Terrible muscle pain/spasm. what can I do?

[LZP]

So, last night, somehow, I managed to either pull a muscle in my upper back, or it's in a spasm that just won't quit. (It might have been bad positioning while helping DH pull the stroller out of the box )

either way, what started last night as a little tension has turned into being unable to turn my head more than about 20 deg in either direction, and almost every movement sends shooting pain from the base of my head to the middle of my back. I've NEVER had a muscle pull like this!

I used the heating pad last night a few times, barely got any sleep since it hurts to life my arm any higher than my shoulder. I've been sitting at my desk with a heating pad on and off, hoping that would help. it makes it feel a LITTLE better, but hardly.

I've been trying to stretch, to no avail. that seems to make it worse!

Is there anything I can do? I am in so much pain it's starting to make me nauseous. I am honestly starting to think about going a medication route.. it hurts SO much.

thoughts or suggestions?

[MaerynPearl]

see a chiropractor (in case its worse than just a muscle) or a VERY good therapeutic masseuse. (the best ones are so worth their weight in gold, the not-so-good ones can send you home feeling worse)

when I did something to my back (and Im still not sure what) laying down in the bath tub with warm water helped (not reclining but actually laying there with my back flat against the bottom of the tub)

otherwise... call your doctor/midwife and see if they have any suggestions for you.

[raqi]

It won't cure it completely, but have someone rub an ice cube in small circles over the spot where the muscle is spasmed. Keep rubbing it until the ice cube is melted. Makes the pain much more manageable for me (I get them every once in a while in my neck or shoulder. Good luck!

[Plaid Leopard]

Saw this in new posts.

My mom is a massage therapist (and I have struggled with back problems for years).

You could try an ice pack for 20 minutes, followed by heat. The cold makes the muscles contract, then the heat helps them to relax. Sometimes that is all it takes for the muscles to "release".

If you have homeopathic arnica, or arnica cream, those are safe during pregnancy.

Otherwise, you want to avoid stretching the muscle. Try to pinpoint the spot where the pain is originating. Press on it while shortening the muscle. For example, if the painful spot is on the right side, press into the center of it while leaning your head to the right (where leaning it to the left would be a stretch). As you lean into the pain/shorten the muscle, you should notice the pain lessening a bit. I always think of it as similar to opening a child safety latch. Your muscle is "caught" on something, you need to press in and push to open it, instead of just pulling.

Hope that helps and that you get some relief. If not, then as another poster said, a visit to a chiro or massage therapist would be a good idea (It's always good to pamper yourself in pregnancy anyway, right?)

[NullSet]

I've got a lot of issues with both my upper and lower back. And I know it is 100% muscular so I always massage, massage, massage. It hurts like crazy and feels worse immediately after but the next day is so much better. If I don't massage it takes me weeks to recover whereas if I do massage I'm better within a couple of days.

That's what works for me, but then we're all different!

[is it puppies?]

I agree with ICE! It's horrible to do but DH and I are both so prone to bad episodes that we have a freezer full of different types of ice packs, and they can work wonders! We also have heating pads in the living room and the bedroom and they work but definitely not as well.
Also, I find Chiro and a good massage extremely helpful. I have been seeing a physiotherapist for a year now and he still hasn't fixed me up so I control it with the rest of the practitioners while waiting for a miracle...

[LZP]

Thank you all so much. Dh gave me a nice massage yesterday. thank you especially for the suggestions of not stretching the muscle but contracting it. I'll try that tonight. the massage definitely helped, but not as much as it seemed at first.

The thought of ice makes me but I might just break down and try it alternating with heat.

Thanks again ladies!!

[Tear78]

I hope you're feeling better today!