Back spasms suck!

Just Tripp

Just Tripp

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So, I went to my usual chiropractor Friday after a couple days of fairly substantial back pain Friday. Not severe enough to keep me out of work, but uncomfortable level was about a 5.5 on the scale. As he’s done previously, he hooked me up to the “jumper cables”, adjusted me, and put an ice pack on. He’s done this for me probably 4 times in the last half dozen years, so I wouldn’t call it a chronic condition. Before I left he showed me a stretching exercise where I lay down on the floor and use the side of a door jamb to slowly work each leg up against with the ultimate goal of my leg 90 degrees to my back and the floor, toes pointed straight out.

I got up feeling much better Saturday morning and began with a different stretching exercise and all was well. I went to the stretches he showed me and I think I pushed too hard too soon. An hour after I began to get severe pain shooting from the top of my quadricep (opposite side of my back that was hurting the day before) through my hip and up to the lower part of my back. It got worse as the day went on to the point where I could only get relief when I lay on one side. Every time I got up the spasms shot through me again. Walking, standing, bending over all were extremely painful. I tried ice, heat, alternated I Motrin and Tylenol every four hours. Finally went to my GP this morning.

He said I probably pushed the stretches too far too soon and pulled a muscle and/or pinched a nerve. Prescribed a low dose of prednisone and flexeril. It’s been about seven hours since I’ve had a spasm, and the relief is heavenly. I’ve never experienced anything like that before. Somewhere between a lightning bolt shooting through my left side and a vise clamping down on my back muscles.
 
I get back pain when my hamstrings are really tight, which usually happens when I have overdone it either at the gym, cutting wood, toting block etc.
So I don't go to the gym, cut wood, or tote block anymore :D

Seriously, there are good PTs and bad PTs. I have a great one, and one of her specialities is 'dry needling'. If you have something other than muscular issues (like tendons, etc) you may want to find someone who does this. It's basically acupuncture and TENS combined. I love it.
 
Geerubb said:
Give up on the chiropractor. They may provide some temporary fix, but it's just that. Noone has ever walked into their office without something being "misaligned".

Find a good physical therapist.
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This right here. I was having back problems and finally got an mri done and when a back doctor. I asked him about chiropractic care because I had gone to one for about a year. He said it's the equivalent of a car crash each time that only brought temporary relief because it just pops back. He did say that some patients it helped but always short term. Ended up I had a bad disc and not much will help it. But I did a spinal injection first lasted 3 years and the second has lasted 4 1/2 with little pain.
 
I've got degenerative disk disease from the base of my skull to my tail bone, with bulging disks at C6/C7 & L5/S1. Not fun at all & am in pretty much constant pain, whether a dull ache or 'oh shit, I can't stand up straight', I have a 24/7 reminder of my time as a paratrooper (not whining, I'd do it all over again, but it beats you up).

Fortunately, I also have a great chiropractor who is a member of Elon College's sports medicine program. Great guy who knows his stuff & a former sky diver, to boot. Dude hunts, shoots & rides, as well. He's not one to keep having you back over & over to collect a fee & gets me back on my feet & as close to 100% as I'm ever gonna be within just a few visits. Very reasonable rates, too.
 
Crazy Carl said:
I've got degenerative disk disease from the base of my skull to my tail bone, with bulging disks at C6/C7 & L5/S1. Not fun at all & am in pretty much constant pain, whether a dull ache or 'oh shit, I can't stand up straight', I have a 24/7 reminder of my time as a paratrooper (not whining, I'd do it all over again, but it beats you up).

Fortunately, I also have a great chiropractor who is a member of Elon College's sports medicine program. Great guy who knows his stuff & a former sky diver, to boot. Dude hunts, shoots & rides, as well. He's not one to keep having you back over & over to collect a fee & gets me back on my feet & as close to 100% as I'm ever gonna be within just a few visits. Very reasonable rates, too.
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I’ve been to three different chiropractors in about twenty years. Two were “call me when ya need me” guys and one claimed he could fix anything from cancer to hemorrhoids. Only went to him once. Last time I was at the current guy I use was in 2016 so, as I stated before, I wouldn’t call my troubles chronic. I have Gotten relief every time I’ve visited him, so I’ll probably just keep with him. If this was a more frequent occurrence I’d likely get an MRI.
 
Man this thread jinxed me. I twisted normal today nothing crazy and bam. I pinched a nerve in my upper back and it felt someone took a belt and tightened it around my chest and it was so intense I nearly passed out. That was about 7:45 this morning and I went to the doctor at 2. This one wasn't like my lower back pain it was instant spasm. A couple flexril and one tordal shot later it's feeling better.
 
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Cowboy said:
Man this tread jinxed me. I twisted normal today nothing crazy and bam. I pinched a nerve in my upper back and it felt someone took a belt and tightened it around my chest and it was so intense I nearly passed out. That was about 7:45 this morning and I went to the doctor at 2. This one wasn't like my lower back pain it was instant spasm. A couple flexril and one tordal shot later it's feeling better.
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Glad he got you straight. I wouldn’t wish that stuff on anyone. Two days of hobbling around in fear of that lightning bolt running through my left side was agony.
 
I loved my chiropractor but only went to him as needed. Typically after a long car or plane ride. As much as I liked him, I'm not sure I would've trusted his methods for anything serious.
 
First back surgery at 20.Fusion at 25.motorcycle wreck,bad car wreck.
Yes I have been to a chiropractor.Same one since my fusion 28 years ago.She works for me.
 
Went to the chiropractor for the first time ever on Monday, filled out all the paperwork and questionnaires. Walked in partially upright, limping, and stiff as a board. Walked out upright, pain free, and worked an 8 hour shift on concrete floors and still felt better than I have since I first injured my back. Tuesday I went back to get a look at my X-rays and to discuss a treatment plan. One shoe insert and 3 treatments later, I haven't experienced anything other than mild adjustment soreness in my back. As far as I'm concerned, chiropractors are a gift from God.
 
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First time I went to a chiropractor, as I was walking out of the clinic, I felt like I was walking funny. Like maybe I'd popped a couple Valium & had few drinks. Finally dawned on me that it was just that my back & neck weren't all locked up & tweaked & I actually had normal-ish range of motion for once.
 
Matt.Cross said:
Went to the chiropractor for the first time ever on Monday, filled out all the paperwork and questionnaires. Walked in partially upright, limping, and stiff as a board. Walked out upright, pain free, and worked an 8 hour shift on concrete floors and still felt better than I have since I first injured my back. Tuesday I went back to get a look at my X-rays and to discuss a treatment plan. One shoe insert and 3 treatments later, I haven't experienced anything other than mild adjustment soreness in my back. As far as I'm concerned, chiropractors are a gift from God.
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Totally agree. The spasms I had (gone since Monday) were of my making. Stretched cold muscles too soon, too hard. As for chiropractors, they have my confidence. When I first visited one I was in a great deal of pain, couldn’t stand upright and listed hard to port. My old man had two back surgeries over five years that were only marginally successful, and he died addicted to pain killers. I wanted to at least try a different route. When I left that day I felt much better, and that’s been my experience with each visit since.
 
I consider chiropractors as maintenance for the most complicated bone structure in the human body. This may be an over simplification but the spine has to be one of the most complicated pieces of engineering ever and one of the most abused pieces if the body. It needs maintenance. A tweek here, a bump there. Chiros are good for that. When it truly gets screwed up, get the Drs involved.

My first chiro experience was horrible. He was old school and wanted to see me everyday for two weeks to "fix me" . He didn't get his wish, but he did give me enough relief that I could function again. Then a found a good one, she fixed me in one session and said to call when I needed her.
 
I am leery of chiro's (I have been to a couple myself, my opinion is based on what I have seen come through the hospital, especially for neck adjustments). That said, if you feel better after, then by all means. For any serious back issue, they just fix the symptom, not the problem. But if a chiro helps you kick the can of surgery....
 
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