Lumbar Muscle Spasm

Lumbar Muscle Spasm Causes

When you struggle to lift heavy objects or push yourself in high-impact workouts or sports, the exertion stresses and strains your back, especially your lumbar spine. Muscle spasms can result, especially if you aren’t drinking enough water or have low levels of potassium and calcium in your bloodstream. Tight leg muscles and weak stomach and leg muscles may also cause lumbar muscle spasms.

Untreated underlying medical conditions may cause your spasms. Visit an experienced pain management doctor in New Jersey to find the cause for your specific case of spasms. Tell the specialist if you have an existing condition that may be causing your lumbar muscle spasms. Underlying causes include:

• Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or another arthritis in your neck or foot
• Problems in the curve of your spines, such as lordosis or scoliosis
• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• An epidural abscess
• Kidney stones or kidney infection
• Gallstones
• Diabetes
• A spinal tumor

Treatments for Lumbar Muscle Spasms

At your initial consultation, your northern New Jersey spine specialist asks you several questions that you need to answer truthfully. Certain medications can cause muscle spasms. After a confirmed diagnosis, your treatment usually starts with mild remedies like icing or heating your lower back.

Your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxers to calm your muscles. Since lumbar muscle spasms are usually part of the problem, your spine specialist may also recommend:

• Avoiding certain activities that aggravate your back;
• Learning the proper technique to lift heavy objects;
• Understanding that any rigorous exercise or sports require a proper warm-up for your muscles, shifting gradually from low-impact to high-impact exercises;
• Doing physical therapy to strengthen your back, leg and stomach muscles;
• Going for a massage or acupuncture that focuses on your problematic back;
• Consulting a dietician to address the low electrolyte levels in your blood;
• Going on a diet, as any extra weight around your stomach puts more stress on your lower back as you walk;
• Getting electrical muscle stimulation therapy that helps strengthen and rehabilitate the muscles;
• Having trigger point injections that calm the aggravated muscles and reduce the pain.

Prevention

There is no 100% effective way to prevent muscle spasms in the lower back. However, proper self-care can reduce the risk of chronic back problems and accompanying lower back cramps.
To protect the lower back, use the following self-care techniques:

• Stretching exercises to improve blood flow, reduce painful spasms, and better support the lumbar spine.
• Maintain good posture throughout the day and during prolonged periods of sitting.
• Learn how to reduce the stress that triggers pain and back muscle twitching.
• Get up and stretch after you’ve been sitting for 30 minutes.

Outlook / Prognosis

Most individuals will experience a significant improvement in muscle spasms after resting for a few days or weeks. If a nerve irritation caused the spasm, you might require other treatments. The outcomes from these treatments may vary. Consult a spine specialist for medical advice on how to stop back spasms and achieve pain relief with an effective multifaceted approach.

When you’re ready for the muscle spasms in your lower back to the end, contact the nearest Redefine Healthcare location in New Jersey. Get out of pain and get on with your life.