{"id":7515,"date":"2019-07-06T09:53:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T09:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=7515"},"modified":"2021-06-16T15:42:22","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T15:42:22","slug":"20-reasons-connected-to-sudden-back-spasms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/20-reasons-connected-to-sudden-back-spasms\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Reasons Connected to Sudden Back Spasms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Back spasms can be an extremely painful condition, and when they come on suddenly it can cause problems in your life. For example, if you were carrying something heavy and you suddenly began to suffer from back spasms, there is a chance that you would drop whatever heavy item you\u2019re carrying and seriously injure yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to understand how to prevent and treat sudden back spasms, it is important to understand how they happen in the first place. Back spasms may have several causes, although it is usually just a single cause, and knowing what those give you a great deal of power over-treating your back spasms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will be looking at eight of the major reasons why people get back spasms so that you can prevent them from coming on in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Overuse<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the reasons the back spasms happen is due to overuse. Officially called the skeletal muscle spasm<\/a>, a back spasm is a regular occurrence for athletes who overexert themselves. This is especially true if they are exercising in a warm environment. Those that do physical labor when it is hot outside are also prone to back spasms.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main thing is that if you are doing a lot of work with your back and you\u2019re not used to using those muscles in that way, then there is a definite chance of injuring yourself where you end up with back spasms. But it doesn\u2019t take strenuous activity to trigger this either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those that do not get much physical activity might notice that they get back spasms after something as simple as shoveling snow in the driveway or even mowing the lawn. You might notice back spasms anywhere in the upper-lower back as well as spasms in the shoulders and the neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. New Activities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any new activity could trigger back spasms if it is strenuous enough and hard on the muscles <\/a>of the back. For example, people that have been out of shape for a long time and have just started exercising once again might notice that they have back spasms as a result of it. But it\u2019s not just your back you need to worry about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any part of the body can suffer from muscle spasms if you begin working out that area without warming up first or getting used to it. For example, you can develop abdominal cramps if you try to do too many crunches or sit-ups at once after not having done any. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People that decide to write longhand or even type on a computer can develop carpal tunnel syndrome or cramps in their hands as a result. Any sort of new activity that you are not used to doing might result in spasms and that includes new activities involving the back muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Dehydration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration <\/a>has long been associated with muscle cramps and spasms. Dehydration leads to the depletion of electrolytes. Low electrolytes can definitely cause muscle spasms and cramping. Your muscle cells require certain things in order to stay healthy. You have to make sure that they are getting enough water which requires you to drink enough water during the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people do not get nearly enough water anyway, but if you are having back spasms, then you definitely want to increase your water intake considerably. You also have to make sure that your muscle cells are getting enough glucose, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. These different nutrients allow for the proteins to create a proper contraction of the muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When one of these nutrients is in short supply, then it can cause muscle spasms because the contracting of the muscles is no longer organized and is rather chaotic. Muscles will first become irritable when missing one or more of these nutrients and then they will develop spasms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Chronic Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chronic pain<\/a> can certainly cause back spasms in certain areas. For example, if you have regular back pain, then you probably are going to have spasms along with it. But you also might have back spasms as a result of neck pain. That\u2019s because there are lots of large muscle groups in that area of your body.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The neck is extremely large muscle group that extends farther than you might expect, the chest wall is quite large, the upper and lower back both take up a significant portion of the trunk in the same goes for the arms and legs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing an injury in these areas can cause spasms or you may notice spasms developing because of a chronic condition such as arthritis in the spine. In addition, obesity can cause chronic back pain and that can cause stress and strain of the muscles in that area as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Systemic Illnesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, it might be a systemic illness that causes your back spasms. Systemic illnesses are certain illnesses where back spasms can be a side effect. For example, illnesses like diabetes <\/a>can cause back spasms. This is usually due to the nerve damage that is caused by diabetes. However, other systemic illnesses can be at fault as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suffer from anemia, which is a low red blood cell count, then you may notice back spasms as well. Again, your body needs specific nutrients in order to perform contractions properly. Not having enough red blood cells or not having enough blood flow to the cells can interfere with that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kidney and thyroid diseases are suitable, as is associated with back spasms and there are various other hormone issues that may be at fault if you notice chronic back conditions like muscle pain and spasms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Nervous System Illnesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nervous system<\/a> illnesses could also be to blame for back spasms. That\u2019s because the nerves are what actually controls the muscles. The brain sends impulses through the nerves in the body to tell muscle whether the contractor not.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, those nerve signals can get jumbled up and end up failing to tell the proper story to the muscle or part of the muscle that is being targeted. This can lead to spasms and confusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

General nerve damage and pinched nerves such as sciatica could lead to back spasms, but it is more common with more serious nerve conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. This can also happen with spinal cord injuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that there is a medication that can treat these types of muscle spasms besides standard muscle relaxants. Neurontin is a nerve deadening medication that can help those impulses stop in not cause spasms nearly as often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Nutrient Deficiencies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some nutritional deficiencies can lead to recurrent muscle spasms as well. As we previously mentioned, there are several things that muscles need to contract properly. If any of these are missing, then it could cause spasms on a regular basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to make sure that you are getting enough of those, you have to make sure that your nutrition is up to date. These include glucose, sodium, potassium<\/a>, calcium, and magnesium. Make sure that you have food in your diet that will provide these nutrients to your body.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your body naturally converts carbohydrates into glucose, and lots of foods have sodium, but you may have to specifically choose foods that have potassium, calcium and magnesium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Exercise<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Exercise <\/a>can also be associated with muscle cramping. The way that you can tell whether back spasms are due to exercise is to see if they happen directly after completing exercise or during your exercise session. If that is the case, then there is a good and that those spasms are being caused by the exercises themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These muscle spasms can occur in both healthy and unhealthy people. Usually, they happen when someone is middle-aged or older, but there are instances where younger people can experience muscle spasms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides son back spasms, exercise can cause leg cramps at night while sleeping, often affecting the ankles and the feet, and there are other areas where this can happen as well. Exercise is not a common cause of sudden back spasms except in cases where you are specifically doing exercises that work those back and shoulder muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Strains and Sprains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with back pain experience pulls or tears, in muscles and ligaments supporting the spine. These types of injuries <\/a>occur for a multitude of reasons, including sports injuries, lifting heavy objects, and poor posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muscle ligament tears can occur in both sedentary and active people. In the case of sedentary individuals, they do not provide the muscular system with enough stimulus to maintain its supportive properties to the spine. As a result, the affected individual may find that they pull a muscle, or strain their back when rising from the couch or getting out of a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athletes that spend too much time training, and don’t focus on their recovery, may also end up experiencing a sprain or tear resulting in back pain. When athletes train for the given sport, they create micro-tears in the muscles and require time off from training to heal these micro-tears. Should the athlete continue training, they are at risk of developing muscle strains in the back, that may keep them out of training competition for months on end.
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10. Spondylosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spondylosis <\/a>is an arthritic condition affecting the health of the spine. This degenerative bone disease causes the progressive wearing of the discs and vertebrae in the spine over time. As a result, the affected individual may find that they start to experience a degradation in their posture, due to the weakness of the skeletal system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spondylosis typically occurs throughout the spine, but it’s more common in the lower lumbar area. Unfortunately, spondylosis has no cure for the condition, and patients will continue to experience a breakdown in the skeletal health of the spine. As a result of this abnormal wearing, the patient may develop conditions like spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors recommend that patients with spondylosis should seek physical therapy to avoid back pain and maintain mobility. The use of prescription anti-inflammatories and painkillers may be necessary to curb symptoms of pain and discomfort in the affected individual.
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11. Spinal Stenosis
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Spinal stenosis<\/a> describes a condition where the affected individual experiences an abnormal narrowing of their spinal canal. Stenosis often occurs due to the vertebra thinning and drying out as a person ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with spinal stenosis may find that they experience pain in the legs and lower back after standing for long periods. The patient may also experience stiffness in the morning, resulting in pain when trying to get out of bed. Simple tasks such as walking may also become too painful for the patient, without the use of prescription painkillers and anti-inflammatories to manage symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients suffering from the effects of spinal stenosis may also experience complications with their condition. As a result, spondylosis and sciatica are common in patients suffering from spinal stenosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physical therapy may help to improve the mobility of the spine, reduce pain, and slow the progression of symptoms in the affected individual.
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12. Ankylosing Spondylitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ankylosing spondylitis<\/a> describes an inflammatory condition of the spine brought about by arthritis. The disease causes the swelling of the vertebrae and discs in the spinal column, and patients may find that they develop numerous complications with the health of the spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the effects of the condition, the patient may start to experience problems with posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ankylosing spondylitis typically affects the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, but it’s more common for the condition to begin in the lumbar region. As a result, the patient may start to experience symptoms of other inflammatory diseases or conditions, such as sciatica. Similar to spondylosis, patients experiencing effects of AS, find they have to deal with morning stiffness. The disease may also cause a loss in the full range of motion in the spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no cure for this spinal disorder. Doctors recommend that the patient seeks physical therapy to increase their mobility. The doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatories and painkillers to help the patient manage their symptoms.
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13. Spondylolisthesis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spondylolisthesis <\/a>describes a condition affecting the spine, where the vertebrae slip away from their normal position. In the majority of cases, patients experience the effects of the disorder in the lower lumbar region of the spine. The patient may also experience fracturing or a defect in one or both of the vertebra. As a result, the vertebrae slip forward, backward, or over the joint or disc below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are numerous causes for the development of this condition. In some cases, the affected individual is born in with defects in the vertebrae. In other instances, athletes incur the disorder, due to sustaining a stress fracture in the vertebra or receiving trauma to the spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spondylosis is a degenerative bone disease, caused by the development of arthritis in the lower back. However, spondylolisthesis typically occurs in athletes and young people. Competing or training in sports like gymnastics and athletics may bring about the condition.
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14. Herniated Discs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A herniation is a medical term used to describe slipped or prolapsed discs in the spine<\/a>. The discs consist of jelly-like material, that’s sensitive to wear and injury. Herniation of the spinal discs occurs in both sedentary and active people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sedentary individuals that do not complete any exercise to strengthen their back are at higher risk of developing the condition. They may sustain the injury by picking up a heavy object from the floor, or a shelf overhead, resulting in severe pain symptoms and locking in the back. Athletes, such as weightlifters, may also sustain the injury when picking up heavy loads from the floor. Movements like the deadlift and squat, are often responsible for this injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the disc bulges, the affected individual will feel a sharp pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the patient recovers from the effects of the condition, with the use of physical therapy and rest. Doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatories and painkillers to help the patient manage the pain and inflammation associated with a herniated disk.
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15. Kidney Stones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The kidneys act as the body’s primary filter for the bloodstream<\/a>. These organs remove toxins such as ammonium, hydrogen, potassium, and uric acid from the blood, as it throws through the internal structures of the kidney named the glomeruli. The body then excretes these toxins through urine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kidneys also help to control the total volume of fluids in the body, as well as maintain electrolyte levels, and the acid-base balance. If the blood contains high levels of toxins and other minerals, they may start to accumulate within the organs producing kidney stones. Kidney stones present symptoms of extreme pain in the affected individual. Doctors remove the stones using medications to dissolve the calcified material. In some cases, the kidney stones may be so large that the patient requires ultrasonic sound therapy to break them up before they pass in the urine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symptoms associated with the condition may present a throbbing pain in the lower back. After passing the stones, the patient will experience no lasting damage to the kidneys.
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16. Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By now, many people realize the addictive and dangerous risk associated with smoking cigarettes. However, this does not stop millions of people around the globe from partaking in this dirty habit. Cigarette <\/a>smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer, and other diseases affecting the respiratory system, such as COPD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarettes contain a toxic cocktail of over 7,000-chemicals, and medical science has still yet to discover the properties of many of these chemicals. Tobacco lobbyists ensure that the medical community does not study the majority of the chemicals found in cigarettes. However, this does not mean that because the chemicals remain unstudied, that they are not harmful to your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who smoke cigarettes, frequently experience the onset of dehydration faster than non-smokers, which may lead to the emergence of back pain and spasms. Smoking can also exacerbate the symptoms of degenerative bone diseases, like osteoarthritis and spondylosis. Stopping smoking is the best way to avoid health complications related to this habit. If you are having trouble quitting, speak to your doctor for help with stopping.
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17. Sitting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who spend all day sitting in a chair, are at higher risk of developing back problems, than those that spend their days walking around. Sitting is an unnatural position, and our bodies are not designed to maintain this posture for prolonged periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who will spend all day in the office sitting in a chair, and then return home to sit on the couch, may find that they start to develop issues with the lower lumbar spine. Degenerative bone diseases, like spondylosis and osteoarthritis<\/a>, may begin to show up in people that spend the majority of their day in a seated position.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that sitting in a chair puts 30-percent more pressure on your spinal column than standing or walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you spend a long time in a seated position, it’s vital that you stretch out your back at least once or twice a day, to avoid the development of back pain. Sitting may also cause trouble with the hip flexors, resulting in a forward tilting of the hips, placing extra pressure on the lumbar region.
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18. Mattresses and Pillows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We spend more than a third of our lives asleep. Given this fact, it’s interesting that many people refuse to spend money on their mattresses. Your mattress may be responsible for the development of your back pain, as well as issues with the neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are different types of mattresses to suit different sleeping positions, and the majority of top bed manufacturers have products to suit back or side sleepers. If you are sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress, then you will not receive the therapeutic benefit from your sleep. If you are dealing with back spasms during the day, or have to live with intense sensations of back pain<\/a>, then it’s recommended that you take a look at your mattress before heading to the physiotherapist office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your pillow may also be causing your back pain and spasms during the day. People who sleep with cheap pillows place extra pressure on the cervical spine, which may result in the development of a stiff neck. The inflammation associated with a stiff neck may spread down the spine to both the thoracic and lumbar regions, resulting in back pain and spasms during the day.
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19. Flying<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It may surprise you to learn that spending time in an airplane may also increase symptoms of back spasms. The pressurized air inside the cabin can irritate the vertebrae and discs in the spine<\/a>, placing them at a higher risk of herniation and bulges.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This effect on the spine may carry over for a few days after landing, and during this time, it’s vital that you take preventative measures to avoid inducing back spasms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People that frequently travel on airplanes should avoid any vigorous exercise or lifting, for at least 36 to 48-hours after landing. After landing and checking into your hotel, take some time to do some light stretching to loosen up the spine and avoid spasms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling on an airplane may also place extra pressure on the spine if you are sitting in a coach. The seats in this region of the plane are narrow, and you won’t have much legroom. As a result, you may find that you start to feel symptoms of lower back pain and spasms, especially on longer international flights.
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20. Incorrect Footwear Choices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your choice in footwear may also have a detrimental effect on the health of your spine. People who wear high heels shoes, or flat-soled sandals, are at high risk of developing muscle spasms throughout the day. Runners are a high-risk group of athletes for the development of lower back pain<\/a> and spasms, due to the foot strike involved with the running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time a runner takes a stride, they place pressure on the heel of the foot, which transfers the impact of the foot strike toward the knee, the hips, and the lower back. Running shoes that do not suit your feet may result in a worsening of these symptoms. People with flat feet should select running shoes with extra padding in the midsole and heel, to prevent issues occurring with the lower lumbar spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, people who wear flat shoes or sandals may also want to wear shoes with support around the heel and midsole. Women who wear high heels are also at risk of developing back spasms due to their footwear choices.
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