Relieving muscle spasm in the back: in what cases is surgery indicated?

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Cramps are involuntary muscle contractions. They can also occur in healthy people after overloading certain muscles, for example, in athletes, violinists, or during hypothermia in water. When falling asleep and during sleep, convulsive involuntary twitching is common. But various types of seizures can also be symptoms of epilepsy.

Causes of abdominal muscle spasms

The most common causes of muscle spasms:

• exercise stress;
• dehydration (dehydration of the body);
• electrolyte disturbances (decreased levels of magnesium and calcium in the blood);
• neurological diseases;
• taking certain medications.

Sometimes spasms of the lower leg muscles occur due to low physical activity or prolonged swelling of the lower extremities. Muscle spasms are observed with dystonia and tetany. Phantom spasms are also identified - a sensation of muscle spasms in the absence of their true contraction. Abdominal muscle spasms can be caused by physical stress or injury.

Spasms in the thoracic spine are usually caused by a sports or other injury. Muscle spasm in the thoracic spine can also be a symptom of a serious pathology, such as scoliosis, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis, ankylosing spondylitis.

Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures that occur without any apparent reason two or more times can be considered epilepsy. An epileptic seizure is an abnormal or excessive discharge of neurons in the brain with visible manifestations. Visible manifestations are not always convulsions and loss of consciousness, they can be:

• only changes in consciousness;
• mental manifestations;
• motor changes;
• vegetative manifestations.

For a particular person, these symptoms can be in the form of ringing in the ears, flashes of light or flame, redness of the face, short-term disturbances in speech, memory and many others. It depends on where the nerve impulse went out of control and activated a particular area of ​​the brain. Moreover, these changes may be first noticed by another person, and not by the patient himself. This can happen, for example, with episodes of freezing for a few seconds. If these symptoms have a clear cause, such as a head injury or a brain tumor, it is not epilepsy.

There are many forms of epilepsy depending on the type of epileptic seizures, types of epilepsy and status epilepticus (an epileptic seizure lasting more than 30 minutes at once or a series of seizures without full recovery of consciousness).

If the symptoms have a clear cause, then it is not epilepsy.

Muscle spasm: diagnosis

The history includes a description of spasms, information about the frequency of their occurrence, duration, location, and triggers. Symptoms that may indicate neurological or muscular pathologies are muscle rigidity, paresis, pain, and sensory disturbances. The doctor notes factors that could lead to electrolyte disturbances, dehydration (for example, diarrhea, excessive sweating, intense exercise, use of diuretics, recent dialysis, etc.). It also focuses on previous illnesses that could cause muscle spasms, information about medications taken and alcohol consumption.

For piriformis muscle spasm, diagnosis begins with a physical examination. The doctor finds out the symptoms: the location of the pain, in which cases the pain syndrome intensifies (changes in body position, load), learns about the presence of injuries in the anamnesis, concomitant diseases. X-rays and MRIs make it possible to determine the degree of degenerative changes and visualize in detail morphological abnormalities in the pelvis and spine. X-rays of the spine are used to exclude inflammatory diseases (spondylitis), congenital anomalies and deformities, primary and metastatic tumors. CT/MRI can detect disc herniation, spinal cord tumor, and spinal canal stenosis.

Muscle spasms in the collar area and shoulders in a child may be a symptom of cervical myositis. Read more about the diagnosis of cervical myositis in children on our website.

Muscle tension. Muscle spasm

For the human body to perform work, its muscle tissue in normal condition must be smooth and elastic. Depending on his will, muscle tissue can be equally tense or equally relaxed. But we constantly encounter a situation where, in various places on the human body, areas (or even groups of muscle fibers and entire muscles) may appear in which tension, regardless of the desire of this person, is preserved and maintained. Such areas can be both large and very small; they can be recognized by consciousness as a spasm, tension, or they may not be noticed at all.

What is the harm from muscle tension and spasms?

1. The first answer to this question lies on the surface: if a muscle is in spasm, it compresses blood vessels and nerve fibers. As a result, nutrition and energy-information exchange are disrupted both in the tissues of the muscle itself and in those internal organs to which nutrition and innervation are provided by compressed vessels and nerves. For example, in the neck area the vagus nerve is pinched; impulses do not pass through it to the pancreas, which causes a disruption of the innervation of the organ with corresponding enzymatic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
2. The second negative result: a spasmed muscle is a contracted muscle; maintaining it in a tense state requires ATP - certain energy costs. That is, maintaining the muscle in a state of tension consumes the body’s own energy, and the resulting tension not only does not bring benefit, but also harms the body (see point 1). Considering that the areas in which muscle tension has arisen can be quite extensive, and the tension is maintained constantly (even during sleep), the body’s energy expenditure on irrational and harmful work can be quite significant.

There is a third negative consequence, which we will talk about a little later.

Symptoms

Typically, when examined by a doctor, trigger (pain) zones can be found in the erector spinae or levator scapula muscle, in the trapezius muscle, as well as in some others. With muscle tension, the patient may feel:

• pain of aching, itching, pressing nature
• increased or decreased almost constant pain
• reflection of pain in the shoulder, eye, head
• inability to perform full range of arm movements or turn the head.

Causes

The main causes of muscle spasms are:

• osteochondrosis, as well as its manifestations, expressed in the form of protrusions, herniated intervertebral discs
• injuries and bruises of the spine, in which muscle tension occurs in response to pain and a trigger syndrome develops
• static muscle tension of a long-term nature, which can occur due to incorrect posture of a person sitting at a table or working at a computer, when carrying a bag on one shoulder (when one shoulder becomes higher than the other)
• emotional stress causing increased muscle tone.

Why do muscle tension and spasms occur?

Muscle spasms are painful, convulsive muscle contractions that occur involuntarily during or immediately after exercise.

The cause of spasms depends on various reasons and has not yet been fully studied. However, there are some common reasons that determine the nature of the origin of muscle tension.

Electrolytes

The hydration state of the human body plays a key role in the likely occurrence of muscle spasms. At the gym, you may notice people consuming vitamin drinks while doing exercises. They do this for a reason.

Vitamin drinks contain optimally balanced concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium. These microelements have a beneficial effect on the functioning of muscles and nerves. If the balance of these electrolytes is disturbed (which is possible when a person sweats heavily), problems can arise.

The same thing can happen if you start drinking a lot of water during exercise. Many people do a set and immediately drink water, do the next set and drink again. At the same time, they are sure that in this way they are helping their body.

Everyone knows that the human body is three-quarters water. During intense exercise, sodium is released along with sweat, which does not replace anything. When a person drinks water, he replaces one released liquid with another, which is not similar - it lacks a key mineral component. This may be the reason why muscle function deteriorates.

In addition, when exercising in a very hot room, this process is complicated: not only does the person sweat more, but the heat also negatively affects the muscles. The result is weakness and fatigue.

Calcium level

Another reason for the appearance of blocks is low levels of calcium in the body. If calcium concentration decreases, the amount of intracellular fluid that surrounds muscles and nerves decreases. As a result, the nerve endings are subject to excessive irritation, and this, in turn, leads to spasms.

Muscle fatigue

After muscle tension, a period of relaxation begins, lasting longer than the contraction itself. But this relaxation process is based on sensory feedback that occurs between the spinal cord and muscles and connects the tendons and neuromuscular spindles.

If muscles are tired, they contract. This increases the load on the neuromuscular spindles and decreases the load on the tendons. If this happens at the same time, the process of proper muscle compression/relaxation is disrupted, which leads to spasm.

Large amount of carbohydrates

If a person follows a low-carbohydrate diet, this may affect the state of the muscular system. Therefore, it is necessary to remember that such a diet can lead to muscle spasms and avoid overexertion.

Where do muscle spasms come from?

Let's consider this example: with osteochondrosis, growths of bone tissue (having sharp edges) are formed along the edges of the intervertebral discs, the so-called osteophytes. These growths can easily injure surrounding tissues and nerves when making awkward turns or sudden movements. As a result of pain, the brain sends a command to tighten the surrounding muscles to protect the injured area. The stronger the pain, the greater the muscle tension. At the same time, the stronger the muscle tension, the more painful it is. A trigger syndrome occurs.

Two conclusions follow from this:

• In order to put a displaced vertebra in place, you must first relax the surrounding muscles
• muscle spasm is a response to pain.

Another example: a fracture occurred, and the surrounding muscles tensed in response to pain. The bone subsequently healed, but muscle spasm remained at the fracture site for life. It compresses blood vessels and nerves, thereby limiting mobility.

Thus, the first reason for the formation of muscle spasms can be attributed to all kinds of injuries, in which the muscles tense in response to pain and a trigger syndrome develops. For this reason, the formation of spasms can occur from birth due to birth injuries. In general, childbirth is very stressful for both the child’s body and the mother’s body. They can be very traumatic. Spasms of the cervical muscles (especially the suboccipital muscles), which disrupt the nutrition of the brain, very often occur in most people and persist for life as a result of birth injuries.

The second reason for the formation of muscle spasms is prolonged static muscle tension, which can occur when a schoolchild sits incorrectly at a desk, a person at a computer, or when carrying a bag on the same shoulder (in this case, one shoulder becomes higher than the other). If such tension is maintained for a long time, the phenomenon of inhibition occurs, the tense state for the cells becomes habitual. If a specifically tense area is not relaxed and mobilized, tension will remain in it constantly.

A third cause of muscle spasms may be emotional stress. To overcome a stressful situation at the moment of its occurrence, the body mobilizes all internal resources: muscle tone increases, heart rate accelerates, certain hormones are released into the blood, digestion slows down. This reaction is required for the survival of the organism - to ensure an appropriate reaction in threatening conditions. After overcoming the threat, the body returns to normal functioning and relaxes. But under certain circumstances there is no return to normal. This leads to the fact that a person seems to be in a state of stress all the time; muscle tension, which is characteristic of a stressful situation, becomes chronic for him. At the same time, the presence of muscle tone during chronic stress is far from its only negative consequence. In addition, disorders of the cardiovascular and digestive systems develop (up to the occurrence of serious diseases), a person becomes irritable, and his performance decreases.

When should you consult a doctor?

1. If the muscles are inactive and pain is felt during the first three days.
2. If muscle spasms in the back or neck are accompanied by numbness, tingling or weakness, you should consult a doctor immediately.

How to avoid recurrence of blocks, muscle tension and spasms.

The best way to prevent recurrent spasms is to keep the muscles strong, flexible and adequately conditioned. Before starting active physical exercise, do not forget about stretching and perform exercises to strengthen your muscles. Avid athletes should definitely consult with a coach who can correct the movement mechanisms that are necessary for this sport.

Relieving muscle spasm in the back

How to relieve spasm of the neck muscles with osteochondrosis? In the acute period, treatment consists of ensuring rest: the patient is advised to avoid sudden movements and painful positions. Bed rest, analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed.

Muscle relaxants for relieving muscle spasms are first-line drugs. Physiotherapeutic analgesic procedures, compresses with a solution of dimexide, trimecaine and hydrocortisone are also indicated. The use of warming ointments for spasms of the lumbar muscles is quite effective. As the pain decreases, physical activity and muscle strengthening exercises are recommended. To prevent exacerbations of osteochondrosis, you should regularly engage in exercise therapy, avoid lifting heavy objects, hypothermia and other provoking factors.

To relieve muscle spasms in the back during the chronic course of reflex syndromes, manual therapy, physiotherapy and reflexology, and spa treatment are indicated. Surgical treatment is indicated for compression of a spinal cord disc herniation, as well as for radiculopathy accompanied by severe paresis (in the absence of effect from conservative therapy).

You can relieve a cramp by massaging the affected area. If you have a cramp in the calf muscle, you should lie down, stretch your leg, and then pull your foot towards you. If it is not possible to lie down, then you can transfer your body weight to the affected leg and slightly bend it at the knee. Treatment of muscle spasms in the legs and arms is prescribed after examination and determination of the cause of the spasms. To prevent muscle spasms, doctors advise eating foods rich in vitamins and calcium and drinking more water.

Examples of procedures

Botulinum therapy for piriformis syndrome

Botulinum therapy for spastic torticollis