Mid-back muscle spasms: Unending

I tried ice on my muscle spasm for 24 hours and got basically no relief, whereas the heating pad does make it feel better, but I can't walk around with a heating pad on my back! Also, valium gives me a little relief, but not enough to get out of my chair.

ksdm, you've declined, so I'm not trying to convince you. X-ray doesn't reveal the entire picture as is clear in your situation. Even MRI which is more revealing, and I would request in your situation, doesn't tell you everything. Displacement of bone, ever so small, usually causes muscle spasm or muscle pain. SI joint dysfunction is rarely discovered on imaging because the movement of the joint is so small. Better than adjustments are the physical exam that chiropractor provide. Your pain sounds like SI joint to me. Your experience with PT and with imaging and pain are so like mine.
Accepting your thanks, and disinclination, I wish you the very best luck finding cause and remedy.

The muscle that spasms is in the thoracic area, nowhere near the SI joint. If a chiropractor would just look at my back and give me an idea of what he thought was causing this thoracic muscle to spasm I'd consider an appointment. I don't believe my insurance covers chiropractor visits. What I don't want is someone "adjusting" my back! That surely would cause a spasm and I can't risk another one. The one I have now is debilitating, to say the least. sitting on the sofa for weeks at a time until it decides I've suffered enough!!

4 weeks this has been going on. Is it possible it will never stop? I can't do anything to make it go away. Eat cereal and spaghetti because they are quick and easy. Dishes piling up in the sink. This is the pits!

go into the doctor and have it assessed. Botox injections paralyze muscle spasms. I've had it over the years and it works great!

@ksdm From your history, it sounds like you have eliminated spine related causes. Have you explored mineral supplements like magnesium? That does help muscles relax. Here is Mayo's information that also lists things like thyroid problems that can cause muscle spasms or dehydration that can contribute.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscle-cramp/symptoms-causes/syc-20350820
It sounds like a frustrating issue and it must keep you awake at night.

Thanks for the information. Ironically, the nighttime is my only relief! I don't think the spasms are caused by any disease because they've been going on for 20 years, 2-3 times a year!

do you sit at a desk … I am a MT and I work with employees of a tech company. I often see what I refer to as “computer back”. just a thought. I had one client with intense pain found relief from not carrying her heavy computers.

I get up and walk 2-3 miles every morning. Sometimes the spasms come on and most times they wait until later. Washing dishes or doing work at a counter can be extremely difficult, try putting one foot up on a step while doing these types of things. Lying in bed in the afternoon can be the best to relieve. I do not use meds if at all possible. Do go to massage once a month, an osteopath once a month and try to ignore the spasms. I have scoliosis, ddd, stenosis and am 70 yrs old. Doctors don't seem to want to help people due to insurance dictations so I try to do whatever I can to help myself. I have had MRI's throughout my life and things keep changing or the radiologists that read them all see something different. I was told by one doctor 40 yrs ago that I needed full spine surgery. At the time being single, active ( skiing, hiking etc) I thankfully declined. You are your best advocate.

My spasms are very painful, coming on every 15 seconds. I am on my third week of them now. They stop at night so I can sleep. I believe doctors don't care much about older folks. I am 82 and feel the "brush off"! I've had every test, x-ray, CT scan, MRI and nothing shows up.