Lower Back Spasms That Prevent Movement

When a muscle spasms, it means that it involuntarily tightens and contracts. This can cause significant pain and, in some cases, points to an underlying problem. The lower back is a common site of muscle spasms, as it’s subject to stress from poor posture, overuse, and age-related spinal chances. 

In this article, we’ll discuss lower back spasms that prevent movement, what causes them, and what to do if you’re affected by them. 

Causes of Back Spasms

Common causes of back spasms include muscle strains, spinal conditions, poor posture, mental health conditions, traumatic injuries, and dehydration.

  • Muscle strains from a sudden injury or overuse are one of the most common causes of back spasms. With a back muscle strain, the tissue is overstretched or torn, causing inflammation that can trigger spasms. 
  • Spinal conditions like herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis are possible causes of back spasms.
    • When a spinal disc is herniated, ruptured, or bulging, it can impinge on nearby spinal nerves. This pressure can disrupt signals traveling from the nerve to nearby muscles and cause spasms. 
    • When the spinal canal narrows from spinal stenosis, it can press on nerves and even the spinal cord. Again, this can alter nerve signals and cause spasms. 
    • With spondylolisthesis, a vertebra moves out of its normal position and falls onto the vertebra beneath it. The affected vertebra can push on spinal nerves, leading to spasms. 
  • Poor posture, like hunching your shoulders or outwardly curving your lower back, imbalances the forces exerted on the back and spine. As a result, certain areas of the back undergo excessive stress. This can overuse and muscle weakness, both of which can cause muscle spasms. 
  • Mental health conditions including stress and anxiety can cause muscle spasms. This is because stress and anxiety stimulate the release of neurotransmitters that tell your muscles to move. They also boost the release of adrenaline, a hormone that increases the flow of energy to muscle tissue and tells it to contract. 
  • Traumatic injuries from a major fall or car accident, for example, can lead to muscle spasms from tissue damage and inflammation in the back.  
  • Dehydration can cause muscle spasms by diminishing the flow of blood (and therefore oxygen) to your muscles, causing them to spasm. Dehydration can also imbalance your body’s electrolytes, like potassium, sodium, and magnesium, all of which play an important role in muscle contraction and relaxation. 

What Causes Crippling Back Spasms?

Crippling back spasms can be caused by sudden injuries, back muscle overuse, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and other spinal conditions. 

Severe sprains and strains are the most common injuries that can cause crippling back spasms. Back sprains occur when a ligament is stretched or torn, while a back strain involves a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. In either case, the damaged tissue becomes inflamed, potentially triggering muscle spasms. 

Overuse can lead to crippling back spasms because it drains the muscle of fluids and electrolytes. This kicks the muscle into overdrive, prompting tension and spasms. Examples of overuse that can cause spasms include:

  • Holding one position for too long
  • Exercising without warming up first
  • Exercising beyond the point of exhaustion
  • Pushing through muscle fatigue
  • Exercising in very hot conditions

Osteoarthritis, also known as “wear and tear” arthritis, involves the gradual breakout of cartilage within the joints. When it impacts the spine’s facet joints, it can lead to pinched spinal nerves. This, along with inflammation in the facet joints, can cause back muscle spasms. 

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Degenerative disc disease is a chronic spinal condition involving the gradual deterioration of spinal discs. Similar to herniated discs, as we discussed above, discs affected by degenerative disc disease can press on spinal nerves and lead to painful back spasms. 

When Are Back Spasms an Emergency?

Back spasms may be an emergency if you experience a sudden onset of intense pain, or any of the red flag symptoms listed below:

  • Lost consciousness 
  • Abnormal bladder or bowel control
  • Sudden onset of numbness in one or both legs, or the saddle region of the pelvis
  • Difficulty standing or walking

These symptoms indicate that you may be suffering from serious nerve compression and require an immediate medical evaluation. Certain emergency medical conditions can cause back spasms and may lead to permanent tissue damage, including:

  • Cauda equina syndrome occurs when a sac of nerve roots at the spine’s base, called the cauda equina, is compressed. The cauda equina includes nerve roots that supply sensation and movement to the legs, bladder, perineum, and bladder. So, left untreated, cauda equina syndrome can lead to permanent nerve damage and partial paralysis. 
  • Vertebral osteomyelitis is a rare type of spinal infection. It occurs when osteomyelitis, a bone infection from fungi or bacteria, affects the bones of the spine. Muscle spasms, back pain, tenderness, fever, weight loss, and difficulty walking or working with your hands are all symptoms of vertebral osteomyelitis. 
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, results from the weakening and bulging of the aorta. This can cause the aorta to burst, although immediate medical care can address the condition before a burst occurs. Symptoms include:
    • Sudden, severe pain in the lower back, abdomen, or legs
    • Rapid heartbeat
    • Low blood pressure
    • Dizziness
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • A pulsing sensation in the abdomen

What Is the Fastest Way to Loosen Back Muscle Spasms?

The fastest way to loosen back muscle spasms is to use heat or cold therapy, take pain medication, rehydrate, bathe in Epsom salts, and try back exercises. 

  • Heat therapy helps relax the back muscles and boosts blood flow to the area, both of which can help ease muscle spasms. 
  • Cold therapy constricts blood vessels, reducing inflammation in the back. If you have a back muscle spasm, start with heat therapy to relax the area, then follow it up with 20 minutes of cold therapy to manage inflammation. 
  • Pain medication, like NSAIDs, can help calm muscle spasms and the pain associated with them. 
  • Rehydrating and replenishing your electrolytes can help reduce and prevent back muscle spasms. Drink plenty of water, coconut water, or a sports drink, and eat a banana to restore your potassium levels. 
  • Epsom salts contain high levels of magnesium. In a warm bath, the salts dissolve and absorb partially into the skin, which boosts blood flow, reduces accumulated lactic acid, and stimulates muscle recovery. 
  • Back exercises and gentle stretches can help calm back muscle tension and improve spinal alignment. 

Tips to Prevent Lower Back Spasms

Try these tips to prevent lower back spasms: 

  • Stretch and exercise regularly to maintain mobility. This helps prevent pent-up muscle tension and preserves your range of motion. 
  • Focus on your posture. Poor posture over time places excessive stress on the back muscles, increasing tension and your likelihood of getting spasms. 
  • Lower your stress levels. Stress leads to tight muscles and, over time, increases inflammation throughout the body. These factors can lead to muscle spasms. 
  • Invest in a supportive desk chair and mattress. This helps prevent working or sleeping in odd positions that place imbalanced forces on the spine. 
  • Eat a nutrient-rich diet and rehydrate after exercising. Make sure you meet your recommended levels of magnesium, potassium, and calcium.