Chronic rhomboid and traps muscle spasm

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I'm back again, I'm really struggling right now, my rhomboids and trapezius muscles keep going into spasm, it's almost in a daily basis and sometimes they last for months, weeks or a few days but no sooner does it settle it starts again without any warning and this can be when I'm just sitting watching tv.

I do have cervical degeneration with multi level bone spurs and multi level bulging discs especially c6/7 and slight lordosis, I also have a thoracic arachnoid cyst t2-6 which is compressing my spinal cord. I take diazapam but only a couple of times per month as I know how addictive they are.

I honestly don't know how much more I can take it is starting to affect me mentally now, I have asked for cortisone injections but they said no as I have 8 bilateral lumber faucet injections 3 x per year, any suggestions please I am going crazy it just never ends😢

2

i have muscle spams in my back often, unsure if its the same muscle as you but what helped some was tying a towel around my chest so that it would put pressure on the muscle, it helped to lessen the pain when the muscle was spasms, i would then put ice or heat inbetween the towel

3

also suprisingly drinking some warm water with a spinkle of cayanne pepper in it helped alot, cayanne pepper contains capasin which helps to relax muscles naturally.

4

Hi, I sometimes have muscle cramps and I found it helps me to apply Magnesium Oil, which is a concentrated solution of Mg Chloride Hexahydrate. 

Below is a stretching exercise that helped me ease tension in the area of the trapezius muscle.

Sit on a bed or sofa with your feet firmly on the floor. Stretch your arms in front and keep your hands in a vertical plane with the thumbs pointing up. Now cross your arms and place the back of your left hand on the right side of your right knee. Place the back of your right hand on the left side of your left knee. 

Spread your legs such that your arms are pushed apart. Gently lean forward to stretch your shoulders and your back. For a stronger stretch of the trapezius muscle exhale before bending forward and inhale deeply while leaning forward. You can also swap our arms (left arm on top or vice versa) and repeat the stretch.

Sounds difficult, but this stretching exercise is really simple. Hope it helps somewhat.

 

5

I have a lot of experience with tightness/ spasm of muscles....my experience is when muscles can't relax and are resistant to stretch it is because they are trying to protect a joint or joints that are hypermobile.....meaning there is a stability issue...which in turn can create a host of other problems that I won't even get into. Seek help from a physical therapist...the site of pain is rarely the problem and needs the skills of someone with experience to find your issue...otherwise you will drive yourself crazy trying to make it stop....the musculoskeletal system is very complex and can lead to somany bizarre symptoms that seem very unrelated...it will have you "chasing rabbits" so to speak....one day you'll think you cracked the case only to have it return with a vengeance...very frustrating and and darn uncomfortable...go straight to the person best able to getting you on the right path to making them go away for good.....your body is trying to tell you something...you didn't just one day go into spasm for no reason. BEST WISHES..I HAVE HAD THIS AND I KNOW YOUR DISCOMFORT.

6

Thank you will24, I have a back brace where I strap an ice pack to my back and it does help I also use a tennis ball and lie on the floor placing it right where the pain is and that works great also but there's just some days you think am I ever just going to get a break from this, it is wearing me down, I have also just started using peppermint essential oil andnit has a weird numbing sensation which brings helps when your trying to get ready or sleep, Iv just got my app through for EMG/EP test in 2 weeks I just hope they can find what's causing it, I personally think it's the arachnoid cyst at level t2-6 which is compressing my spinal cord. Thank you for your reply I hope you are well😊

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Will dot hank you again

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Thank you danR, I do stretch but will definitely give this a go, thank you

9

Thank you crystal, I have an arachnoid cyst in the same area where the rhimboid goes into spasm but then travels through my whole shoulder blade and trapezius muscles causing my upper back to spasm with extreme burning pain and pressure on my spine, my neuro dosnt think the cyst is symptomatic but I disagree, I'm going for EMG/EP test in 2 weeks so we'll see what comes back but my neuro also said "it's what we do with the information" I have been told that the cyst can't be removed because I will be paralysed or even death and to drain it can cause infections. I also have a lumbar fusion which at the moment I'm waiting for scan results as in the past few weeks something feels like it has snapped or come away and I'm barely able to walk, sorry to blabber on but the past few weeks have been really testing, hope your good and thank you for your reply 😊

10

OMG HELLO Carolineq8! I'm so sorry to hear about your pain and upset and I know somewhat what you're feeling. While I don't seem to have any of the spinal issues you have, I HAVE had rhomboid spasms for the last 10 years. At first it would just happen every six months and I could get by on drugs and rest. Now...it's every freaking day and I completely understand when you say "It is starting to affect me mentally now."

I keep going to doctors who tell me to "stretch" or to "get fit" or they give me tramadol which doesn't work (seriously... I take 9 of them at once because anything less won't even TOUCH my pain) or they tell me to just take Flexeril and rest, which is FINE if I didn't have to go to work -  ever. They won't give me narcotics like vicodan. I've been to a chiropractor and to  physical therapy a LOT, do all my PT prescribed exercises and stretches - which never actually WORK and seem to make things WORSE so it freaks me out - and when I finally went to a pain specialist she just gave me more freaking muscle relaxers and sent me to physical therapist (AGAIN AGGHHHH!!!!)  that doesn't take insurance and costs $100 a visit and gave me more exercises. They don't know wtf the problem is but I can't get relief. I had thought that by going to a pain specialist I could get a cortisone shot or some other kind of injection to just NUMB the dang thing... maybe "dry needling"... but NOPE! It's as if my pain doesn't exist to anyone but me. And here i am, working two jobs and in freaking out. SO, my biggest problem as far as I can see right NOW is my despair. I am now SOOOO depressed that the word "suicide" occasionally pops up in my head - thinking it might be my only form of relief. My life quality is for s**t. I don't have time or energy for friends, or fun or anything but working and laying down and my house is a wreck LOL!

I do a few things that keep the pain a little more bearable so I'll share them with you but I admit, it's not all that great.

1) I use a posture brace that I bought from amazon. It chafes under my arms and I only use it for a few hours at a wack and then give it a rest, but it keeps me from slumping forward at my desk.

2) I use heating ointment on my rhomboid and the pressure from the back brace with the heat is kinda nice. IT'll keep some of the pain at bay for a few hours while I bus tables at night.

3) I used to use a theracane (buy in on amazon!)  and it felt GREAT while I was digging into my rhomboid but the relief was only for a few seconds. Plus I was warned that it could actually irritate the clenched muscles even more if I dig too hard soo.. I've slacked off on it. Now I only use the theracane to apply the heating ointment to my rhomboid - which works great! I just rubberband the roll-on bottle of ointment onto the end of the theracane and I can apply the stuff RIGHT where I need it without having to twist myself into a pretzel or using a kitchen utensil. (living alone does have it's drawbacks! HA!)

4) Ice doesn't help me but heat feels good so I have a heating pad permanently taped to the back of my office chair at work and I use it every day.

5) My sister gave me one of those "TENS" units and it's pretty fun. It's hard for me to put the electrodes on the right spots and I can't say as it does anything great for me but I do kinda enjoy it. I think it does give some temporary relief.. like when it's actually ON, and maybe for a half hour afterward.  I think they're supposed to be used under doctor supervision so... be careful with that.

6) I do my PT exercises religiously.

7) Tomorrow I'm supposed to get Myofascial release. Have you ever had that? I haven't. Let's pray it helps..

8) I've added chest stretches to my routine in the hopes that it's tight chest muscles from 15 years of desk work that's causing my rhomboids to spasm. Hasn't helped yet but my PT people have admitted that it might not be a bad stretch to do, so i do it.

And finally,  I have now realized that the despair and hopelessness I feel is even worse than the pain so I've decided to work on that. Let's face it. If I give up, I'll never get better right?

9) I have started taking supplements that are not actually PROVEN to help mood but...damn... I don't know what else to do. I take Ashwaganda, 5htp, and L- theanine  in the hopes that these substances can help with depression. I started my journey by watching this video... and then doing research from there. YUP. I crawled to YOUTUBE to help me because I didn't know what else to do. 

my doctors have proven that they can't help me  - yet - so I feel like I'm forced to try and figure things out on my own.

10) I force myself to work out now...which i haven't done for years! I go to the gym every morning and do SUPER light weights that don't involve my chest or back, and I try to get my respiration up at least a little. I also occasionally do easy yoga which, oddly enough, doesn't hurt and actually feels good so I'm not sure how that works ya know?

I DO feel a little better lately as far as my emotions go so I'm not sure if it's the supplements or the serotonin-inducing exercise or ...what.

11) I've started meditating again. Right now, just for 10 minutes.  I don't like it and i don't think it helps but I know it can't HURT so I keep doing it in the hopes that eventually, it might make some kind of difference.

12) I do EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) and while other people have had success with it for pain, I haven't found it helpful there. I use it for other things like fatigue and hunger pangs.

I'm interested in Dry Needling, injections, and acupuncture as well as any other damn thing someone is willing to throw at me.

OMG I FORGOT!! I actually followed the advice of a video that said that if I took super cold and super hot showers aimed at my rhomboid that it would SHOCK my muscle into acting normally. HAHAHAHHHAHHAAAAAA!!!

Good god I don't recommend that. It sucked and it TOTALLY didn't work! I'm such a dork!  I wish you luck in your endeavors with your pain and I'll keep in touch and if you find anything that works ... or even if it's just  ridiculous ... feel free to let me know and I'll do the same. smooches. Constance

So BASICALLY, my goal is to keep myself alive and functioning long enough to find relief to this pain so I can enjoy my life again.

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11

Hello 

I've tried just about everything you have mentioned in the past year.   Ashwaghanda has helped with the mood.  

Currently trying Kizih massage from my local Ayurvedic centre.  My osteopath encourages me to try cranial osteopathy else it's back to accupuncture for me. 

What do you think caused your persistent spasm(s)?   I think working in the cold + heavy lifting + stress caused mine. 

12

Sorry I didn't get back to you but thank you for sharing your story and trial and errors with me, I hope your doing well and keepin on top of pain.

I stumbled across something and thought I'd share it and hope it helps...

Firstly is your rhomboid spasm on both sides or just the right? If it's just the right then it could be connected to the gallbladder, if you lie flat and press on the area where your gallbladder is for around 30 seconds, if the pain goes away then this could be the source of your spasms, give it a go and see what happens😊

13

I definitely think it's from the cyst that's compressing my spinal cord in the same area but my neuro dosnt think so, ooh it makes me so angry, I also believe that when we have pain that is left un treated for years it has to have an impact on surrounding areas, seems to make sense to me so I don't understand why we get pushed from one person to another, they just don't have time for us..simple..but these problems become more extreme and then have an effect on every aspect of our daily living, funny but Iv managed to control my SI JOING PAIN tonight then my rhomboid has gone to an all time high, nice...😊

Oh and yes if it's cold and I start to shiver or tighten up the pain is unbearable, Iv nearly passed out a few times so I avoid situations the best I can, but difficult now it's winter😂😊 hope your good

14

I'm going to see my GP on Tuesday do you think he could do an injection in the rhomboid? I'm under pain management and have bilateral faucet joint injections at 4 levels every 4 months, I have asked but they've said no as it would be to much for my body but I'm not convinced I think it's down to money🤔 I'm so desperate as it's affecting my neck, arm and head, it's trapping a nerve and it's sending me crazy, Xmas is coming and you know when you just want to have a few weeks where you can get by and enjoy some time with your family instead of constantly being in pain (I have pain all over) I can't remember the last Xmas I didn't spend half the day in the bathroom trying to pull myself together and put a brace face on😡😡 I don't know what's going to set off next I just want a bit of peace, sorry for the winging, but v also took 15mg diazapam and it hasn't touched the sides😢😊

15

Hello,

I too have trapezius rhomboid spasm for over a year. Do some research on Botox for muscle spasms. Tons of good results. Just had mine injected. I've already see some difference, can wait to see if it will stay! You need to have myofascia massage and regular therapeutic massage on it after to help get rid of it. The effets of the botox wich is to paralyzed the muscle will stay 3 months. In that time you can break the cycle of muscle spasm as the toxin stop the contraction signal to your brain. Ask your physiatrist for the injections, if he's up to date he will know. If not change doctor. Keep us posted.

16

Hello Caroline,

I too have trapezius rhomboid spasm for over a year. Do some research on Botox for muscle spasms. Tons of good results. Just had mine injected. I've already see some difference, can wait to see if it will stay! You need to have myofascia massage and regular therapeutic massage on it after to help get rid of it. The effets of the botox wich is to paralyzed the muscle will stay 3 months. In that time you can break the cycle of muscle spasm as the toxin stop the contraction signal to your brain. Ask your physiatrist for the injections, if he's up to date he will know. If not change doctor. Keep us posted.