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Back muscle spasm treatment What can cause a back spasm, what helps at home, and when trigger point injections fit
Back muscle spasm treatment starts with calming the muscle and keeping you moving: heat, gentle walking and stretching, short breaks from long sitting, and over-the-counter pain relief if your doctor says it is safe for you. Most spasms ease within days to a few weeks. When spasms keep coming back or tight knots linger, physical therapy works on the strength, posture and movement habits behind them. For stubborn knots that limit sleep, work or therapy, a physician may suggest trigger point injections. A spasm can also be the body guarding a problem underneath, so an exam helps find the cause.
A back spasm can come on suddenly, after lifting, twisting or even a sneeze, and leave you stuck, bent over and afraid to move. Other times the back simply feels tight, with sore, ropey knots you can press with a finger. At Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance, a physician examines you to sort out which possible causes fit and builds a plan around them. The videos show trigger point injections, one option for stubborn muscle knots.
What can cause a back muscle spasm
- Muscle or ligament strain: from lifting, twisting or a sudden movement; see sprain vs strain
- Overuse and posture: long hours sitting, standing or bending without breaks
- Protective guarding: muscles can tighten around a painful disc, facet joint or sacroiliac joint; see muscle vs disc back pain and facet joint pain
- Myofascial trigger points: tight, tender knots that can refer pain to the buttock, hip or shoulder blade
- Irritated nerve: pain, numbness or tingling down a leg points to a nerve and needs a different plan
- Other factors: poor sleep, stress, dehydration and returning to activity too quickly after time off
Because several causes can feel alike, symptoms alone do not make the diagnosis. Your physician orders imaging or an EMG/NCV nerve test only when the exam suggests it will change the plan.
What helps in the first few days
- Heat: a warm pack or shower for 15 to 20 minutes relaxes tight muscle
- Gentle movement: short walks and easy stretches; bed rest tends to make stiffness worse
- Position changes: get up every 30 to 45 minutes when you sit for long periods; see back pain from sitting
- Medicine: over-the-counter pain relievers only if they are safe for you; ask your doctor about anything stronger
Many spasms settle within days to a couple of weeks. If you hurt your back lifting, back pain after lifting covers what to do next.
Physical therapy for back spasms that keep coming back
Repeated spasms often mean the back muscles are doing work that the hips, core and upper back should share. A physical therapist checks how you move, then uses hands-on treatment such as manual therapy, stretching and graded strengthening, plus changes to how you lift, sit and sleep. See physical therapy for back pain and core exercises for back pain. Physical therapy is offered at our Brooklyn and Staten Island offices.
Trigger point injections in back muscle spasm treatment
When tight knots persist despite home care and therapy, a physician may suggest trigger point injections. A thin needle places a small amount of numbing medicine into the knot, sometimes with ultrasound guidance, as in the last video. The visit takes only minutes, and many people feel the muscle loosen soon afterward. Soreness at the spot for a day or two is common. The injections work best as part of a plan, making it easier to stretch and strengthen; for the neck and shoulders, see neck tension relief. Pain procedures are performed at all three offices, and your physician explains where and when yours will be scheduled.
When to see a doctor
Book an exam if a spasm is not clearly better after one to two weeks, keeps returning, or pain spreads down a leg. Go to an emergency room for numbness in the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, new leg weakness, or back pain with fever or after a hard fall. See lower back pain treatment and upper back pain.
More videos: trigger point injections for back muscle knots
More clips from our YouTube channel @precisioncaremedical showing trigger point injections for tight, tender back muscles.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
Back muscle spasm treatment near you
Looking for back spasm treatment near me, or a doctor for muscle knots in the back? Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance treats back pain at three offices, where our pain physicians, Ashley Marcus, MD in Brooklyn, Jake Stephen, DO on Staten Island and Yuri Gordin, MD in Manhattan examine you and decide whether trigger point injections fit. Our Brooklyn pain management office on Shell Rd is close to Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Gravesend.
Our Staten Island pain management office on Richmond Rd serves Todt Hill, Dongan Hills and Midland Beach, and physical therapy is offered in Brooklyn and on Staten Island. In Manhattan, the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown Manhattan is near Murray Hill and Midtown East, and a direct ride from Spanish Harlem and Washington Heights. Request an appointment or call the office closest to you.
150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022
(212) 840-0135
Questions patients ask
How long does a back muscle spasm last?
Many spasms ease within a few days to two weeks with heat and gentle movement. A spasm that keeps returning or is not improving is worth having examined.
Should I rest or move with a back spasm?
Keep moving gently. Short walks and easy stretches usually help more than bed rest, which tends to make the back stiffer.
Is heat or ice better for a back spasm?
Heat usually feels better for tight, spasming muscle. Some people prefer ice in the first day or two after a strain; use whichever eases your pain.
What is a trigger point injection?
A physician places a small amount of numbing medicine into a tight, tender knot in the muscle. It can relax the knot so you can stretch and strengthen.
Can physical therapy stop back spasms from coming back?
It often helps. A therapist strengthens the hips, core and upper back and changes the lifting and sitting habits that overload the back muscles.
Where can I get back muscle spasm treatment near me?
Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance treats back muscle spasms at all three offices:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
- Staten Island1630 Richmond Rd, Suite 101, Staten Island, NY 10304(718) 339-7100 · Get directions
- Midtown Manhattan150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022(212) 840-0135 · Get directions
Physical therapy is offered at the Brooklyn and Staten Island offices.
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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