Lower Back Muscle Spasm Treatment, What Can Help?
It’s bad enough when your lower back hurts, but having muscle spasms in your lower back can be unbearable. What causes them, and what kind of lower back spasms treatment is available?
A spasm is a painful and abnormal muscle contraction, and when it’s located in the back, it can be debilitating. Spasms can be caused by inflamed, swollen or strained muscles from sports activity, heavy lifting, twisting, or pulling. Muscle spasms can be complicated by a nutritional deficiency.
What can you do for lower back spasms treatment? As soon as you feel the first spasm, stop what you’re doing and put ice on it. Massaging or rubbing the affected muscle can help. If you don’t have an ice pack, a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth or towel works fine. Apply it to the painful area for about 15 minutes every couple of hours for the next 24 to 48 hours.
After the first 48 hours, you can alternate the cold packs with moist heat. Soak a towel in hot water then wring it out and apply to the painful spot. Heat can come from a hot water bottle or hot shower, but just letting the hot water hit where the muscles hurt most works wonders. When using ice or an electric heating pad, be sure that neither is in direct contact with the skin, as extreme temperatures can cause skin damage. If the pain gets worse with heat, stop using it and continue with just the ice. Everyone is different, so use what works best for you, whether it is heat or ice therapy.
A chiropractor can be a big help with back spasms treatment. They can combine massage and ultrasound with spinal adjustments. Do not be surprised when they recommend getting rest and avoiding strenuous activities, like heavy lifting. You should not stay in bed, but continuing to strain sorely damaged muscles will make matters worse and take longer to heal. There are exercises the doctor can recommend to help strengthen and stretch the muscles.
It can be difficult to find a comfortable position, whether it is standing, sitting or lying. Lying on your back with a pillow under your knees may help considerably. You could also lie face up on the floor with your feet on a footstool or low chair to get a 90-degree angle from the hips to the knees, and knees to ankles.
Long-term use of painkillers can have serious side effects, but when the pain becomes unbearable, they may be necessary. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium can relieve pain temporarily. The doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant to help with pain relief. Because they can leave you drowsy, you may need to plan a minimal activity or just going to bed after taking one. Do not even think about driving, unless you know that you will not be sleepy. If you’re really desperate, the doctor may be able to give an injection into an affected area, most likely cortisone and/or lidocaine to ease the pain. It will depend on the exact problem.
Something we don’t usually think about with muscle cramps is a lack of calcium, magnesium, or potassium. Taking magnesium-calcium supplements, and eating foods high in potassium, such as bananas and potatoes, can help with lower back spasms treatment.
Before trying any lower back spasms treatment, consult your doctor. They can recommend what will work best for your condition, and can also monitor your treatments. You do not have to live in constant pain because there are many treatments for back spasms that are effective.
Lower Back Muscle Spasm Treatment, What Can Help? Last Updated: 29/12/2017
