Lower Back Spasms

Sudden movement of the lumber muscles can cause lower back spasms. Read on to know more about the causes, symptoms and methods of treatment for lower back spasms and pain.

Have you ever experienced an agonizing pain in the lower back? This dreadful pain is known as lower back spasms. The uncontrolled contraction of muscle fibers is one of the peculiar characteristics of lower back spasms. The muscles tighten inhibiting the person from moving. The duration of the pain is totally unpredictable, it might be for few seconds or minutes and sometimes it lasts for hours that seems to be a terrible nightmare for the patient. There is no fixed situation that might give way to lower back muscle spasms, it might occur when the body is in motion or even while resting. Now the question arises as to what causes lower back spasms? Here are the factors responsible for pain in lumber muscles, leading to lower back muscle spasms.

Causes of Lower Back Muscle Spasms

Back injury or sudden movements are the most common factors that contribute to lower back spasms. Injury is one of the common back spasms causes. The muscle fibers may weaken due to over-stretching and inflammation and thus lead to severe back pain. There can be many reasons like physical exercise and excess movement like bending or stretching of the muscles that causes muscle cramps. Uncomfortable seating, standing or sleeping positions, lifting heavy objects and sudden jerks may elevate pain in the back as well. Other than these, there are other reasons such as inflammation, multiple sclerosis and neurological trauma that are responsible for contraction of muscles resulting in pain. An improper blood circulation in the back region can also lead to spasms.

Studies have shown that an unbalanced diet and lack of nutrients may also lead to spasms in the lower back. A potassium deficient diet leads to imbalance of electrolytes that again contributes to pain in the back, which can also lead to muscle spasms in lower back. Even dehydration which leads to lack of lubrication to the muscles, can cause spasms in lower back. Some times over dose of certain medicines can also lead to lower back spasms. Apart from this, lower back spasms in women are common due to menstruation and also during pregnancy. Back spasms during pregnancy can be attributed to hormonal changes in the body and also the growing size of the fetus.This information on causes of muscle spasms might prove helpful.

Symptoms of Lower Back Spasms

The most commonly occurring lower back muscle spasms symptom is severe lower back pain. Some times even a slight movement of any part of the body like arms and legs causes muscle pain in the back that creates discomfort in doing any activity. Discomfort in performing physical activities involving the back, especially lower back can be considered as an indication of spasms in lower back. Rigidness in the spine that hinders even a slight movement or increases pain with the movement of the back for a longer period of time is a common symptom of back spasms in the lower back.

Treatments for Lower Back Spasms

After knowing the causes and the symptoms of lower back spasms, let's now find out how to treat lower back muscle spasms? Here are some preventive measures and lower back spasms treatment options that would provide back pain relief. Other than pain killers that provide immediate relief from pain, but have side-effects, there are certain effective spasm treatment measures and lower back spasms exercises that might help combat the pain. Complete rest to the body is recommended. This helps heal the inflamed muscles, recover from injuries and relieve from stress. Stretching exercises for the back and back exercises that help in loosening of the tightened muscles are also recommended. Ice packs and heat pads can be another temporary measure to prevent back pain by providing support to the injured area of the lower back. Acupressure and massage can also used as a treatment for lower back spasms. Here are some of the effective back pain remedies that could be used to alleviate pain.

If these treatment methods for lower back spasms are ineffective and fail to provide relief, then you should immediately consult a doctor and get your health condition diagnosed.