What Causes Back Spasms?

Many people with low back pain or sciatica describe the pain as a tight muscle or back spasm. Back spasms may feel mild—like a small fist is pressing into one side of your spine—or they may feel intense and prevent you from sitting, standing, or walking comfortably.

Bask spasms may become so severe that you have difficulty maintaining normal upright posture. And if back spasms become so severe that you cannot move properly, you may need to seek medical care right away.

This article discusses the causes and symptoms of back spasms, as well as what you can do to relieve them.

What Is a Back Spasm?

A back spasm is a sudden onset of back tightness. Usually, it feels like a tight muscle, and sometimes the tight sensation becomes so intense and severe that it prevents you from moving normally. Some people with back spasms have difficulty bending forward due to the pain and tightness.

Symptoms of Back Spasms

Most episodes of back spasms may last for several hours up to several days. Some severe cases last about six to eight weeks, but spasms and pain should subside gradually over that time period, allowing you to move normally and get back to your normal activity.

Common sensations and symptoms felt when you have a back spasm may include:

• Pain on one or both sides of your back
• A tight sensation in your back
• Difficulty bending your spine
• Pulsing pains and sensations in your lower back

Sometimes back spasms may cause you to feel pain in your buttocks and hips. When they are really severe, they may be accompanied by nerve pain, numbness, and tingling that radiates down one or both legs.

Causes of Back Spasms

Back spasms are caused by tight muscle tissue. But this tightness often occurs as a result of some other mechanical stress. The stress produces a situation in your body where the muscle tissue near your spine becomes pulled abnormally. As a result of this pulling, the muscle fibers become taut, and a feeling of painful tightness occurs.

Mechanical causes of back spasms may include:

• Lumbar disc herniations
• Low back osteoarthritis
• Lumbar strains
• Overuse
• Poor sitting or standing posture
• Spondylolisthesis (vertebrae slipped out of position, including anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis)
• Spinal stenosis

All of these problems place increased stress on the anatomical structures in your spine. Your lower back muscles near these structures may go into a protective spasm, causing a tight and painful sensation in your back.

Other non-mechanical causes of low back spasms may include:

• Stress and anxiety
• Lack of physical exercise
• Fibromyalgia

If you have a condition that puts stress and strain on your spine, you may be at risk for back spasms.

Risk Factors

There are several risk factors for lower back spasms. Some of these are modifiable, while others cannot be changed.

Risk factors for back spasms include:

• Poor sitting posture or sitting for long periods without enough back support
• Age
• Job-related factors (frequent heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or twisting)
• Obesity or excess weight
• Being physically unfit
• Psychological conditions (anxiety and depression) and emotional stress
• Smoking
• Family history of ankylosing spondylitis

If you have any of these risk factors, work to minimize them or avoid them. You can stop smoking, take up exercise (under the guidance of your healthcare provider), or engage in positive activities that help you manage stress.

If you have back spasms, you may need to check in with your healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis and the correct treatment.

When To See a Healthcare Provider

Most episodes of low back spasms will go away on their own, but sometimes your condition may require that you visit your healthcare provider for proper treatment. Symptoms that indicate you should visit a medical professional right away for your back spasms may include:

• Spasms that came on after significant trauma (such as a fall or auto accident)
• Back spasms that are accompanied by tingling, numbness, or weakness in one or both of your legs
• Spasms accompanied by difficulty initiating urination or difficulty holding in a bowel movement (this requires rapid medical care to correct)
• Low back spasms that prevent you from sitting or standing with an upright posture
• Spasms that come on with fever or within a few weeks of unexplained weight loss
• Spasms that do not improve with a week or two of rest

Naturally, if you have any symptom that causes you to worry that something serious is going on, call your healthcare provider. There is no harm in having a discussion about your spasms with your healthcare provider. They can then determine if you need to be seen and can offer guidance on how to best treat your condition.

When visiting your healthcare provider about your back spasms, they will likely perform various tests to determine the mechanical cause of your pain. These tests may include:

• A physical examination
• X-rays
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Electromyographical tests, especially if you have sciatica along with your back spasms

These tests are designed to give your healthcare provider an idea of your movements and the status of the bones, nerves, discs, and muscles of your lower back. With an accurate diagnosis, the right treatment can be initiated for your back spasms.

How to Get Rid of Back Spasms

Treatment for back spasms may include home remedies or treatments from medical providers. The treatments are designed to relieve your back spasms and manage the mechanical stresses that may have caused your spasms. Medical professionals can also teach you strategies to prevent back spasms.

Home remedies for back spasms may include:

• Analgesic medication
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Low back massage
• Gentle stretching
• Postural changes
• Application of heat or ice

If any of these self-care strategies fail to manage your back spasms, you may need to visit a medical professional for treatment. Medical treatments for back spasms may include:

• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation (TENS)
• Steroid injections
• Lumbar surgery

Injections and surgery for your pain are rather invasive and risky, and they should be considered as a last resort treatment for your back spasms.

Most people with back spasms are able to manage with physical therapy or chiropractic care that includes learning exercises and postures that help relieve tightness in the lower back.

Preventing Back Spasms

Preventing back spasms is important, especially if you have suffered from spasms in the past. Ways to prevent back spasms may include:

• Postural correction techniques
• Engaging in aerobic exercise
• Quitting smoking
• Losing weight
• Performing daily stretching and strengthening exercises for your back muscles
• Performing meditation or other stress management techniques, such as yoga or tai chi
• Utilizing proper lifting techniques
• Remaining well-hydrated throughout the day

Simple changes in your lifestyle can have a drastic effect on your lower back spasms. Working closely with your healthcare provider, physical therapist, or personal trainer can help you get started on the road to preventing back spasms.

Summary

There are many possible causes of back spasms. Mechanical changes in your spine may place increased stress on your muscles, and anxiety or stress may cause your back to feel tight. When you feel back spasms coming on, you can try various home self-care strategies to manage the problem.

Persistent or severe back spasms may require help from your physician or other medical professional. If you have back spasms, learning the cause of your problem and how to best manage it can help you quickly and safely return to your previous level of function and activity.