Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

If you’re dealing with a muscle issue in your spine, it stands to reason that a muscle relaxer could be an effective treatment option, especially if the muscle is spasming or overly tight. However, it’s unlikely that a doctor is just going to write you a script for a spinal muscle relaxer and send you on your way if you’re dealing with a muscle issue in your back. In today’s blog, we dive into the effectiveness of muscle relaxers and explain how to get the most out of this type of treatment.

The Effectiveness Of Spinal Muscle Relaxers

For the right patient, a spinal muscle relaxer can be a wonderful form of treatment. Patients dealing with specific spinal muscle issues may find significant relief when using a muscle relaxer in combination with other forms of treatment. In order to determine if you could be an ideal candidate for a muscle relaxer, you’ll first need to undergo an assessment from a spine specialist.

They’ll conduct a hands-on exam while asking about your symptoms and how your discomfort is affecting your daily life. From there, they may order an imaging technique like an X-ray, MRI, CT scan or ultrasound to examine the soft tissues in the area or to rule out other potential concerns. If you’re dealing with a condition like a spinal fracture, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease or a similar issue, it’s unlikely that you’ll receive much benefit from muscle relaxer treatment. The true issue needs to be rooted in an overly tight or spasming muscle.

If your doctor believes a muscle issue is to blame for your discomfort, don’t expect that a muscle relaxer will solve all your problems. A muscle relaxer helps to address the symptoms of a problem, but it does not address the root cause. These medications will help a stiff muscle relax, but it will not fix the underlying issue that caused the muscle dysfunction in the first place. Muscle relaxers are an inherently passive treatment form, and as we’ve said at length on this blog, we believe in pairing passive treatments with active interventions for maximum benefit.

Because of this, you can expect your muscle relaxer course to be paired with one or more of the following treatments that seeks to target the root cause of your muscle issue:

• Physical Therapy
• Controlled Exercise
• Stretching Techniques
• Postural Improvements
• Lifestyle Improves (Diet, Exercise, Weight, Alcohol/Tobacco)

Any good spine specialist will tell you that a muscle relaxer is not designed to be a stand alone or a long-term treatment option for spinal muscle issues. They may alleviate symptoms, but they don’t address the root issue, so it’s imperative that you take advantage of the relief provided by the drugs and pursue active interventions like physical therapy and exercise. Strengthening your muscles or stabilizing the spinal complex can stop the problem at the source, which can improve symptoms and help you wean off the muscle relaxers for good. These drugs can be a great form of complimentary medicine, but always remember that you are going to need to put in some work on your end with active interventions for best results.

For more information about specific types of muscle relaxers, or to get to the bottom of your spinal discomfort, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

Comments are closed.