Spasms

[Lily Stephens]

Hi, I am Lily. I have been having this symptom for a long time.  Sometimes, when I sleep, I feel something moving (I do not know if it is the muscle or the nerve) but it moves and I feel a spasm which wakes me.  I then have to change the position in which I sleep. It is a very uncomfortable feeling. It's always on the left side of my back. That area of my back is always heavy and sometimes that area feels itchy. This spasm disturbs my sleep.  It wakes me up with a gasp.  Please tell me what it is and what kind of treatment I need.  That particular part of my back is also tender.  Thank you.

[2brite]

A related discussion, Sharp pain on left side in lung area feels like cramp was started.

[Lily Stephens]

Hi, thanks for the reply.  This spasm comes when I am seated too and if I sit in a particular position, I get this spasm as well.  My doctor has prescribed Vitamin B and that prehaps the problem is due to a nerve.  Years back I fell from a horse and hurt my tail bone.  It did heal but I am wondering if this spasm could be a result of that fall.  I do have sleep disorders to a certain degree and so it could be parasommias.  Can it be a pinched nerve?  Do pinched nerves affect the back?

[linda j clark]

I HAVE HAD BOTH HIPS REPLACED DUE TO AVASCULA NECROSIS CAUSED BY STEROIDS, I ALSO HAVE BACCK TROUBLE CAUSING TRAPPED NERVES IF I AM ON MY FEET TO LONG FIRST I CANNOT MOVE MY HEAD AND IF I DONT REST I LOOSE THE USE MY LIMBS,EIGHT WEEKS AGO I THOUGHT I HAD A CHEST INFECTION, I WAS GIVEN TWO COARSES OF ANTIBIOTICS BUT STILL HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING AND HAD A PAIN THAT FEELS AS IF ITS A WEIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF MY LEFT LUNG,WHICH I HAVE STILL GOT . I HAVE A HISTORY OF LUNG PROBLEMS STARTING 42 YEARS AGO,THEY INCLUDE T.B PNEUMONIA SEVERAL TIMES,ALLERGIC ASTHMA WHICH ALL CAUSE SIMULAR SIMPTOMS,I HAD MY LAST HIP REPLACEMENT IN JUNE THIS YEAR, So i was sent to hospital to chech for a p.e i had a v q scan the result of which was it was highly unlikly to be a p.e so out i came still the same but putting it down to skelital / muscular. but every morning i wake i do a peak flow before and after intal ventolin and serivent plus an antihistamin the first one is usually about 170/200 after 220/250 inceasing throughout the day up to around 300/350 that is where i stand at present

[linda j clark]

I HAVE HAD BOTH HIPS REPLACED DUE TO AVASCULA NECROSIS CAUSED BY STEROIDS, I ALSO HAVE BACCK TROUBLE CAUSING TRAPPED NERVES IF I AM ON MY FEET TO LONG FIRST I CANNOT MOVE MY HEAD AND IF I DONT REST I LOOSE THE USE MY LIMBS,EIGHT WEEKS AGO I THOUGHT I HAD A CHEST INFECTION, I WAS GIVEN TWO COARSES OF ANTIBIOTICS BUT STILL HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING AND HAD A PAIN THAT FEELS AS IF ITS A WEIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF MY LEFT LUNG,WHICH I HAVE STILL GOT . I HAVE A HISTORY OF LUNG PROBLEMS STARTING 42 YEARS AGO,THEY INCLUDE T.B PNEUMONIA SEVERAL TIMES,ALLERGIC ASTHMA WHICH ALL CAUSE SIMULAR SIMPTOMS,I HAD MY LAST HIP REPLACEMENT IN JUNE THIS YEAR, So i was sent to hospital to chech for a p.e i had a v q scan the result of which was it was highly unlikly to be a p.e so out i came still the same but putting it down to skelital / muscular. but every morning i wake i do a peak flow before and after intal ventolin and serivent plus an antihistamin the first one is usually about 170/200 after 220/250 inceasing throughout the day up to around 300/350 that is where i stand at present

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Lily:

Sorry to hear about your back.  It sounds like it only occurs during sleep and that it only involves your back.  There are a group of conditions called parasommias.  These can be anything from lower limbs needing to be moved to abnormal behaviors all occuring during sleep.  Although your symptoms of isolated back problems do not really fit any of these disorders it may be a type of a parasommias.  I would suggest seeing a neurologist who is also a sleep expert and get a good history and exam.  Maybe a sleep study to further define if other movements may be associated with your back that you just may not be aware of.  Once identified, there are medications to help with the symptoms.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD