Relief for persistent neck/back muscle spasms?

I developed really bad back and neck pain from driving a new car over a year ago. It's improved a little but is still one of my most painful and constant symptoms. I'm been seeing a chiropractor for a fews months. It helps but only temporarily. I also do PT exercises to strengthen my back and have done some yoga. I have trouble sitting in most chairs and have constant back and neck pain.

Any suggestions or treatments that worked for this problem? Was thinking about acupuncture and my doctor suggested cold laser therapy. Not really sure what to try. Thanks

Sorry you're having back spasms, those are the worst. Are they brief spasms or is your back just locked in spasm? Acupuncture certainly helps me as long as I get regular treatments.

My old yoga teacher said "sitting is the new smoking". How is your posture when you sit? I'm a poster boy for poor sitting posture and find my back pain is better when I don't slump or slink down on my tailbone. Can you make some ergonomic adjustments?

Magnesium oil can be helpful. Sometimes a couple of days of bed rest takes the edge off as well.

Best Regards,
BJD

The problem with regular chiropractic is: without muscle release, the joint manipulation they do will just go back to what it was in a day or two. And the issue with many PT "plans", you cant properly strengthen muscle that is constantly tight. Tight muscles need to be released repeatedly to get blood flow and rebuild. No water goes thru a knot in a garden hose- same principle. Some places know this and practice it, but not many.

If you actually have spasms, as opposed to disc issues, those are tight areas that can be manually "released" by "Trigger-point release" (which you can learn your self from you tube) or see an Active Release Practitioner. activerelease.com/find-a-provider.asp

You can start by rolling on a tennis ball of the floor, then graduate to something denser - along with a foam roller.

When by body was real tight I had to be supper aggressive with release tools, as did anyone who was working on me.

Topical Magnessium comes in oil, gell, and cream. You can order epsom salt gell online too- I like it.

Alternate warm and cold in the shower- alternating gets the blood moving while not increasing inflammation - you will feel better for a while.

Tight shoulders can play a BIG part in neck pain.

I "roll" my back before and after sleep, every day now..

Post Edited (astroman) : 5/30/2017 9:27:02 PM (GMT-6)

Do your chest too, on the floor, move your arms "flapping" on the floor at the same time. .Release Rotator cuff tendons with 3/4 diameter marbeles on a hard rubber entry way mat. The smaller the diameter the deeper it goes. LaCross ball doing nothing- then use a golf ball, but carefully.

Massage the lower skull area halfway between your ear and spine - its like a indention there and gets tight. Release the fascia on the back of your skull- you tube it.

The tighter you are the more time and more pressure it takes at first.

What you really need is a muscle practitioner who knows what muscles are supposed to feel like, and will release them. A chiro who does this (not just cracking) you will find in that ART link I gave you.

Ever try dry needling? This works for me now. Some insurance cover this too.

Dry needling did nothing for me. I'll look into ART. Maybe I can find a local practitioner. I just wish this back pain would let up. All my other symptoms have improved except for this one.

Unfortunately, No magic pill for this.

Did you try Epsom salt gel? Walmart has it. I like it better than magnesium cream. Get a massage and apply this after.

Aspercreame has a new formula with a numbing agent. - available anywhere it seems. Its wont "numb" but does take the edge off body pain for a while.

You need to get circulation going (which is a form of de-tox) with out you moving all over.

Been there, it takes time, its no fun thats for sure.