I am having the same problem. What was the answer/response?

I was told it was spondolothesis as slightly slipping of the spine. I am going for my cat scan tomorrow to see if that is what it is.

Does yours bother you only at night? I found if i strengthened my back muscles... it was much better.

I'd be interested in hearing if yours sounds kinda the same??

Thanks for emailing...

Tracy

Thanks for the reply. I don't have it all the time. I can go for a month or so and not have any issue at all. But when it's acting up I lay in bed for about an hour or so and then it tightens up. The center of my lower back gets tight and my legs get numb or tingle. Nothing much will get it loosened up except a really hot bath.

What's really interesting is I am very limber and stretch every day.

I will investigate spondolothesis. Thanks again.

God bless you,

Ken

Hi Ken,

Mine is the same way... It is not bothering me right now. It seems to be worse in the winter when I do less gardening and thigs that strengthen my back. I am back at the gym angain and it is now fine. I was told because when your muscles are strong it holds everything in place. When they aren't worked they loosen up and the spine slightly slipps out of place causing the spasms that feel so tight. I only ever get them after I have been sleeping for a few hours then i wake up and can't go back to sleep. It happens on and off.... sometime it doesn't bother me and other times it does.

Best of luck... if you find out anything... let me know. I will see how my cat scan goes tomorrow. I probably won't know for a week.

Tracy

I have been dealing w/ this on and off for years... it seems to come and then go.. I have gone to Orthop. and they just want to give musc. relaxers, chriopractors, which is so time consuming and had a CAT scan, oh, maybe last summer? or the prior.... It seems to just appear, at night. I will be in bed, and it seems like I am almost paralyzed.. and have to prop my arms under me to move. I then must roll over 10x a night to get any sleep.. and when i find that sweet spot, I do not move! I exercise at a gym, not heavy duty, like Curve type... and in summer walk beach daily...it is mostly the middle section of my back... i do tend to 'crack' alot wonder if it is the beginning, or indeed arthritis...... runs in family.... I have bloodwork and dr. appt. next week.. I have never mentioned this to my family phy. but think time!!!

Back Spasm (tightness) at night is due to soft tissue injury in the lower back area,so treat your back problem first,even you deny it.

ok, soft tissue inuury? what/ how does this occur...

i am having surgery in a month to relieve the stenosis in my back ( through nerve decompression ) and also having fusion to help with the degree of spondolothesis i have. spondo in a sense is sort of like a stress fracture of your spine.
i was operated on 5 years ago after walking efeectively failed me and i was literally back on my horse in 3 months, 3 days. perhaps not smart of me, but i did iy anyway.
i am having it again as a different area is now being affected. full recovery was about a year- full recovery meaning for me that the whole procedure was just about forgotten and i lived a full life easily again. however i was able to do most things within months....riding horses 3 months, skiing 6 months etc etc. Running though is a nono!
the point of my story- there is hope! research your surgeon ( you are the consumer), no question is stupid and don't hesitate to get second opinions.

I have the same problem and have had it for years. My back mostly does not trouble me during the day but during the night it drives me crazy. After an hour or two of sleep I have to get up and walk around for a while to relieve it. It is like a pinch in the lower back and buttock area. I used to get some relief but now its every night. I am having to take sleeping tablets or pain killers to be able to get enough sleep so that I can go to work. CT shows mild stenosis and bulging disc but apparently not enough to be a problem. I am worried about taking drugs every night as I have been doing it for years. Anyone have an ideas for me. So far I have been to osteopaths, physio, acupuncture, chiropractor, have changed my mattress and have had to drop my working hours. It has cost me a fortune. I am really worried about exercise because it often stirs it up and makes it makes it worse for weeks.

You need to see a spine surgeon for proper diagnosis. You make no mention of having an MRI done or anyone giving you a diagnosis.

You've been going about the problem you are having the wrong way and in the wrong direction.

The first thing you need to do is get a proper diagnosis with a spine surgeon. Either an orthopedic surgeon who specializes only in spines or a neurosurgeon that specializes only in spines.

You will no doubt need MRI of the spine done and possibly other tests.

None of those that you have seen are able to properly diagnose you and you have not gotten proper treatment because you have no diagnosis.

A CT is not enough to diagnose your problem, you need and MRI.

"CT shows mild stenosis and budging disc but apparently not enough to be a problem"

That's an absurd statement. Just because it doesn't fit the classic picture of what might be causing your pain, any good spinal surgeon will use the tools of an MRI and CT scan as only pieces of your problem. He/she will then take your symptoms and try to match them to your MRI and or CT or both.

Mild stenosis and bulging disc can cause far more pain in some people than in others. To say that because it is mild, it can't cause your pain is an insult to the patient, IMHO.

Go see a spine specialist and get a proper diagnosis and the a course of treatment. What you have been doing is an obvious waste of time as it has not helped you and you continue to suffer in pain.

Fran

hey i sometimes get tightness in my back (lower) at night, and i have to get up and walk about for it to ease off which is a nightmare because it feels like my spine is crushing and it's also breaking my sleep pattern ggrrr!!! i visited my doctor and he diagnosed cramp as i have no other back problems, he told me to get a new bed and mattress and to try sleeping on my back straight for a few weeks and it has seemed to wore off hope this helps a little Jenny