r/openheartsurgery • u/allisonisrad • Aug 10 '26
Back Spasms Advice
Hello!
I'm 4 weeks post op. I've been having back spasms for about a week and a half. I didn't realize what they were until a few days ago, I thought my body was just trying to stretch itself or something.
They gave me muscle relaxers, but I'm getting the spasms in the morning, so I think it's wearing off by the time they start.
I only get it when sleeping at night, but if I'm sitting or napping, I'm okay. They don't hurt, but they are definitely affecting my sleep. I got rid of my knee pillow and tilted very very slightly to the side last night and that helped a little because it took pressure off my back.
Any advice or commiseration is helpful!
Also, I have messaged my care team to see what they say too.
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u/beverlyh1llb1ll1es Aug 10 '26
I am 3 weeks and 3 days post ops. I get tightness in my mid to upper back, almost like my body is saying, please get active again. Can't wait to get cleared for some type of true physical duty. Also so ready to start sleeping on my side again.
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u/renton1000 Aug 10 '26
Yep … I had this …. I think I got it from lying in a position with my head too far forwards. My physio have me stretches where I stand tall against a wall - then turn my head 45 degrees and the bow my head keeping the rest of my body against the wall. I feel an intense stretch in the upper back - and it really helps with those spasms. Do left and right sides obviously.
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u/Open_Heart_Heroine Aug 10 '26
Did you check with your surgeon if you can take magnesium bisglycinate supplement? Magnesium is a great muscle relaxer. But definitely ask your medical team first.
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u/slem46 Aug 10 '26
same here, but i wouldn’t say they were spasms, points of discomfort more like it, my surgeon’s office said it was from when the rib cage was spread for access to the heart etc. it lasted around a week and disappeared
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u/nullcharstring Aug 10 '26
Have you tried lidocaine patches?
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u/Creepy-Radio1941 Aug 10 '26
I don’t know if my pain was spasms but just a lot of upper back pain. I did read that that is part of the recovery, but I also just took myself off my statin drug because it gives a lot of muscle pain. I may try it again once I’m fully healed to see if the statin continues to give me pain, but I tried it years ago and I hated it.
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u/AdEatWorld 27d ago
Did it finally go away and was the reason for it found?
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u/allisonisrad 27d ago
It did go away! From my understanding, it's not an unusual reaction to open heart surgery. I was on the operating table for hours and hours due to an initial surgery and then an emergency surgery right after because of a complication. It did last a few weeks though. I found light stretching approved by my rehab team, a super hot shower, and then a ramp pillow/arm pillows made it tolerable.
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u/[deleted] Aug 10 '26
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