take my money and give me pain pills. Finally started trying other doctors until I found one who actually knew what the f**k he was doing. Seems I have a herniated disc that is pinching on some nerves. No fix until I decide to have surgery but at least I finally know what's wrong.
Also think about what set it off. I've had it happen a couple of times and I finally figured out it was because I was lying on my concrete garage floor working under a car. I think it took me 2 months to get over one time. I never went to the doc though, next time for sure.
BPTactical
06-10-2012, 10:06
I have advanced Stenosis of the spine. Basically I have 3 discs that have collapsed due to heredity, age and not being kind to my back over the years, all this was dicovered by a fall at work in 08, landed flat on my keester and instant spasms.
I spent 8 months out of work only to be told short of fusing my vertebrae there wasn't anything really that could be done.
It flares up at times, I can do something as silly as set down the dish for the cats and next thing I am on my back for a week.
My issues are mainly nerve related which you can't do much about but a couple things that have helped:
Hot bath/shower
Gentle walking
Gentle stretching
Massage
Firm mattress (I will sleep on the floor sometimes)
Drink LOTS of water.
I don't get too many lower back spasms anymore since I had surgery on 2 discs in my neck 2 years back. I usually just have to wait mine out for about 5 minutes. I never really had any good remedies for em just wait them out and slightly popping my lower back by doing the one leg over the other and putting your arm on the other side of your need and gently pushing to crack my back. That probably is the worst thing to do but it helps me.
Muscle relaxers, water, streaching and time, it also helped me getting in to a hot tub to relax the back. Good Luck man, I know the pain I use to get it in football and wrestiling all the time.
I tore some muscles in my back and had monstrous spasms for a while. The doc just gave me muscle relaxants and told me to take it easy. Strengthen your core and that will help out.
Yoga and other similar exercises will help. It just takes time.
DD977GM2
06-10-2012, 11:14
It takes about 6 months to fully recover. You need to see your primary care physician
and come up with a physical therapy plan to get your back in order.
I have constant back pain from past issues and this is what doc told me. I was
doing good a few years ago but have since wained on my desire to go to PT etc.
I just do the excersises at home now.
ChadAmberg
06-10-2012, 11:32
Once I was hurt and it took about 2 weeks of muscle relaxants and I was just peachy.
The other time it was meds, physical therapy, and even the chinese needle therapy stuff... uhhh.. acupuncture. Which believe it or not did give noticeable short term relief.
I guess each time it's different. But I think Skelaxin is the most expensive med I was ever on, but worth it!
All this internet advice is fine and dandy, but there's really no substitute for having a specialist check you over and analyze what's REALLY wrong. Sometimes it's not even close to what you "think" it is.
My fun was a mussel knot the size of my fist and when it said hello I lessened. What seemed to help me long term the most was the hills around my house, and esp not staying in anyone spot for too long.
The Dr. recommended ice it down to freeze the spasms - I had made it worse by heating it up first. So now I keep a nice plastic blue ice in the freezer when I need it.
All this internet advice is fine and dandy, but there's really no substitute for having a specialist check you over and analyze what's REALLY wrong. Sometimes it's not even close to what you "think" it is.
This is your best advice. Hell, maybe you have a kidney stone.
I live with severe back problems every day (as in lifetime prescription to hardcore painkillers that I never use) and I can tell you that my #1 go-to medicine is Advil liquid gels. Four of those constitute an anti inflammatory and are fantastic for me at least.
Any medication? Muscle spasm sucks. It can be worse than RA. Sadly, I got both.
I use to be really fit, but I started to have muscle spasm, RA, and other types of Arthritis.
Now, I live off of NSAIDs. Well.. since I live off of NSAIDs, my blood pressure spiked up, and now I am on ACE Inhibitors. :(
Due to limited movement, I exercise less. I haven't played nor practiced golf for about ~3 years. (well due to work and pain).
Since, I do not have a job at this time, I am planning to work out and stretch more. Then, I will start hitting practice range again.
I live with severe back problems every day (as in lifetime prescription to hardcore painkillers that I never use) and I can tell you that my #1 go-to medicine is Advil liquid gels. Four of those constitute an anti inflammatory and are fantastic for me at least.
+1 on the Advil Liqui-gels! I have arthritis in my thumbs and when they flare up that stuff works great.
5 years back I had pinched nerves in my neck for 3 years. Every 3 months my neck would kink up with ungodly pain and I couldn't move my head for 3-4 days. As time went on it was more frequent. I saw and Orthopedic and Neurologist and did all the tests. Mri, x-rays, cat scans and was told surgery wasn't an option. They didn't think it was serious enough even though they new my C5-C6 was degenerating and my C6-C7 was torn with a bulge. They wanted to send me to pain management so I can get hooked on pain pills. I finally had a Disco gram done that showed it was the discs causing the issue. Finally got them to do surgery and when they were in there said it was way worse than they thought. I had 2 discs almost bone on bone. I feel better today then I ever had with the occasional lower back spasm. My point is you know your body. Try remedies but stay away from the medication unless that is your only option. Use it for temporary pain relief but get more than one doctors opinion. Keep track of the pain, like I said you know you body and Doctors always want to keep you from surgery until there is no other option. It's a last resort but it's better than pain the rest of your life.
Keep track of the pain, like I said you know you body and Doctors always want to keep you from surgery until there is no other option.
Not the doctors, it's the insurance cos. and drug cos. Dr.'s would prefer to fix you, the others prefer to profit from you.
UncleDave
06-11-2012, 07:21
Sorry to hear about your pain. I have had 2 lower back surgeries starting at 19 (rock climbing accident when I was 17 and invincible tore a disk in my lower back). If you have not go to your doctor get it checked out. If you are not having radiating pain down one or both of your legs it is probably just a muscle issue and muscle relaxers with an anti inflammatory will do the trick. You will also need to stretch/exercise as already mentioned. But, have it checked.
UncleDave
06-11-2012, 07:26
Not the doctors, it's the insurance cos. and drug cos. Dr.'s would prefer to fix you, the others prefer to profit from you.
Not true at all. Every neurosurgeon, orthopedic surgeon you talk to will say that surgery is a last option, only to be used if you can no longer live with the pain. Anytime you go under the knife there is risk from anesthesia, infection, etc. I have many doctors in my family both my Grandfather and my Uncle are surgeons, and they all say the same thing.
BigNick73
06-11-2012, 07:40
I was getting spasms in my upper back for a while, same thing pain, and really hard to breath. Anti inflammatories and went and got a massage once a month. Deep tissue, leaves you sore for a few days the first few times and should be somewhat painful during, but really helps.
UncleDave
06-11-2012, 08:01
^^^^^ this. Shiatsu massage hurts like the devil but it works.
68Charger
06-11-2012, 10:02
Since nobody else has mentioned it, I'll throw it out there:
Find a good Chiropractor... Good being the key word- not one that specializes in working with ambulance chasing lawyers...
I have a very good one in the Springs, but don't know any near Greeley.
Recently had a bout with significant back pain and nausea- accompanied by GI issues... one visit & it's gone. (I'll follow up with her & core exercise to ensure it doesn't return)
a GOOD chiropractor will do wonders, and NOT put you an a "maintenance plan" trick is finding one.
Acupuncture really works, but they are very expensive.
BPTactical
06-12-2012, 05:51
Acupuncture really works, but they are very expensive.
Didn't do a damn thing for me.
As we speak I am flat on my back, killed it Sunday working around the house.
Went and saw the Chiro and massage last night, still locked up and can't walk.
This crap sux.
Didn't do a damn thing for me.
As we speak I am flat on my back, killed it Sunday working around the house.
Went and saw the Chiro and massage last night, still locked up and can't walk.
This crap sux.
Did ya get my PM? Nobody wants to think about surgery, I'm fully aware of that. But a few months of recovery beats the hell out of a lifetime of suffering......I'm still recovering, but my stenosis problems are gone.
I had a really bad back spasm today that put me out of commission when I was working on my car. I do not know if I hurt it worse by finishing up my project first, I went to the Hospital when it hurt so bad I could not breathe. My question is how fast can I get over this? And have any of you had this happen? I only ask cause the Doctors just give me pills to take instead of fixing the problem. Thanks
I have the exact same problem stemming from a back injury from the military. Honestly stretching is not the answer until the pain is gone. I know that this sounds a little counter intuitive, but if you stretch injured muscles or tendons it just makes the healing time take longer and it will be apparent when it hurts worse after you stretch it.
What you need to do is stay off of it and maintain the best posture that you can. Do not do anything to agitate it for about 1 - 2 weeks until the pain is completely gone. Then start stretching and continue to take it easy. The most important thing is that you correct the source of the problem or it will just keep coming back. That was the hardest part for my stubborn ass. Chances are the lumbar support that your chairs at work or in your car supply is inadequate. There is a natural S-curve that the spine is supposed to make and if your slouching while sitting or standing with bad posture, your spine will put pressure on itself unevenly causing areas of high stress that result in even small activities causing incapacitating pain.
I have bought some little pillows to push out my lower back while I am driving my car and I forked out the extra cash for nice office chairs at work and at home so that I minimize the time that I slouch over. Then from there it is just a matter of keeping your back flexible and stretched out as often as possible. The last time I had a severe back sprain / spasm I literally could not go from a sitting or laying position to a standing position for two days. It was just like you said too hurting to breathe, and that was just from playing a little football with my brother one Sunday.
One more thing, there is a chance that you have an acute back injury so seeing a doctor is a good idea. If you continue to just accept the pain as it comes along, over time you will develop other problems like the ones that others have listed here. Ensuring that you have correct posture and flexibility will not only stop the pain but it will help to prevent further injury.
Having severe back pain for so long I have tried everything, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractors, voodoo (not really) - none of it helps and much of it makes it worse (the chiropractors really put me in a bad way). I can get surgery for mine but it's a 50% chance or better that I will be in a wheelchair after, so I have to just manage my pain and move on.
That being said, I HAVE been to doctors and you should too.
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