Causes of Muscle Spasms

This article will discuss the various types and causes of muscle spasms, back pain symptoms, lower back pain remedies, treatment and prevention, and touch on back pain medicine and some of the best back pain relief products available today.

To understand the causes of muscle spasms, you need to understand how muscles work.  Whenever you move, various muscles in your body will contract or expand.  When muscles involuntarily contract, this is called spasms or involuntary muscle spasms.

Involuntary Muscle Spasms

Though it’s more common to have muscle spasms in our back, neck, calves or feet, every muscle in our body is subject to muscle spasms.   Muscle spasms are the most common reason for back pain cause.  These muscle spasms usually happen from muscle fatigue, sudden or continued over-exertion such as exercise or sports activities; using the muscles for things they’re not conditioned for, including lifting heavy or bulky items, or simply moving your body at an awkward angle.  It can be a side effect of certain medications, and sometimes an electrolyte imbalance or neurological disorder such as a stroke, trauma, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis can trigger it. Some symptoms of muscle spasms may be a burning back pain or sudden back pain.  Generally, to help relieve the causes of muscle spasms, the best thing to do is to gradually and slowly stretch, such as muscle stretching exercises.

I’ll outline some of the back pain symptoms and remedies below.

Back Pain Symptom

  1. Muscle trauma is an extreme stress on the muscles that causes mild to severe spasms or cramps. The area can become inflamed, red or swollen.  You might feel a sudden “pull” or hear a snapping sound when this happens.  Slow muscle stretching exercises, moving and walking around will help this.

   2. Dehydration is a major contributor to lower back muscle spasms.  Loss of sodium due to dehydration causes limb and abdominal cramps or spasms.  If you drink a good deal of water and increase salts, it will reduce the spasms quite a bit.

   3. A poor supply of oxygen to the muscles is one of the main reasons behind spasms or cramps.  You can treat it by breathing slowly and deeply.  A gentle massage and slow stretching can also be effective.  Poor blood circulation is an example of a poor supply of oxygen to the muscles, and you need to get the blood circulating, getting the oxygen to the muscles.

   4. Night spasms or “Charley Horses” usually occur in your legs, calves or feet at night or when you’re resting.  They can be fairly painful if you’re also dehydrated.  It’s usually caused by sitting too long, or low potassium, magnesium, calcium or sodium.  Bananas and some other fruits are a great source of potassium, and help my Charley Horses.

   5. Menstruation is another cause of muscle spasms in the abdomen, sometimes referred to as stomach back pain.  The best treatment for menstrual cramps or spasms is using heat, an appropriate pain reliever/anti-inflammatory such as ibuprophen or Motrin if approved by your doctor, and doing slow stretches.  Pregnancy and back pain are also a very common combination.

   6. Tension causes your entire body to tense up.  Try to stay calm and relaxed with slow breathing, meditation, visualization, or doing something you enjoy that will relax you.

   7. An electrolyte deficiency is another big cause of muscle spasms, which is a deficiency of potassium (Hypokalemia) or calcium (Hypocalemia).  If you supplement your diet with calcium and potassium, this will relieve it.

   8. A deficiency of vitamins like Thiamine (B1), Pantothenic Acid (B5) and Pyridoxine (B6) will cause muscle spasms.  Vitamin and mineral supplements will help your overall health as well as reducing the causes of muscle spasms.

Lower Back Pain Remedy or General Muscle Remedy

    * If you stretch and condition properly before any strenuous activity or activity your body’s not accustomed to, and warm up and cool down, you’ll greatly reduce the chances of muscle spasms

    * Stay hydrated with plenty of water.  Water helps ‘lubricate’ your muscles and organs, and is vital for proper functioning of your entire system.  Also be sure to replace electrolytes lost during strenuous activity or sports

    * Avoid excessive fatigue.  This not only helps your muscles, but your emotional, mental and physical health

    * Take vitamin and mineral supplements to not only reduce muscle spasms, but to maintain overall health

    * Take breaks during increased activity, stretch and relax your muscles

    * Observe ergonomics such as table height, chair position, foot support, etc. (see more details at the Stop Back Pain Cause Now page)

    * Avoid high heeled footwear.  This puts a tremendous strain on your back and entire body.  Your body’s not in its proper position with high heels.  They push your weight forward, throwing your posture, spine and hips out of whack, and are very bad for your feet

These are some of the main things you can do to relieve muscle spasms as well as help sciatic nerve relief, and there’s more helpful information about this in this blog.  There are also several types of back pain medicine you can take, which I’ve included in other posts.  There are a few high quality back pain relief products I can highly recommend including Back Soothe Wellness Oil (Wonderful), a TENS system that you no longer need a prescription for (I have one and it’s really helped me over the years), as well as different supports and exercisers, inversion table, the best back supplements, and Back Relax and Pain Free HP back pain products.

I hope this article’s been helpful.  Let me know if you have a specific question or issue.  I’d be happy to respond or find the answer for you.  Good luck, and let me know how you do!

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Back Pain Relief Products

Back pain is the 2nd most common reason that people go to their doctors in the U.S.  And, it continues to be an ongoing struggle for people to remedy.  There are a lot of back pain relief products you can choose from that may help provide relief.

However, in researching this ongoing problem and the back pain solutions available today, I’ve found some top selling back pain relief products with very good results and testimonials.  These products have been very successful in helping people alleviate their back pain causes.

One of these highly rated products is:

Nature’s Inventory Back Soothe

In doing my research on chronic back pain relief, I found a company that provides a variety of all natural, quality products with wonderful results and testimonials from customers, as well as doctors.

One of their products is certified organic Back Soothe Wellness Oil, which is a wonderful natural back pain medicine.  It uses the healing properties of Ginger, Marjoram, Black Pepper and Rosemary essential oils to reduce pain and inflammation naturally for immediate results.  This is much better than taking a pill, and they say you’ll feel results in 2-3 minutes versus 20-45 minutes with a pill!  Nature’s Inventory has always been “green” conscious, which I appreciate.

They’re rated 5 out of 5 for Customer Satisfaction, and have a “No Hassle” 6 Month Money Back Guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with their products for any reason, you can return them for a full refund including shipping cost.

They also have free samples you can try before purchasing. Their founder had been diagnosed with advanced Lupus that was ‘uncurable’, which is how Nature’s Inventory began, and they develop their products in the U.S. This means they help save our valuable natural resources, and provide jobs to our citizens, which is particularly crucial right now. It’s a win-win all the way around. You can tell I’m ‘high’ on them! To learn more about Nature’s Inventory and their products, just click on the picture or link above.  I can say they have a very good quality and results rating, and this is a very popular product.

TENS System Back Pain Remedy
(includes its own back support belt)

The TENS system for back pain symptoms and referred back pain is now available without a prescription! It can be worn comfortably under your clothing, clipped to the back support belt, clothes, or in your pocket. This Lower Back Pain Relief System uses Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation or TENS. The stimulator sends comfortable electrical stimulation through pads on your skin into the nerves of your lower back. It blocks pain signals from traveling to the brain, so that you feel less pain or no pain at all.  I LOVE mine, and really don’t know what I would have done without it when my back’s given me fits!

The system includes a back support belt, self-adhesive pads that attach to the belt, and the stimulator unit.  You can be very active while wearing it, doing about anything or nothing, like sleeping!

They have both a Best Price Guarantee and Money Back Guarantee. If you’re not satisfied for any reason, they will exchange the item, or refund the product amount within 60 days of purchase.

If you’ve wanted the therapy relief of a TENS unit, but never received a prescription for it, Now you can get it!  I can speak from experience – they’re really a Godsend for those of us with acute lower back pain.

Fitness Equipment For a Healthy Life

This company has a wide range of products to help you relieve acute lower back pain.  From back support, thermal clothes, exercisers like steppers and treadmills, to inversion tables, other assisters, workout programs and weight management tools.

They have a Best Price Guarantee and 60 day Money Back Guarantee.

Healthier YOU has a large selection of Natural health products that combine the best of Mother Nature with the latest breakthroughs in nutritional science.

They have high quality back pain relief products, including Back Relax and a Pain Free HP.  

Back Relax™ is very unique.  Unlike other products that reduce their effectiveness by affecting the body globally, Back Relax targets the lumbar back, spinal area, shoulders and shoulder blades specifically.  It homeopathic properties stimulate your body’s own natural mechanisms to help soothe and relieve lower back muscle pain.

Pain Free HP: You rub it in to the affected area, and the strong natural ingredient “Capsaicin” goes to work attracting and destroying the messenger chemical that carries pain senations to your brain, and eliminates it!  It’s really amazing.  Its effects don’t diminish with continued use – you don’t build up a resistance to it.  It actually works better over time, because repeated use depletes the cells’ supplies of the messenger chemical, so fewer and fewer pain signals make it to the brain.

One of the most important criteria when selecting your vitamins and supplements should be a complete, balanced combination of nutrients that work together in synergy.  They also need to be in the correct amounts and ratios to be effective. For example, calcium needs Vitamin D in order to be effective. Too much of one element can lead to a deficiency in another. They assure the shelf life of every product.

If these products don’t do what they say they will, you can return any unused portion up to a full 90 days for a complete refund – no questions asked, no hassles.

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3 Types Of Back Pain Medications

Although many of us who suffer from back problems do not often want to use back pain medication in order to treat it, as they do not like the idea of taking such products; especially when it comes to the chances of possibly suffering from side effects.

However, in some cases it may be necessary for us to do so to help reduce the amount of pain we are feeling, as well as helping to increase our mobility levels.

For many who decide not to choose to treat the problem through the use of medication, you may find that you become extremely inactive, and will then find it difficult to get active again once the problem that has been causing the pain has been reduced. Today there are various different kinds of medication a person can use for treating back problems. Everything from back pain medication that can be purchased over the counter to ones which need to be prescribed by the doctor.

The most commonly used forms of medication for treating back pain are Tylenonl and Phenaphen, which have analgesic properties that help to reduce the amount of pain and swelling to the area, as well as helping to improve the healing process.

Other anti-inflammatory medications that a person may consider using are Naproxen, or even Aspirin, which are effective for treating chronic back pain problems, as they can help to ease the inflammation that has occurred in the spinal nerves. As for those medications which are called opiods, these are only to be used in the most severe cases of back pain, and can only be prescribed to a person by their doctor or health care provider. This is because these are made using a morphine derivative, and can become extremely addictive if used for extended periods of time.

However, if you are someone who prefers to use back pain medications that do not not need to be ingested, then a cream may be more advisable. These types of medications come in a cream formula, are applied directly to the area where the pain is, and are absorbed directly through the skin into the body. But, which ever kind of medication you decide to use, it is advisable that you discuss the matter with your doctor first, as there could be some underlying cause for the problem which may require another form of treatment in order to help deal with it.

Thanks to Ricky of http://www.reliefbackpain.net.

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Back Pain Causes and Relief

A back pain symptom and spinal cord problems are the most frequent complaints in the world today.  To get rid of this pain, and get relief immediately is the first thought that comes to the mind of the sufferer.  Most of the back pain medications available in the market today do just that – namely, giving temporary relief, and not addressing the root cause.  Of course, there are a wide variety of prescribed medications, as well as over the counter back pain medicine available that promise to help the cause of acute lower back pain.  But, in actuality, they just mask the symptoms, and don t tackle the root cause of the pain.

The reason behind the common occurrence of your back problem is that its so easy to injure your spine, and once an injury has happened, it usually stays for a longer period than expected.  At times, it remains with you for a lifetime.  Part of the spinal problems is a result of lifting of heavy objects, sometimes even lighter objects.  It can also be due to bad posture while sitting, and it affects mostly the lower back.  Thankfully, for a natural back pain remedy, there’s a large selection to choose from in getting back pain relief that you can trust and use, and leave the prescription drugs aside for a while.

Simple movements and exercises can also help in giving you the much needed chronic back pain relief, and it doesn t require much effort on your part.  Just simple movements like stretching your back gently relaxes your back muscles, and helps to make you feel better.

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Back Pain Cause

Everyone experiences occasional back pain at some point in their lives.  But, for those who suffer from severe chronic back pain or back muscle pain, it can be very debilitating, and greatly affects the quality of life.  our back pain cause may be an injury or muscle spasms.  Or, it can be a result of a more general condition like arthritis.  It can range in intensity from infrequent aches and pains to chronic, disabling pain.  Back pain and general muscle pain are linked to physical exertion, misuse, overuse, or injury. It can include herniated disks, sciatica nerve pain, and other back problems. Tension can also result in muscle pain.

It’s estimated that 4 out of every 5 adults suffer from back pain at least once during their life. It’s also one of the main causes of absence from work.  General muscle pain is the second highest reason for doctor visits, where an estimated 80% of Americans have muscle pain of some type.  Too many times we abuse our backs and muscles, pushing them to or beyond their limit.  This is how so many of these issues begin.  There are many exercises, therapies, and medicines that can provide back pain relief, but you must first determine the cause of your back pain, the severity or how chronic the pain is, and what you and your doctor determine as the best back pain treatment program.

There is good news.  Low back pain exercises will help most people if they do their exercises consistently and correctly. Aside from targeted back pain exercises, if you just stretch regularly, particularly before performing strenuous activity, it will help greatly. There’s also remedies for back pain like natural back pain therapy and back pain medicine that will help alleviate your chronic back pain cause.

Lower Back Pain Remedy

One lower back pain remedy is things you can do to help improve the strength, resilience, and flexibility of your lower back and spine and remaining aware of these things:

Posture: Always be conscientious about your posture. Good posture is a key in helping your spine and strengthening your back (and stomach, which supports your spine).

Lifting, Turning, and Bending: Always crouch down and use your legs to lift things, rather than put that strain on your back. Be aware of your movements while carrying things, or turning, such as awkward angles and jerking when lifting or moving things. You can help prevent your chronic back pain cause.

Nutrition: If you do not do this already, taking vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium, can play a big part in strengthening your back. Calcium, magnesium, and protein-based nutrition help strengthen your back, and magnesium and calcium supplements can also help leg cramps.

Footwear: You should always wear appropriate footwear, particularly if you have back problems, as high heels, narrow shoe heels, etc. are the worst things for your back.

Back Strengthening Exercises

If you want to increase the strength, flexibility, and resilience of your back, back strengthening exercises are necessary to keep your bones and muscles strong and flexible. As with any other type of exercise, exercises for low back pain should be done gradually to prevent injury or furthering a current injury. You must condition your back, as any other part of your body, to promote healing, health, and function.

Your doctor or physical therapist can prescribe a targeted back pain relief exercise, and there are physical therapies like low back pain physical therapy, disc decompression therapy, herniated disc physical therapy, and others to help educate you.  These include learning the importance of using ergonomic tools such as an ergonomic office chair, ergonomic knee chairs, computer workstation ergonomics and ergonomics office equipment like proper desk, computer, and chair height, ergonomic computer keyboards, an ergonomic high back chair, etc.  All of the ergonomic tools help to reduce all types of muscle strain. The therapist can also teach you the correct ways of sitting, standing (i.e., one leg cocked, which offsets your spine & pelvis), walking, lifting, and repetitive motion, which also causes a lot of injuries. All of these things will help prevent future problems from arising.

You should always stretch prior to doing any exercise or exertive physical activity, particularly if you are not in the best physical condition.

Lose the Back Pain

Besides lower back pain exercises, physical therapy treatments like massage, heat, ice, electrical stimulation (i.e., ultrasound), and other techniques can be used to help relieve muscle or back pain.  Acupuncture and back pain relief, chiropractic back pain care, and natural back pain therapies can also help. There are physical aids available, such as a back support brace, to help support and strengthen your spine by holding your stomach in, and keeping your spine in the correct position. This also helps reduce strain.

Body, back, and muscle therapy is very useful in helping to providing pain relief and body function. Massage is regularly recommended and used to relieve tension and pain. It helps increase circulation, which brings nutrients and oxygen to the affected muscles, and helps to carry the toxic substances away. There are other body, muscle, and back pain therapies that are effective, such as Reflexology (pressure is applied to reflex points on the hands and feet), Shiatsu (pressure applied to the meridians of the body to improve circulation and ease pain), Rolfing (connective tissue and muscles are manipulated), and the Feldenkrais method (new ways of moving your body to relax tense or cramped muscles). However, these methods must be performed by trained practitioners.

Aromatherapy massage oils or an aromatherapy essential oil from herbs and plants are for muscle pain relief and inflammation or spasms associated with it.  Some common aromatherapy essential oils for muscle pain include ginger, peppermint, marjoram, and thyme.  The oils can be applied with gentle massages or compresses, and some can be added to a warm bath.

If the back pain does not go away in spite of exercise and other non-invasive treatments, surgery may be a necessary option. It is very important that you see a professional back pain clinic or back pain specialists (orthopedic surgeon or other spinal/back specialist) to get expert advice and diagnosis of your back pain cause. This can help you understand different treatment options, and the amount of chronic back pain relief they can provide.

Back Pain Relief Products

The main focus of muscular back pain is to bring proper function and conditioning back to your spine, and eliminate worsening or future problems. For most people, back pain can be treated without surgery. Common back pain medicine may include over the counter medicine such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or non-steriod anti-inflammatory durgs (NSAIDs), used for milder pain.  Both acetaminophen and NSAIDs relieve the pain caused by stiffness and muscle aches, but NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation. There are also topical pain relievers such as sprays, creams, and lotions, which you can apply directly to the skin to relieve the pain. If these non prescription over the counter medicines don’t provide relief, treatment may have to include stronger medications like muscle relaxants, prescription NSAIDs, anti-anxiety drugs, or anti-depressants, among others.

There are a wide variety of back pain solutions and back pain relief products at your disposal.  Using a lower back pain remedy like correct posture, proper supportive footwear, back support braces, and proper ergonomic tools are key in relieving back pain, as well as back strengthening exercises.  Natural back pain remedies like massage therapy, aromatherapy, yoga, and other alternative back pain therapy will help you lose the back pain!

*Always consult with your physician regarding lower back muscle pain, as you should with any physical condition.

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