Muscle back spasms are characterized by cramping and pain in the back. Causes for muscle back spasms include tense muscles, dehydration, prolonged standing or sitting, strenuous movements, nerve damage, fatigue, and low calcium levels, low magnesium levels, and low potassium levels in your body. Back muscle spasms are also sometimes caused by conditions like cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. There are natural treatments that can help you alleviate some of the causes of muscle back spasms.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Visit your physician if you suffer from chronic muscle spasms in your back. Your doctor will collect a full medical history from you, and ask about the spasms you are experiencing. You will have a physical examination to determine the source of your spasms, or you may have a neurological exam to determine if nerve damage is causing them. Blood tests will be performed to check your calcium, magnesium, and potassium levels. An arteriography test may be performed to assess your blood flow.
Calcium
Your body relies on calcium to help your muscles, heart, and organs function. A deficiency in this mineral can cause muscle spasms. Eat more calcium-rich foods by adding low-fat dairy products, yogurt, and milk, cheeses of different varieties, blackstrap molasses, and tofu to your diet. Consume Brazil nuts, dried figs, dark leafy greens, hazelnuts, canned salmon, sardines, oysters, cabbage, and broccoli. Soy milk, cereals, and juices that are fortified with calcium are also a great way to get the calcium you need daily for healthy muscles.
Adults ages 19 to 50 require 1000 mg of calcium a day and people over the age of 51 require 1200 mg of calcium daily. Pregnant women and nursing females need 1300 mg of calcium to remain healthy and to prevent muscle spasms. Take one 500 mg calcium supplement in capsule form three times daily with 8 oz. of water.
Possible side effects of calcium consumption include gastrointestinal upset and constipation; reduce your dosage if you note these side effects. If you have sarcoidosis, kidney conditions, or cancer, you should refrain from consuming calcium unless otherwise advised by your doctor. Calcium may interact with alendronate, aluminum containing antacids, blood pressure medications, cholesterol controlling medications, corticosteroids, digoxin, diuretics, estrogens, gentamicins, antibiotics, and anti-seizure medications.
Potassium
Your body requires potassium to assist in kidney and heart function, and it plays a vital role in muscle contractions; a deficiency can result in muscle spasms. Add foods that are potassium enriched to your diet like lima beans, cod, chicken liver, meats, orange juice, bananas, cantaloupes, avocados, potatoes, and tomatoes. Your body needs 2000 mg of potassium a day for optimal health. Discuss with your doctor before consuming a potassium supplement. Take one 99 mg potassium supplement in capsule form daily as a supplement for back spasm prevention.
Side effects of potassium consumption may include nausea and diarrhea. If you have a kidney disorder or hyerkalemia, you should not take potassium supplements. Potassium supplements may interfere or interact with nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs, ACE inhibitors, heparin, cyclosporine, trimethoprimand sulfamethoxazole, beta blockers, thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, corticosteroids, amphotericin B, antacids, insulin, fluconazole, theophylline, and laxatives. Potassium may also interact with digoxin.
Magnesium
Your body needs the mineral magnesium for optimal muscle health. Food sources rich in magnesium include poppy seeds, marjoram, tarragon, cumin seed, savory, fennel seed, cocoa powder, basil, dried mustard, sage, celery seed, dill weed, coriander, seaweed, agar, pine nuts, black walnuts, squash seeds, peanuts, oat flour, whole wheat flour, cashews, blackstrap molasses, pumpkin, spinach, pistachios, shredded wheat, bran cereals, bananas, oatmeal, baked potatoes, chocolate, soybean flour, almonds, cashews, legumes, tofu, and wheat bran.
Consume magnesium in supplement form. Males require 270 to 400 mg of magnesium a day, while females require 280 to 300 mg a day. Pregnant females need 320 mg a day, and breast feeding females need 340 mg of magnesium daily. Excessive consumption of magnesium can result in the onset of nausea, hypotension, vomiting, and a diminished heart rate. Magnesium may interfere or interact with antibiotics, calcium channel blockers, blood pressure medications, diabetic medications, digoxin, hormone replacement therapy medications, levothyroxine, penicillamine, tiludronate, alendronate, aminoglycoside antibiotics, thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, amphotericin B, corticosteroids, and antacids.
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