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Mid-back muscle spasms: Unending

Posted by ksdm @ksdm, Mar 12 3:48pm

Does anyone else have thorasic muscle spasms in their back? I have been getting them about 4 times a year for 20 years. They usually last about 6 weeks and go away at night so I can sleep. I have tried all medicines that might be appropriate and nothing stops the spasms during the day. Sitting, lying, standing doesn't matter. The drugs make me feel sick and can't eat and I can't afford to lose weight. Wrecking my life!!

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ksdm | @ksdm | 2 days ago
In reply to @ktcola "kind of the same thing is happening to me. Debilitating mid back spasms, except mine are..." + (show)
@ktcola

kind of the same thing is happening to me. Debilitating mid back spasms, except mine are mainly on the left side. The worst ones are up and down the long muscles to the left of the spine, but they spread. I cannot hold myself up when it happens. My left arm will barely lift, but lifting it makes the spasms worse. I have a few supposedly minor issues with my spine. I am using Tizanidine and Tylenol with a prednisone pack when I feel it coming on - about every two weeks at the moment. I am also doing PT, but some of the exercises bring the spasms on. My therapist works hard to find alternate exercises. I also, just out of luck, found a therapeutic massage therapist that seems to help a lot. We just started, so I do not know for sure.

This is a horrible thing to happen. I am sorry you are going through this. Is it still happening? If not, what worked?

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It is still going on. Nothing has worked so far. I tried PT twice and twice it brought on a back spasm. I tried a therapeutic massage and it worked for a while but I can't afford $120 a visit and my insurance doesn't cover it. This time the spasms have been going on for 5 1/2 months with 4 days off during that time. I have no idea why it stopped. It was nothing I did!

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georgejshannon | @georgejshannon | 2 days ago

I have had the same experience. However, I am post-polio (age 18 mo. in 1958). Chronic back pain post-surgery for the past 25 years. I anticipate going to Mayo to see what can be done since I have about exhausted resources available where I live (St. Louis area). Such chronic pain, especially when inconsistent from day to day, causes significant mental stress.

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