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What Causes Pain And Muscle Spasms At The Waist Area?
Question: My husband, age 70, is having muscle spasms and pain in his right side just about waist level. He has had an xray and two catscans and nothing showed up in them. His symptoms occur when he lies down or gets up out of bed and when he sits for long periods of time. He cannot stand or walk, has postpolio syndrome. What can be causing the pain and muscle spasms?
Brief Answer:
Pain killers/Physiotherapy might help- some tests recommended
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
I see that your husband has had examinaitons of the back with xrays and CT scans, has he every had a head CT scan?
The reason I ask for a head CT or MRI is due to the fact that many neurological symptoms and signs in the extremities might be due to disorders that affect the brain like vascular accidents being the most common ones.
Back pain and leg pain can be caused by muscular (strain)and disk (prolapse) problems in almost 90% of the patients. Tests and examinaitons are normal in these cases.
Another cause is if there is bone tumors. the CT scan would have shown them. On the other hand to have better view of the bones problably bone schintigraphy is what might help a lot.
Sometimes muscle examinaitons like EMG and nerve conduction tests (NCT) will help determine if the symptoms are related to muscle or nerve problems.
Having a CBC, ERS, Ca2+ levels checked might be helpful.
If all the tests: Head CT scan, bone schintigraphy, EMG and NCT and the blood tests are all normal than very likely the pain is muscular or due to the disc prolapse. In this case pain killers like paracetamol/ibuprofen in the appropriate doses and some muscle relaxants together with physiotherapy are of great help.
Physiotherapy can really improve the patients and help strengthen the back muscles and prevent future episodes so I would recommend you to find a good PT and follow the instructions given and have the exercises regularly- this would be the case after ruling out other causes mentioned above.
Another thing to mention is that patients with back pain should be as active as possible as bed rest is not good for back pain, might make it last longer. So if take the pain killers, have some local warm compresses and do some physiotherapy you might be able to walk more and do more exercises that might improve your symptoms.
I hope this is helpful to you and answers to your question.
I wish you quick improvement.
Kind Regards,
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Pain killers/Physiotherapy might help- some tests recommended
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
I see that your husband has had examinaitons of the back with xrays and CT scans, has he every had a head CT scan?
The reason I ask for a head CT or MRI is due to the fact that many neurological symptoms and signs in the extremities might be due to disorders that affect the brain like vascular accidents being the most common ones.
Back pain and leg pain can be caused by muscular (strain)and disk (prolapse) problems in almost 90% of the patients. Tests and examinaitons are normal in these cases.
Another cause is if there is bone tumors. the CT scan would have shown them. On the other hand to have better view of the bones problably bone schintigraphy is what might help a lot.
Sometimes muscle examinaitons like EMG and nerve conduction tests (NCT) will help determine if the symptoms are related to muscle or nerve problems.
Having a CBC, ERS, Ca2+ levels checked might be helpful.
If all the tests: Head CT scan, bone schintigraphy, EMG and NCT and the blood tests are all normal than very likely the pain is muscular or due to the disc prolapse. In this case pain killers like paracetamol/ibuprofen in the appropriate doses and some muscle relaxants together with physiotherapy are of great help.
Physiotherapy can really improve the patients and help strengthen the back muscles and prevent future episodes so I would recommend you to find a good PT and follow the instructions given and have the exercises regularly- this would be the case after ruling out other causes mentioned above.
Another thing to mention is that patients with back pain should be as active as possible as bed rest is not good for back pain, might make it last longer. So if take the pain killers, have some local warm compresses and do some physiotherapy you might be able to walk more and do more exercises that might improve your symptoms.
I hope this is helpful to you and answers to your question.
I wish you quick improvement.
Kind Regards,
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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