help/advice back guarding/spasms with bulging disc
Hello everyone,
I’ve been dealing with severe lower back muscle guarding/spasming for years and I’m hoping someone here recognizes this pattern.
About 5 years ago I developed what was first treated as Piriformis Syndrome/Sciatica, but last year I was finally diagnosed with 2 mild/moderate bulging discs. McKenzie extensions helped a lot with the nerve-like symptoms into my glutes/legs, so that part feels relatively stable now.
The problem is my lower back muscles (QL/lower erectors) keep tightening up from very small amounts of forward-bending activity. It started after prolonged bending at work 2 years ago, where my back gradually locked up until I could barely move for weeks. Since then it keeps happening more easily.
Even light activity can trigger it now:
- light core or glute exercises
- prolonged sitting
- bending forward repeatedly
- even playing piano (which is impossible now)
The muscles tighten progressively and then stay cramped/spasmed for days, sometimes to the point where I can barely move.
I’ve already tried:
- Physiotherapy
- stretching/mobility work
- strengthening glutes/core/hip flexors
- gradual exposure/loading
- avoiding aggravating movements
- McKenzie extensions
- breathing excercises throughout the day, or before-during-and after excercises
But almost every attempt to strengthen or rehabilitate things seems to flare the muscles up again. One of the doctors I went to is thinking about a dysregulated nervous system, since my last two years were quite traumatic and did not listen to my body. The next time I will see him is in 1,5 months unfortunately.
Has anyone experienced this kind of extreme protective muscle guarding after disc issues? Especially where the muscles seem unable to “let go” anymore? And if so, what actually helped?