I am having terrible back issues. My muscles seem to seize up from the middle of my back to lower back.

At first I blamed it on my low back fusion (Si-L5). Then I chalked it up to the lack of muscle tone, but I have been back to "gym" exercising for a few weeks now. Even at the gym it seizes up. I can't get the problem to go away or even dissipate.

If I sit for a bit it seems to ease up. But even then, returning to sweeping, doing laundry, etc. it returns within a few minutes.

Could this be dystonia in my back?

I can't walk very far without support; e.g. cane, walking stick. Even then I the muscles seize on me. It is painful and is dragging me down

Hi Carolyn,
Not sure if it could be dystonia, anyone else get dystonia in the lower back?
Do you normally get dystonia in say your feet, neck or shoulders?
I might be wrong but I think they're the most common parts to get it.
Pre DBS I'd get excruciatingly painful dystonia in the areas mentioned above but no not the lower back.
Hope it either sorts itself out or someone comes up with a solution!
Thankyou for your informative postings, I always enjoy reading them.
Cheers,
Lee

Thanks Lee, I suppose it is more like spasms.

perhaps a physiotherapist may be able to help.

Sounds muscular to me.

Neil.

Carolyn,

I have had issues with my back since well before diagnosis. In fact, I went to the ER once when we lived in the midwest for chest pains that turned out to be due to para-spinal muscle spasms. And like you, I also cannot be on my feet very long without experiencing pain that affects walking.

Mine is due to a combination of things: Dystonia of large muscles in the torso that pull me to the left, rigid muscles around my spine, and a slight spinal curvature.

Sometimes one false move will create torso spasms. If I stand (doing housework, shopping, cooking) or sit at the computer for too long, I am pulled to the left, and my weak spine goes with it so that my back "goes out." IF I don't wait too long and am not too rigid, a well-placed hug from Bill sometimes pops it back in place and offers some relief, or I can get on my back on the floor and get it to go back. But the muscle rigidity remains and sometimes the muscles are just too tight for that to happen.

I have been taking one Tylenol with Codeine every morning now for about 5 years and that seems to prevent the pain from escalating. I rarely take another during the day and try to cope by changing what I am doing. I find that bi-weekly massage, yoga, and some careful torso stretches help.

Good luck!

Judith

carolyn, your electrolytes could be out of balance. low potasium or magnesium can cause spams or cramps. all the sweating that you do could be the cause of this.

my mother went through years of this problem. hospitalized many times until it was dx'ed and taken care of. she had the same sweating problem. it can be serious. she almost died.

not trying to scare you, but your sweat isn't just plain water.

a blood test can check for this. but they need to really look at the results. if the levels are even a tad on a low side, they still need to be fixed. most dr's will just let you slide because you aren't in a danger zone.

Judith and Curious, thanks for the replies.

Judith, your issues sound like mine than spasms. It is painful indeed.

See you, the "puppies" and the ponies soon...I am crossing my fingers.
I have an appt with Dr. Shulman in Baltimore in a few weeks, before my next trial eval in Philadelphia, I know she will have some ideas as to what to do. It is making me crazy to have to sit down in the middle of things, and it is effecting my ability to sit and stitch!! Both Bummers!!