Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Back Spasm?Common CausesSigns of Severe ConditionsDiagnosisTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is a Back Spasm?

Common Causes

Signs of Severe Conditions

Diagnosis

Treatment

Coping

Crippling back pain can range from feeling a dull ache to a sudden, sharp pain that might shoot down the leg.

Back pain is a common medical problem. You’ve probably experienced it at one time or another in your life—whether chronic or acute. It can feel mildly uncomfortable or leave you in extreme agony, unable to get through your day-to-day activities. If you have a severe back disorder, it may cause temporary, recurring, or chronic (long-term) pain.

This article discusses the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of back spasms.

Verywell / Katie Kerpel

A woman stretches with her arm above her head and bending sideways (Coping with Back Spasms)

Aback spasmis an involuntary contraction of the back muscles. Moving in a certain way may trigger a back spasm. More often than not, spasms happen because of muscle weakness, overuse, or injury.

A back spasm may last for several hours to several days. Chronic back spasms may be the result of an underlying condition. If muscle spasms are particularly severe, they may stem from nerve irritation or damage.

According to the 2019 National Health Interview Survey, 39% of U.S. adults over age 18 reported experiencing back pain. The percentage of adults with back pain increases with age: 28.4% in people aged 18-29 up to 45.6% of people over age 65.

Muscle spasms can happen for several reasons. Here are a few common causes.

Muscle Strain

A muscle strain is an injury that can happen due to overuse. Sudden forces can also cause acute muscle strain injuries. Twisting motions, for instance, can cause acute back strains.

A common location for muscle strains is the lower back. In addition to causing sudden pain and lingering soreness, muscle strains can also cause painful back spasms.

Athletes are prone to back muscle strain, especially those involved in pushing and pulling sports, such as weight lifting or football, and sports that require sudden twisting of the lower back, such as tennis, basketball, baseball, and golf.Like athletes, movers are also at higher risk for back muscle strain because of the heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, and twisting movements required.

Facet Joint Osteoarthritis

Facet jointsare the bones that connect the different portions of your spine. Withfacet joint osteoarthritis, the cartilage surrounding these joints breaks down, which causes pain. If bone spurs develop, nerve irritation can also occur.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Over time, your body experiences wear and tear. Aging takes a toll on many parts of the body, including the joints.Degenerative disc diseaseis a type of arthritis of the spine that involves the degradation of joint cartilage. This type of degeneration doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, the pain can be severe, potentially causing spasms.

Herniated Disc

Back pain is sometimes a sign of a serious condition. Thesesymptoms are a red flagand should prompt you to visit a healthcare provider. If you’re experiencing several of these together, consider it an emergency and see someone right away.

Incontinence

If you have back pain or spasms and cannot control your bladder or bowel movements, it’s a sign that the nerves in your spine are severely damaged. Having incontinence with back pain can be a symptom of:

Numbness

You can get a pins and needles sensation if you sit too long with your feet tucked under your body. The feeling can also be a symptom ofsciatica. But if you feel numbness in your groin or buttock area, you may have a serious spinal condition.

Weakness in Legs

Weakness that comes on suddenly is cause for concern. If it happens with back pain, it may be a symptom of a serious spine condition affecting the nerves.

Radiating Pain

Pain that travels down the body into your legs can also be a sign of severe nerve compression.

Sharp Pain

If you describe your back pain as sharp, it might not even be back pain. Sharp pain in this area may be a symptom of a muscle injury. It can also be a sign that there’s trouble brewing with an internal organ, like the kidneys.

Is It Sciatica Pain?Sciaticahappens when thesciatic nervein your spine becomes irritated and causes pain. Because this extra-long nerve extends down your legs, it can cause pain anywhere from the lower back to the toes. Pain can be mild or severe.It’s typically a symptom of something else. A herniated disc, for example, can cause sciatic nerve compression or inflammation. It’s also one of the most common reasons for this type of radiating nerve pain. Other conditions that may cause sciatica include:Slipped diskPiriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks)SpondylolisthesisOsteoarthritisSpinal stenosisPelvic injury or fractureTumorsCauda equina syndrome

Is It Sciatica Pain?

Sciaticahappens when thesciatic nervein your spine becomes irritated and causes pain. Because this extra-long nerve extends down your legs, it can cause pain anywhere from the lower back to the toes. Pain can be mild or severe.It’s typically a symptom of something else. A herniated disc, for example, can cause sciatic nerve compression or inflammation. It’s also one of the most common reasons for this type of radiating nerve pain. Other conditions that may cause sciatica include:Slipped diskPiriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks)SpondylolisthesisOsteoarthritisSpinal stenosisPelvic injury or fractureTumorsCauda equina syndrome

Sciaticahappens when thesciatic nervein your spine becomes irritated and causes pain. Because this extra-long nerve extends down your legs, it can cause pain anywhere from the lower back to the toes. Pain can be mild or severe.

It’s typically a symptom of something else. A herniated disc, for example, can cause sciatic nerve compression or inflammation. It’s also one of the most common reasons for this type of radiating nerve pain. Other conditions that may cause sciatica include:

To diagnose what may be causing painful back spasms, healthcare providers will take your medical history. They’ll also ask you to describe the pain and any other symptoms you’re having.

A healthcare provider may ask you to perform movements to assess imbalances or weaknesses. They may also perform imaging tests, such as:

Treating back spasms involves treating the underlying cause. Treatment can also vary depending on whether the pain is chronic or acute.

Acute Pain

Treating acute back pain may involve:

Rest might help if you have a sudden, painful back spasm.Overall, though, healthcare providers don’t recommend prolonged rest for either acute or chronic back pain.

Chronic Pain

Non-invasive treatments for chronic back pain include:

Some people also find relief with alternative therapies such as acupuncture.

Surgery is an option, but it’s often the last resort. There’s no guarantee that surgery will help resolve symptoms.

Combination TherapyHealthcare providers often treat back pain using a combination of therapies. Combining different treatments such as physical therapy and steroid injections may provide better results.

Combination Therapy

Healthcare providers often treat back pain using a combination of therapies. Combining different treatments such as physical therapy and steroid injections may provide better results.

While painful back spasms can disrupt your everyday activities, it’s possible to live with back pain. Some strategies that may help you cope and recover from back pain include:

What About a Chiropractor?A chiropractor may be able to help you with your back spasms and pain. However, it’s essential to see a healthcare provider first. Some chiropractic treatments, such as spinal manipulation, can help with chronic pain issues but aren’t appropriate for certain conditions, like spinal arthritis.

What About a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor may be able to help you with your back spasms and pain. However, it’s essential to see a healthcare provider first. Some chiropractic treatments, such as spinal manipulation, can help with chronic pain issues but aren’t appropriate for certain conditions, like spinal arthritis.

How Are Back Spasms Prevented?

One of the best ways to prevent back pain and spasms is to keep your back and stomach muscles strong. Specific steps you can take to lower your risk of back spasms include:

Summary

If crippling back spasms and back pain are constantly interrupting your life, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. Talk to your healthcare provider, even if you’re convinced that the pain is because of poor posture or some other minor issue.

They can help you figure out the root of the problem and if there’s an underlying cause that requires specific treatment.

A Word From VerywellBack pain is a common issue, but spasms can be debilitating. If home measures do not improve your pain and/or you have repeated episodes, follow up with your healthcare provider for a workup and further treatment.—ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

A Word From Verywell

Back pain is a common issue, but spasms can be debilitating. If home measures do not improve your pain and/or you have repeated episodes, follow up with your healthcare provider for a workup and further treatment.—ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

Back pain is a common issue, but spasms can be debilitating. If home measures do not improve your pain and/or you have repeated episodes, follow up with your healthcare provider for a workup and further treatment.

—ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

Anita C. Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH

15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain.Main Line Health.Back spasms.Lucas JW, Connor EM, Bose J.Back, lower limb, and upper limb pain among U.S. adults, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 415. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. doi:10.15620/cdc:107894Cedars Sinai.Lumbar strain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar strain.Perolat R, Kastler A, Nicot B, et al.Facet joint syndrome: from diagnosis to interventional management.Insights Imaging. 2018;9(5):773–789. doi:10.1007/s13244-018-0638-xJohns Hopkins Medicine.Degenerative disc disease.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.UT Southwestern Medical Center.5 Signs your back pain might be an emergency.Penn Medicine.Sciatica.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Cauda equina syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.7 Ways to treat chronic back pain without surgery.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low back pain.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Taking care of your back at home.Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Prevent back pain.Additional ReadingQaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, et al.Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(7):514-530. doi:10.7326/M16-2367

15 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain.Main Line Health.Back spasms.Lucas JW, Connor EM, Bose J.Back, lower limb, and upper limb pain among U.S. adults, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 415. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. doi:10.15620/cdc:107894Cedars Sinai.Lumbar strain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar strain.Perolat R, Kastler A, Nicot B, et al.Facet joint syndrome: from diagnosis to interventional management.Insights Imaging. 2018;9(5):773–789. doi:10.1007/s13244-018-0638-xJohns Hopkins Medicine.Degenerative disc disease.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.UT Southwestern Medical Center.5 Signs your back pain might be an emergency.Penn Medicine.Sciatica.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Cauda equina syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.7 Ways to treat chronic back pain without surgery.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low back pain.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Taking care of your back at home.Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Prevent back pain.Additional ReadingQaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, et al.Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(7):514-530. doi:10.7326/M16-2367

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain.Main Line Health.Back spasms.Lucas JW, Connor EM, Bose J.Back, lower limb, and upper limb pain among U.S. adults, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 415. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. doi:10.15620/cdc:107894Cedars Sinai.Lumbar strain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar strain.Perolat R, Kastler A, Nicot B, et al.Facet joint syndrome: from diagnosis to interventional management.Insights Imaging. 2018;9(5):773–789. doi:10.1007/s13244-018-0638-xJohns Hopkins Medicine.Degenerative disc disease.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.UT Southwestern Medical Center.5 Signs your back pain might be an emergency.Penn Medicine.Sciatica.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Cauda equina syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.7 Ways to treat chronic back pain without surgery.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low back pain.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Taking care of your back at home.Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Prevent back pain.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain.

Main Line Health.Back spasms.

Lucas JW, Connor EM, Bose J.Back, lower limb, and upper limb pain among U.S. adults, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 415. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. doi:10.15620/cdc:107894

Cedars Sinai.Lumbar strain.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar strain.

Perolat R, Kastler A, Nicot B, et al.Facet joint syndrome: from diagnosis to interventional management.Insights Imaging. 2018;9(5):773–789. doi:10.1007/s13244-018-0638-x

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Degenerative disc disease.

American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.

UT Southwestern Medical Center.5 Signs your back pain might be an emergency.

Penn Medicine.Sciatica.

American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Cauda equina syndrome.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.7 Ways to treat chronic back pain without surgery.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low back pain.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Taking care of your back at home.

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Prevent back pain.

Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, et al.Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(7):514-530. doi:10.7326/M16-2367

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