“What helps with back muscle pain?”

First of all, it depends on what is causing the pain. It should be evaluated by a professional. Kidney problems, bowel problems, or prostate problems could refer pain to the back, as well as joint dysfunction, or muscle spasm. It is important to rule out more serious conditions.

If the pain is due to muscles, then medications can work, temporarily. If you're looking for more natural solutions, then chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, physical therapy, stretching, or acupuncture may help.

With the help of a health care professional, try to identify the cause of the pain, treat and eliminate the cause, if possible.

A "spasm" is an involuntary (you cannot make a spasm, unless you, for ex., flex your thigh or calve as hard as you can for a few minutes. You will get a spasm or cramp that is very painful) contraction of a muscle. God created a wonderful human body. Sometimes the body goes into spasm to guard or protect a problem organ or produced by an injured region of the body. There is also the "Pain-Spasm effect". The more spasm, the more pain. Conversely, the more pain, the more spasm cycle. If due to an injury, it is "trying to protect the injury." If for no reason, it can be coming from the spinal nerves, or from an organ. Low potassium or low sodium (salt) due to various reasons can cause SPASM. Pickle juice works well. A false statement of eating a banana is false. You would have to eat 88 bananas to get the proper amount of potassium! Speak to your Family Medical Doctor, P.A./Nurse Practitioner, or Chiropractor to find the cause of your SPASMS!

Heat, stretching, rest, and/or a T.E.N.S unit.

The most effective way to help with muscle pain is to reduce the inflammation by ice therapy. No longer than 20 minutes. Heat before - ice after. So, if you are going to be active, heat the injured area with a hot pack or tiger balm, after you are done with your activity calm it down with ice. In the evenings, if you shower, do not finish your shower with warm/hot water. This will contribute to inflammation and you may wake up with soreness the next day. Instead, finish your shower with cool/cold water - the level you can handle for 30 seconds. If you have chronic or re-occurring back pain, then muscle pathology isn't the only cause of your symptoms. The "4 Pillars of Pain" are muscle, nerve, bone, soft tissue (discs, ligaments, tendons).
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I recommend receiving a Chiropractic examination and treatment. This will identify and correct any imbalances in the muscles of the spine, as well as identify and correct any dysfunction of the joints of the spine.

Use an ice pack and an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. After the inflammation calms down, a heating pad or pack can help soothe muscles and connective tissue. If you have chronic back pain, sleep on a medium-firm mattress.

Finding the cause of the muscle pain is important. As in lumbar spine or pelvic misalignment, or dehydration, or mineral deficiency, etc. Finding the cause is a good idea.

Dr. Greenawalt