There are muscle diseases (polymyalgia rheumatica or muscular dystrophy) and muscle injury disorders (most famous being “tennis elbow”) so muscles can generate pain but typically, the muscles are the respondents of the disorder. The pain from the muscle may be nerve generated or muscle tightness from protection or activation by nerve compression.
The best way to determine if the nerve is the cause of the muscle spasm is with a SNRB (selective nerve root block). Aggravate the muscle spasm and then get the injection. If the nerve is the cause of the muscle spasm, the muscle spasm “pain” should be relieved temporarily with the injection (see pain diary).
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.