What Causes Mid Back Spasms, Right Hand Tremors And Low BP?

Posted on Tue, 28 Jul 2015

Question: Hi. I communicated with one of the physicians last month about mid back spasms near my left shoulder/bra line about 3-4 inches from my spine. The spasms started sometime in the spring and progressed to a severe pain causing immobility and an ER visit. I was given a shot for pain and inflammation as well as prescriptions for non narcotic muscle relaxers and Alieve. I refused further pain meds by choice (they make me n/v and constipated so I avoid them unless absolutely necessary). It was thought to be a muscle injury. It is now July and I have not fully recovered. My doctor has put me on steroids for a week and wants me to get an MRI bc he thinks the injury should have improved more by now. I am 49 years old, 138#, 5'5" tall, eat well and exorcise regularly. I have resumed cardio activity, but spasms do occur afterwards. I have not been able to resume my strength training with any regularity due to the spasms. I have also suffered from right hand tremors on the opposite side for at least the past year. I refused tremor medication in the past bc it was a drug designed for HBP bc I have marginally low BP and feel that the side effects would basically have me falling out by lowering my BP. I like to play it conservative on the meds bc we have a prescription happy society and I choose to go a more holistic path if possible. Any thoughts on these issues and if they might be connected? The only prescription that I take on a regular basis is bio identical hormone cream for perimenapause. Life is good just working through these challenges, but it is affecting my daily activities for too long now.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
MRI Spine should be done for evaluation/spasms and tremors are unrelated.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

I have gone through your detailed case history.In light of persisting paraspinal spasm,I suggest that MRI spine needs to be done,to see if it is some degenerative spine pathology.Further treatment should be based on MRI findings.

Paraspinal spasms are not likely connected with Right hand tremors.
Some of the common causes of Tremors can be-
1)Anxiety
2)Thyroid abnormality
3)Essential Tremors
4)Parkinsonian syndrome
I suggest you to get Thyroid function tests done and do regular mental relaxation exercises like meditation or yoga.This may help reduce tremors.
Therapeutic trial of medications-Propranolol,clonazepam or trihexyphenidyl can be given.If tremors,respond to one of these medicines,that may give a clue to the cause of the tremors.Propranolol can reduce BP mildly,but not significant.

If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar