Crippling Back Spasms

Crippling back pain can range from feeling a dull ache to a sudden, sharp pain that might shoot down the leg.

Back pain is a common medical problem. You’ve probably experienced it at one time or another in your life—whether chronic or acute. It can feel mildly uncomfortable or leave you in extreme agony, unable to get through your day-to-day activities. If you have a severe back disorder, it may cause temporary, recurring, or chronic (long-term) pain.

This article discusses the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of back spasms.

What Is a Back Spasm?

A back spasm is an involuntary contraction of the back muscles. Moving in a certain way may trigger a back spasm. More often than not, spasms happen because of muscle weakness, overuse, or injury. 

A back spasm may last for several hours to several days. Chronic back spasms may be the result of an underlying condition. If muscle spasms are particularly severe, they may stem from nerve irritation or damage.

Common Causes 

Muscle spasms can happen for several reasons. Here are a few common causes.

Muscle Strain

A muscle strain is an injury that can happen due to overuse. Sudden forces can also cause acute muscle strain injuries. Twisting motions, for instance, can cause acute back strains.

A common location for muscle strains is the lower back. In addition to causing sudden pain and lingering soreness, muscle strains can also cause painful back spasms.

Athletes are prone to back muscle strain, especially those involved in pushing and pulling sports, such as weight lifting or football, and sports that require sudden twisting of the lower back, such as tennis, basketball, baseball, and golf. Like athletes, movers are also at higher risk for back muscle strain because of the heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, and twisting movements required.

Facet Joint Osteoarthritis

Facet joints are the bones that connect the different portions of your spine. With facet joint osteoarthritis, the cartilage surrounding these joints breaks down, which causes pain. If bone spurs develop, nerve irritation can also occur.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Over time, your body experiences wear and tear. Aging takes a toll on many parts of the body, including the joints. Degenerative disc disease is a type of arthritis of the spine that involves the degradation of joint cartilage. This type of degeneration doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, the pain can be severe, potentially causing spasms.

Herniated Disc

The different bones in your spine are separated and cushioned by discs. When a disc herniates, it bulges from its original place, putting pressure on surrounding nerves. This causes pain and can also lead to spasming. You can get a herniated disc because of repeated strain or traumatic injury. Herniation can also happen due to aging.

Signs of Severe Conditions

Back pain is sometimes a sign of a serious condition. These symptoms are a red flag and should prompt you to visit a healthcare provider. If you’re experiencing several of these together, consider it an emergency and see someone right away.

Incontinence

If you have back pain or spasms and cannot control your bladder or bowel movements, it’s a sign that the nerves in your spine are severely damaged. Having incontinence with back pain can be a symptom of:

• Severe nerve compression
• Infection

Numbness

You can get a pins and needles sensation if you sit too long with your feet tucked under your body. The feeling can also be a symptom of sciatica. But if you feel numbness in your groin or buttock area, you may have a serious spinal condition.

Weakness in Legs

Weakness that comes on suddenly is cause for concern. If it happens with back pain, it may be a symptom of a serious spine condition affecting the nerves.

Radiating Pain

Pain that travels down the body into your legs can also be a sign of severe nerve compression.

Sharp Pain

If you describe your back pain as sharp, it might not even be back pain. Sharp pain in this area may be a symptom of a muscle injury. It can also be a sign that there’s trouble brewing with an internal organ, like the kidneys.

Diagnosis

To diagnose what may be causing painful back spasms, healthcare providers will take your medical history. They'll also ask you to describe the pain and any other symptoms you're having.

A healthcare provider may ask you to perform movements to assess imbalances or weaknesses. They may also perform imaging tests, such as:

• X-rays
• Electromyography, to test nerve impulses
• Myelogram
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed tomography (CT) scans
• Blood tests

Treatment

Treating back spasms involves treating the underlying cause. Treatment can also vary depending on whether the pain is chronic or acute. 

Acute Pain 

Treating acute back pain may involve:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
• Topical pain creams or gels
• Hot and cold therapy to relieve inflammation
• Muscle relaxants 
• Stretching, as suggested by your healthcare provider

Rest might help if you have a sudden, painful back spasm. Overall, though, healthcare providers don’t recommend prolonged rest for either acute or chronic back pain.

Chronic Pain

Non-invasive treatments for chronic back pain include:

• Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and resolve muscle weakness and imbalances
• Relaxation strategies 
• Lifestyle changes, including posture improvement 
• Steroid injections or nerve blocks 
• Pain medication, including NSAIDs and opioids (note that opioids come with a risk of addiction)
• Hot and cold therapy
• Gentle exercise

Some people also find relief with alternative therapies such as acupuncture. 

Surgery is an option, but it’s often the last resort. There’s no guarantee that surgery will help resolve symptoms.

Coping

While painful back spasms can disrupt your everyday activities, it’s possible to live with back pain. Some strategies that may help you cope and recover from back pain include:

• Minimizing the amount of time you spend sitting
• Maintaining good posture while sitting and standing
• Having good form when lifting heavy objects or exercising
• Sleeping on a comfortable, supportive mattress
• Sleeping in a curled-up, fetal position with a pillow between your legs. If you usually sleep on your back, place a pillow or rolled towel under your knees to relieve pressure.
• Strengthening your back and abdominal muscles 
• Avoiding high-impact activities or movements that strain the back
• Exercising and staying active. A physical therapist can teach you which exercises are right for you.

How Are Back Spasms Prevented?

One of the best ways to prevent back pain and spasms is to keep your back and stomach muscles strong. Specific steps you can take to lower your risk of back spasms include:

• Do muscle-strengthening exercises at least two days a week.
• Do stretching exercises regularly.
• Use good posture when sitting, standing, or lifting heavy objects.
• When lifting something heavy, bend your knees and keep your back straight. Use your leg muscles to do most of the work.
• Eat a well-balanced diet to help you lose weight if you are overweight or stay at a healthy weight.
• Get regular physical activity such as walking, cycling, swimming, or water exercise.

Summary

If crippling back spasms and back pain are constantly interrupting your life, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. Talk to your healthcare provider, even if you’re convinced that the pain is because of poor posture or some other minor issue.

They can help you figure out the root of the problem and if there’s an underlying cause that requires specific treatment.

A Word From Verywell

Back pain is a common issue, but spasms can be debilitating. If home measures do not improve your pain and/or you have repeated episodes, follow up with your healthcare provider for a workup and further treatment.

— ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD