Back spasms?!
Question: Yesterday morning I started getting this sharp pain in my lower back that felt like someone was squeezing my muscles as hard as they possibly could, as fast as they could. I went to the doctor to get checked out and he said it was muscle spasms, which is what I thought it was.
So I was wondering what are some good tips for dealing with it? I'm a nursing student who spends 8 hours sitting in lecture each class day, with limited breaks, and has to run around the hospital during clinicals taking care of patients, changing beds, bathing, lifting, moving, etc. I could use some tips on how to not only prevent the spasms but how to treat them when they come on, since muscle relaxants aren't really an option when I'm in clinical. I know ibuprofen will probably work fine for the pain, and heating pads should help, but what else?
Thanks.
Answers: Yesterday morning I started getting this sharp pain in my lower back that felt like someone was squeezing my muscles as hard as they possibly could, as fast as they could. I went to the doctor to get checked out and he said it was muscle spasms, which is what I thought it was.
So I was wondering what are some good tips for dealing with it? I'm a nursing student who spends 8 hours sitting in lecture each class day, with limited breaks, and has to run around the hospital during clinicals taking care of patients, changing beds, bathing, lifting, moving, etc. I could use some tips on how to not only prevent the spasms but how to treat them when they come on, since muscle relaxants aren't really an option when I'm in clinical. I know ibuprofen will probably work fine for the pain, and heating pads should help, but what else?
Thanks.
Warm moist heat. Get a moist heating pad. Excellent for muscle spasms. If you can't get a moist heating pad then make your own. Put the heating pad on your bed. Put a piece of plastic wrap such as a garbage bag on top of the heating pad. Put a warm moist towel on the plastic. That way you won't get a shock from moisture touching the heating pad. Lay down on the moist towel. You can do this while you're laying in the bed or on the couch studying. During the day while you're in clinicals or class you can use a disposable heating pad such as ThermaCare or a cheaper brand. They all work about the same. Very important. Moist heat at home and heat wraps during the day.
I'm speaking from experience as a nurse with muscle spasms in my lower back. I work 3 twelves. Skelaxin is a non-narcotic muscle relaxer. You can take 800mg 3-4 times a day. I take it at work and it doesn't make me goofy or drowsy. Your doctor probably has samples. The moist heat helps the most, but I could tell a difference taking the Skelaxin along with it.
If you are vilgilent in keeping the heat on, your pain will subside in a few days. I took the Skelaxin once before work and at bedtime for 3 nights. I work in a critical care hospital and I'm too busy to get sleepy. My pain was very much improved by the second day of therapy.
Personally i would ask my doctor for a prescription of flexeril 10 mg its a muscle relaxant. It helps trust me but it will make you drowsy that is a promise. DO NOT TAKE IT AND DRIVE, be ready for a nice painless nap that you will enjoy thought.
Heat in the morning and ice in the evening. These spasm might signal that you had an inital injury, for example a lower back sprain, or a muscle strain which triggered it. Treat the spasms with massage therapy as it can lead to muscle knotts which you want to avoid because these knotts are difficult to get rid of.
hope I helped
be careful . I came up with same problem as you . my doctor did
not recognized that i had a herniated disc . be careful. take a MRI . back spasm doesn't happen by accident. for sure your nerves was under pressure.