Suggest Treatment For Muscle Spasms And Tightness In The Chest

Posted on Wed, 27 Jul 2016

Question: Quick question. I have pulled muscles in my middle right side. It also has come around to my front under my ribs. I have had this for a while now. I went to a back doctor who has used trigger point injections to help. The first set helped a lot but around 6 weeks ago i was lifting something heavy and felt my back lock up on the same side and area and almost felt if it was going to pop. i went back and had more injections around a week and a half ago. the pains are better but the pain seems to be only bad when i move a certain way and sometimes when i breath really deep. i cannot mimic the pain through any movements such as pushing or pulling. mostly when i bend to the side. the pain in the front abdominals has gotten better. Pain is worst in the morning upon waking, as it is a ache that stays with me for about a hour or so then is intermittly throughout the day but like i said no real movement unless lifting heavy, the pain it is more constant a i am under a extreme amount of stress and was inquiring if this seems to be still muscular ?

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Slip disc. Needs Xray, MRI

Detailed Answer:
Hi there.

Thanks for the query.

This appears to be possible slip disc including nerve compression by the disc in the back.

This can also lead to muscular spasm and tightness in the back which gets aggravated in bending forwards or lifting weights.

I suggest you get an Xray and MRI of the lumbosacral spine, as these investigations will help find the cause of your problem. Trigger point injections will only help in reducing the muscle spasm but not treat the cause of it.

You can take Tablet Diclofenac and Thicolchicoside combination twice a day for 5 days after meals and Tablet Ranitidine 150mg twice a day for 5 days before meals. Apply hot packs to the painful regions.

Do upload the reports of the Xray and MRI for my review.

I hope I have answered your query.

I will be available to answer your follow up queries.

Regards,

Dr. Aashish Raghu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Aashish Raghu (3 hours later)

would this still be your answer if tenderness was in the wing area of the back shoulder and around the back ribs?also i was told i have had costochondritis in the past year

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Muscle spasm. TENS

Detailed Answer:
Tenderness in the wing area can be due to muscle spasm in the interscapular region. This can be due to bad posture during work and while sleeping.

Costochondritis is usually treated with NSAIDs and is usually self limiting.

Do hey TENS treatment and massage for the muscle spasm.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Aashish Raghu (39 minutes later)

last question doc, could the spasms affect the front area under ribs

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (0 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Costochondritis, Electrolyte disturbances, bad posture while sleeping

Detailed Answer:
Front area usually affected by Costochondritis. Muscle spasm is rare.

Do apply hot packs to the painful regions for relief. Drink plenty of water. Drink a glass of fresh Lemonade daily to Courcy electrolyte disturbances.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D