Today was the second time this year I’d thrown out my back. The back muscle spasms are so bad it puts me in entirely different state of mind. It’s due to the amount of brain piercing bursts of pains I experience. Transferring from the floor to the couch almost had me black out. It only takes the slightest move to trigger the spasmed muscle(s). It’s like playing a game of Russian roulette but it’s your body movements. Cool huh?
Do y’all get this too? Why is it so fucking god awful painful? How do you handle your episodes?
You should treatyoself by getting that diagnosed.
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My husband had the worst sciatica, and this book helped him so much
How would a book help in these situations?
You sleep with your back on the book
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Ez solution. You can also buy my book: why is my monitor too low and hoe solve it.
In them? Not at all. But by reading it and understanding probable causes and stretches/exercises that can alleviate or prevent the pain, hopefully things would get better.
That being said, consulting a doctor would still be a good idea. But having something you can do immediately, that gives you tools that could help right away, isn’t bad either.
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The book itself doesn’t do much. It’s the information in the book that can help.
But honestly what information would really make such a difference (next to the basic things like good posture etc.
Thank you!!! Just ordered it :)
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lift with your knees, not with your back
You uh… you might wanna see a doctor about that.
Wait blacking out back spasms aren’t a daily issue for everyone?
Never had that or met anybody who has. You should go to a doctor bro
Not quite pass out, no. But it can get bad enough that it amounts to the same because the mind has nothing left to process other things. All it can do is deal with the pain. Sounds get muffled, you lose perception of the rest of body. It’s just that pain filling your mind, and that’s all you are.
But think about it. The back is closest to the CNS, the central nervous system. It supports and protects the spine. So your mind pays extra attention to pain from there.
When it’s muscle spasms, there’s also the fact that it immobilizes you, so on a primitive level, if you don’t resolve that injury signal, you could die in a survival level of existence. So your brain it harder to ignore than something like a cramp in your arm.
You just have to find what works for you. Me? If I don’t have access to the little combo of muscle relaxer, breakthrough pain med, and NSAID, it comes down to meditative practice. You practice every day, controlling your breathing, doing progressive muscle relaxation, and figuring out ways to isolate and wall off the pain for brief periods so that you can function to some degree.
But I’ve got nerve pain added to the mix, so what works for me might not work for you.
My own back spasms were similar; but I’ve had them enough times that I’ve learned ways to manage the pain enough to finish a thought other than “ouch”
I’ve been able to reduce the frequency of occurrence by experimenting w my sleeping and exercise habits and learned that pregnancy pillows are worth their weight in gold for me; maybe they’ll help you?
Over the past 30+ years, I average an episode every 18 months. I’m currently in my 9th week of recovery from my latest episode and mostly past the crippling pain and now into that constant mild/medium pain and range of motion limitation that seems to never get better and lingers for months.
Of my nearly 2-dozen lifetime episodes, a solid 2/3 of them washed me over with such sudden and intense pain that I entered an hours long state of shock accompanied by cognitive disability and short term memory haziness. I don’t think I’ve ever actually blacked out, but I expect everyone responds differently.
I am not a doctor and am not qualified to diagnose your specific issue, but if you are suffering from herneated lower disc (my problem), then a mass of inner disc material is breaching your outer disc and putting direct pressure on a major nerve bundle…triggering the most intense pain imaginable.
My standard recovery is to immediately get a perscription for a round of Prednisone (powerful steroid) to quickly reduce inflamation and immediately get on a perscription for muscle relaxers.
Long term, when you are not injured or recovering, you can work on core strength and posture which is supposed to make episodes less frequent.
There’s also surgery option: three main types available. The most modern and least invasive is the micro-discectomy. My doctor (and all my previous doctors) always try to talk me out of the surgery for numerous reasons.
First, thank you for comment. I couldn’t have explained this experience better myself. I’m so sorry you experience this. I don’t wish this upon anyone. (Except my mortal enemies but that’s a story for another day 😉)
And you’re right, It’s not only the pain but the intense state of stock as well as the hazy memory and speech.
Sounds like you have a solid recovery routine which is the same as me. I do find a few rounds of acupuncture also helps with inflammation and range of motion. I think im going to start taking Yoga classes along with my strength training. Here’s hoping this reduces the episodes.
And here’s hoping your last episode is truly your last one. 💜
My dad has four slippers discs in his lower back. Got them from a work injury when he was 25. I was 4 then.
I never knew my dad not in pain. He tried surgery, twice. But neither took. That being said, the University of Washington has made huge strides in that exact kind of care. I would direct my father there if he were still around today, but since I can’t, maybe Udub can help you.
Tc
University of Washington. This is good to know! I’ll poke around and see if I can find any recent work on this. Thank you!
Yes, this isn’t an unusual type of pain with someone with a back or spine injury. Like others said, see a doctor asap as they may be able to help. You might need physical therapy along with medication, and it’s better to start sooner rather than later when it could be less treatable.
If you’re having severe back pain (or any unusual or severe symptom) you’re better off going to a doctor as soon as possible. First, severe pain is never something that you should just live with, and it may be able to be treated. Second, it’s possible that whatever is causing your severe pain could lead to worse problems or be a symptom of something serious. (I don’t mean to scare you, but it’s important to rule things like that out sooner rather than later.)
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Will he? Mine didn’t prescribe anything and sent me to a physiotherapist.
Oh my dear, I wish Cyclobenzaprine or any muscles relaxers worked for these episodes. They don’t. They are definitely helpful after the initial episode.
I suppose I felt compelled to make this post because I was feeling (and still am) completely dejected. I put so much work into my previous recovery and continued prevention. When it all comes crashing back down on you, its hard to know how to feel about it.
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I haven’t, but I have pulled by shoulder lifting a mattress at a weird angle to put on a fitted sheet that caused me to hear ringing in my ears and made me feel like I was almost going to. That was maybe two weeks ago, but it stopped after I laid down for a bit.
This is not normal, you need to talk to a medical professional mate.
I did… Until I found a good neurosurgeon and had a L5-S1 360° fusion.
Prior to that I had back episodes regularly, some so painful I would completely pass out. The last straw for me was when I was coming down the stairs in my house, took a step down and woke up at the bottom of the stairs. I’m extremely lucky I didn’t break my neck. Some orthopedic surgeons are good but a good neuro is a life saver.
Holy shit, the term, the straw that broke the camel’s back is too real in your situation. I’m glad the neurosurgeon and surgery worked out for you! What was your actual diagnosis if you don’t mind me asking?
Yeah, it started with a herniated disk at l5-s1 with central canal stenosis. That was a discectomy and laminectomy about 15 years ago. The disk continued to deteriorate and eventually collapsed to where the vertebrae were almost touching. The lack of stability resulted in severe spinal cord impingement.
All good now, other than I’m old and a bit too fat lol
