Muscular Back Pain Causes and Treatments

Muscular back pain affects nearly everyone at some point. Most patients experience muscle pain for a few days or weeks as the result of a strain or athletic injury, while others can suffer with pain for weeks or months. The care of a doctor or back specialist is usually sought when pain persists longer than expected, though some patients seek help after only a few days.

Causes

Most instances of sudden onset back pain occur because of muscle strain or ligament sprain. Those who participate in high-impact sports, such as hockey, football and gymnastics, are susceptible to any number of back injuries, including those that affect the muscles. Car accidents are another leading cause of neck and back pain and can lead to sore muscles and achiness for a few days. Spinal conditions such as a herniated disc and spondylolisthesis can also cause patients to experience deep muscle pain and spasms in the muscles of the neck, back, buttocks, legs, and arms, which is sometimes severe.

Treatments

Most doctors will initially prescribe one or more of the following conservative treatments for neck and back pain:

• Over-the-counter pain medications
• Bed rest
• Moderate exercise
• Hot and/or cold compresses

Many patients benefit from the above treatment methods, though some experience continuing muscular back pain. Patients who experience persistent chronic neck and/or back pain should discuss other treatment options with their doctors. It might also be beneficial to learn more about the endoscopic procedures performed by the surgeons at Laser Spine Institute. Contact Laser Spine Institute for more information about our safe, effective outpatient procedures, and to schedule a free review of your MRI or CT scan.