You Need To Consider Doing This If Your Back Spasm Is Not Improving With TCM Treatment
Back spasms are sudden, involuntary contractions of the muscles in the back that can cause sharp, intense pain. These spasms can range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain that makes it difficult to move, sit, or stand. Often triggered by activities like heavy lifting, poor posture, or muscle strain, back spasms can occur unexpectedly, disrupting your daily routine and limiting your mobility.
The persistent pain and discomfort caused by back spasms can affect your ability to perform everyday tasks such as bending, walking, or even sleeping. The emotional impact can also be significant, leaving you feeling frustrated, anxious, and unable to fully enjoy your normal activities.
TCM: A Popular Approach to Treating Back Spasm
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely used in Singapore as an alternative treatment for conditions like back spasms. TCM therapies such as acupuncture, tui na massage, and herbal remedies are often employed to relax the muscles, improve circulation, and restore balance to the body. These therapies aim to address the root cause of the spasms, alleviate pain, and promote overall healing.
While TCM can be beneficial for many people, there are times when it may not provide lasting relief, especially if the underlying cause of the back spasms has not been properly diagnosed. Without understanding the root cause, treatments may only focus on temporary relief rather than addressing the issue long term.
Why Getting a Clear Diagnosis Is Crucial
Back spasms can result from various causes. Here are five common causes:
- Muscle Strain – Overexertion, poor posture, or sudden awkward movements can cause the back muscles to strain and go into spasm.
- Herniated Disc – A slipped or ruptured disc in the spine can put pressure on nerves and lead to muscle spasms.
- Spinal Stenosis – A narrowing of the spinal canal can cause nerve compression, which may trigger spasms.
- Degenerative Disc Disease – The deterioration of spinal discs over time can lead to pain and muscle spasms in the back.
- Poor Posture – Prolonged sitting, standing, or sleeping in incorrect positions can contribute to muscle tension and spasms.
In addition to these common causes, there are two less common but potentially serious causes of back spasms:
- Fractures – A spinal fracture can cause severe pain and muscle spasms in the back.
- Infections or Tumors – Infections or tumors in or around the spine can lead to spasms, pain, and other symptoms that require medical attention.
The Need for Imaging to Get a Precise Diagnosis
It’s crucial to understand that back spasms cannot always be accurately diagnosed based on symptoms or physical examination alone. A precise diagnosis requires imaging techniques such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. These imaging methods provide a detailed view of the spine, muscles, and surrounding tissues, allowing healthcare providers to identify the underlying cause of the spasms and recommend the most effective treatment.
The Pain Relief Clinic: Your Partner in Finding a Clear Diagnosis
At The Pain Relief Clinic, we have over a decade of experience helping people with back spasms. We take a comprehensive, non-invasive approach to diagnosing the root cause of your pain and creating a personalized treatment plan. If you’re suffering from back spasms and haven’t found lasting relief, we can arrange for affordable scans, typically within one working day. Medisave can often be used to help cover the cost of these scans, making the process more affordable.
We also assist with insurance claims, including accident insurance, travel insurance, and company insurance, ensuring that you can access the care you need without additional financial stress.
Once we have a clear diagnosis, we can provide targeted treatments to help alleviate your back spasms and restore your mobility.
Ready to find a solution? Send us a message today to arrange an appointment and begin your journey toward lasting relief from back spasms.
What To Expect When I Visit The Pain Relief Clinic
A typical visit will involve our doctor first understanding your medical history, concerns and previous experience with other pain treatments.
For patients who have consulted many people but have yet to receive a clear diagnosis, selecting an affordable imaging scan might be recommended to confirm the cause of your pain..
Some patients have already done scans with other doctors for their pain condition but are still not clearly told what they suffer from.
Dr Terence Tan is happy to offer you a second opinion and recommend how best to manage your condition.
We also see patients who already have a confirmed diagnosis from specialist pain doctors, but are "stuck” because treatment options offered are not practical or acceptable.
We can help by discussing options that you might have potentially never been told of.
A common experience is when a patient has already consulted a specialist doctor for pain management and is told to consider orthopaedic surgery which they find too aggressive.
Or they may have seen doctors for their pain and were prescribed painkillers with potential side effects which made them feel uncomfortable.
Many of our patients have also first tried complementary treatments or acupuncture with traditional Chinese pain doctors.
They look for a second opinion after finding any relief experienced from other treatments to be temporary or requiring repetitive treatments, which add up to time and cost.
Especially in such situations, we emphasize using non-invasive medical technology you likely have not been told about .
This can make a big difference to your results.