Back pain is a common medical problem.
Youve 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.
Verywell / Katie Kerpel
Verywell / Katie Kerpel
What Is a Back Spasm?
Aback spasmis 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.
A common mechanism of injury for a back strain are sudden twisting or flexion motions under a load.
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.
Facet Joint Osteoarthritis
Facet jointsare the joints that connect the vertebral sections of your spine.
Withfacet joint osteoarthritis, the cartilage surrounding these joints breaks down, which causes inflammation and resultant pain.
If bone spurs develop, nerve irritation can also occur.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Over time, your body experiences wear and tear.
This bang out of degeneration doesnt 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’re able to get aherniated discbecause of repeated strain or traumatic injury.
Herniations can also happen due to the degenerative changes that occur with aging.
Signs of Severe Conditions
Back pain is sometimes a sign of a serious condition.
Thesesymptoms are a red flagand should prompt you to visit a healthcare provider.
If youre experiencing several of these together, consider it an emergency and see someone right away.
The feeling can also be a symptom ofsciatica.
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.
Sharp pain in this area may be a symptom of a muscle injury.
It can also be a symptom of referred pain from an organ, such as the kidneys.
Is It Sciatica Pain?
Sciaticahappens when thesciatic nervein your spine becomes irritated and causes pain.
Pain can be mild or severe.
Its typically a symptom of something else.
A herniated disc, for example, can cause sciatic nerve compression or inflammation.
Its also one of the most common reasons for this bang out of radiating nerve pain.
They’ll also ask you to describe the pain and any other symptoms you’re having.
Treatment can also vary depending on whether the pain is chronic or acute.
Combination Therapy
Healthcare providers often treat back pain using a combination of therapies.
Combining different treatments such as physical therapy and steroid injections may provide better results.
A chiropractor may be able to help you with your back spasms and pain.
However, its essential to see a healthcare provider first.
How Are Back Spasms Prevented?
A Word From Verywell
Back pain is a common issue, but spasms can be debilitating.
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