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jade
18 Posts |
 Posted - 02/02/2005 : 07:42:04
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I keep having back spasms. As soon as one lets up a little bit , then another one comes. I have been working through them doing my usual activities of exercise and taking aspirin when I can't take the pain any longer. The spasm is now occuring when I am exercising (it usually occured when I was doing nothing that could trigger it.) So should I give it a rest and not push so hard? I know the activities don't cause the spasm but should I give my back a rest for a little while?
I know it is TMS and I won't hurt anything but it is just so terribly painful when I do the exercises.
Also, what actually causes the back to spasm? Blood not getting to the muscles at the instant it spasms?
Thanks so much. |
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blg568
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 08:39:52
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Hi Jade.
I too suffer with back spasms. Ain't nothin' like 'em, is there? Except maybe labor and delivery. I tend to have back spasms when I'm running on the treadmill. I have finally gotten to the point where I'm just OVER this pain, so the other night I was running slowly on the treadmill and my back was feeling fine. Gradually I would increase my speed. Then, I could tell my back was wanting to spasm, so I would reduce speed for a little while. Then I would gradually speed up again. I did this until finally I was able to run at the speed that I wanted to without my back feeling like it was going to spasm.
Maybe you can just gradually work up to some light exercises. Good luck to you, Jade. |
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Albert
USA
210 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 10:12:35
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If you're exercising because you believe that physical conditioning will make you better, that's a mistake. If TMS is going make muscles spasm it is going to do so no matter how fit they are.
If you want a physiological explanation of how oxygen deprivation can cause muscle fibers to spasm, here is a simplified one (the process is complex and has a lot of parts and factors to it).
1. Muscles need oxygen in order to make Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), a molecule that provides energy for muscular contraction.
2. Muscle fibers contract by shortening.
3. In order to relax after shortening, they need ATP. If there is a shortage of ATP they'll have difficulty relaxing. This is what happens with rigormortis. The supply of ATP runs out and the muscles become stiff.
Also, a lack of oxygen can cause lactic acid to be produced, which can intefere with the contractual process and be felt by your nerves. Back muscles, because they are postural, can produce only a limited amount of lactic acid (due to a lack of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase, the muscular form), so this effect is probably secondary.
When it comes to conditioned pain, as happens with certain movements, I don't know. Perhaps the nervous system quickly causes a muscle fiber to contract when you're doing a movement that requires you to stretch. Ouch! Two counterproductive movements. This reminds me of stuttering. Due to emotional reasons, a person's vocal chords are immediately effected. |
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back spasm
