backspasmrelief.com

Locked in Back Spasm?

Step 1: Heat. Step 2: Medicate. Step 3: Identify.

This is the emergency protocol I use when spasm hits. It's based on 50+ years of personal experience and 20+ years of clinical work.

About Stephen: Author, Clinician, Fellow Spasm Survivor

I've lived with recurring back pain patterns for over 50 years. I spent over 20 years doing clinical work with people dealing with acute and chronic spinal pain. When a spasm hits, your nervous system switches into a protective lock-down response. The first goal is to reduce that lock-down so you can breathe, move, and recover.

📚 Author: Sciatica Secrets Available on Amazon
50+ years lived experience 20+ years clinical work 10,000+ guide downloads
⚠️ Seek urgent medical care if you have:
  • Severe or progressive weakness
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Saddle numbness (groin/inner thigh)
  • Fever with back pain
  • Major trauma or rapidly worsening symptoms


Step 1

Heat first: reduce lock-down, increase circulation

Heat is commonly used to reduce muscle guarding, support circulation and flow, and help move out the chemical byproducts that build up during intense tightening. These heat application products are some of my favorites and I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you.

ThermaCare Advanced Back & Hip

Best for: immediate relief, staying mobile, travel, or when you can't use a plug-in option.
  • 16 hours of deep, penetrating heat relief
  • Disposable and portable - no cords needed
  • Contoured, flexible fit for lower back and hip
  • Drug-free, odor-free, discrete under clothing
  • L-XL size (Pack of 10)
View on Amazon →
(paid link)

GENIANI XL Electric Heating Pad

Best for: home use, bed or couch, longer heat sessions.
  • Extra-large 12"×24" size covers entire lower back
  • Ultra-plush soft fabric (machine washable)
  • 6 heat settings with auto shut-off
  • Fast heating - warmth in minutes
  • Perfect for extended relief sessions
View on Amazon →
(paid link)

Snailax Shiatsu Back Massager

Best for: sitting, desk work, after the first pain peak has passed.
  • Shiatsu kneading massage nodes with soothing heat
  • Portable - use on any chair, car seat, or at home
  • Adjustable intensity and massage areas
  • Stop massage if it increases pain; use heat-only mode
  • Ideal when you can tolerate gentle movement
View on Amazon →
(paid link)
Heat safety: Avoid sleeping directly on an electric heating pad unless designed for overnight use. If heat increases pain, numbness, or odd sensations, stop and reassess. If symptoms are severe or unusual, seek medical care.


Step 2

Medicate (short-term support)

When a spasm is intense, short-term symptom relief can reduce suffering and help you breathe, sleep, and move enough to begin recovery. This section is educational and non-prescriptive.

Medication note (educational only)

Muscle relaxants work on the nervous system to reduce the spasm reflex at the spinal cord level. Common options include methocarbamol (Robaxin), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), or tizanidine (Zanaflex). Availability varies by country.

Important: These cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery. Consult a pharmacist or clinician before use, especially if you take other medications, have other conditions, or have drowsiness-related risks.

This page provides general educational information only. It does not prescribe or provide individualized medical advice.

What commonly makes spasms worse (Days 1-3)

  • Forcing deep stretching into sharp pain
  • Trying to "push through" the spasm with heavy lifting
  • Long static postures without breaks (including prolonged sitting)
  • Breath-holding and panic breathing
  • Applying ice during the acute phase (increases muscle contraction)

The goal is not to test flexibility. The goal is to reduce the lock-down response and reintroduce gentle movement as tolerated.



Step 3

Identify why the spasm happened

Heat and short-term symptom support help you get through the peak. The next step is identifying the underlying driver so it doesn't keep repeating.

Common patterns associated with back spasms

This is not diagnosis. It's a short list of common drivers that can trigger protective locking:

  • Sciatica or nerve irritation: Irritation along a nerve pathway can increase protective locking in the low back and hip region
  • Disc bulge or herniation: Local irritation can provoke a reflex spasm that limits motion
  • Spinal stenosis: Positional compression can trigger defensive tightening in surrounding tissues
  • Facet or joint irritation: Irritated joints can cause a fast lock-down response to reduce stress
  • SI joint irritation: Pelvic irritation can lead to protective tightening up the chain
  • Overload and fatigue: Lifting, twisting, prolonged sitting, poor sleep, dehydration, or stress can increase spasm risk
If your symptoms are severe, unusual, or persistent, consult a qualified clinician for evaluation.

What to do next: Learn your pattern

The next step is learning which pattern you're in and what positions, movements, or daily habits keep re-triggering it. This is the purpose of my books and tracking tools.

Sciatica Secrets book cover

Sciatica Secrets

Understand nerve pain patterns and learn the positions and movements that help vs. harm.

View on Amazon →
90-Day Reset Journal cover

90-Day Tracking Journal

Daily tracking to identify your specific triggers, patterns, and what works for your recovery.

View on Amazon →
(paid links)


Complete Protocol

Get the complete emergency protocol (FREE)

Step-by-step for the first 48 to 72 hours, and then what to do for the next 10 days. It explains what's happening and why, and helps you move forward without accidentally making it worse.

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