I have got a back spasm that returned 3 times in the last 6 weeks. This last time was so bad it hurt to breath. I have heard that shortage of certain vitamins can attribute to this. i do not take a daily vitamin. I'm 35 and I work at a computer all day. The spasm is under the left shoulder blade but the whole back and neck tenses up and deep breathing is a killer. I really hate medicine so I've been dealing with this mostly with advil when most needed but have not taken any muscle relaxers, etc. I'm almost better now, no more sharp pain but all the muscles are tight still...... I'm seeing a chiro and my dr suggest physical therapy, whic I'll start next week but I just wanted to know if there are certain vitamins I should pick up to maybe help keep this from coming back.
T.,
Magnesium is the only supplement that I know of that relaxes muscle. I would try massage along with the chiropractic. You may also need a new mattress.
Victoria
Magnesium may help - most people are deficient in it.
Very well done, on not taking drugs. Good for you.
Most muscle spasms cannot occur if you have enough calcium. I like the calcium/ magnesium combinations to which you add boiling water- you can find these in the healthfood store, or contact me and I'll hook you up w/ some if you don't find it.
In most cases that is the end of it. You are seeing a chiro, so that should take care of muscle spasms caused by nerve impingement.
If after 2, 3, 4 days on the cal/mag if they persist then it is a matter of getting the calcium from your blood stream to the tissue. If that happens- infrequent, but none the less it does occur- send me a note, and I'll go over the next step.
You are very smart to get to the underlying cause, and not just treat the symptom.
best, k
ps I'd skip the physical therapy until you do the above, might not be necessary. Check out a book by Bob Anderson called Stretching- he has stretches for different activities and professions
Hi, T.,
I'm a professional musician and was having some TERRIBLE back and neck spasms some years ago. A neurologist at a performers clinic in New York City said to take some classes in The Alexander Technique. It has really helped! If you can find a good teacher in your area I would recommend that--or if you can't do classes for whatever reason, there are good books on the subject available--just do a google. When we figure out what we are doing that gives us the pain we can un-do it with good coaching. Good luck! Kathy
I don't think the vitamins are going to help as much as the PT would. Since you sit at a computer all day, you are flexed forward all day, over stretching the muscles in your upper back and tightening your chest muscles. PT will teach you better posture and teach you exercises to improve your posture to prevent putting strain on your midback.
I get this on the other side and it's from bad mouse positioning at work. Oh, and holding a kid on my hip. Have you had an ergonomic evaluation of your work station? Bad posture, bad chair, bad computer screen positioning, all of these are big contributors to back pain. If your company is large enough they will pay for it, especially if you ask them to compare the cost of a new chair to the cost of a workman's compensation claim for back pain.
Also, I had constant and severe back pain from an old soft tissue injury and it was awful when I would first get out of bed. I was in pain for 10 years until I went to the full 10 sessions of Rolfing. It's a sort of physcial therapy that worked really well for me; it corrected my posture and some old habits of motion that contributed to my chronic pain. Feldenkrais was also useful for me, another form of physical therapy. Depending on your insurance, they may pay for it as well. Rolfing is about $100 per session and it's 10 sessions total, and it was worth every penny. Feldenkrais is about $10 per group class and more expensive for individual treatment, but I think the group classes are more effective, actually. Good luck!
Oh, staying hydrated is key too.
I have some herniated disks that are causing me low back and leg pain. My doc has me taking D3, fish oil, and magnesium. Google "anti-inflammatory foods"... and lots of nutritional advice will be there. Aleve works best for mine when I'm not using a prescription med. It does sound like a chiropracter could help you out.... and if you are at the computer all day, by yourself a tush-cush online. I have one and it helps a lot.
I am on a special diet that can sometimes contribute to muscle cramps and my doctor gave me potassium pills to take to help - maybe they would work for your spasms as well... :o)
Dear T.:
I use to get the same thing until i found this Chiropractor who turned me on to Muscle Calm. http://www.ndinutraceuticals.com/product348.html
I tried some many product including drugs without results.
One bottle they were gone.
Good Luck
Kim
My chiro puts physical therapy right after my adjustment. I have been feeling much better. I wonder if your desk is not set up correctly. My girlfriend had terrible headaches for a long time, then discovered it was how she was sitting at her desk that was the culprit. Also, my friend broke a rib coughing, it was the one in her back and that is why she was having pain. Viatimins are not a bad way to go, they can only help.
Good luck
Keep with the Chiropractor and ask what vitamins will help along with the physical therapy.
Blessings, S.
Just make sure your chiropractor is a corrective care chiro. Not just someone who is going to manage your pain.
I take vitamins from USANA Health Sciences, If you want futher info please send me an email at ____@____.com.
I pray you will feel back to tip top shape soon!
A.
Get into Pilates with a great instructor. Your muscles are contracted instead of being lengthened like they should be, from sitting all day. The whole body movements are involved.
