I didn't start getting major lower back spasms until about 7 years ago (and at least 25 years after first AS type problems). First episode was a nightmare. Only got loosened up when I added diazepam into the drug mix. That thankfully got me moving again. Then 5 years ago it was lower back muscle spasms that got me sent to a neuro as an acute admission and suspicion of MS. They ignored the fact that I also had bladder problems (should have been a red flag for lower back problems) and the only real treatment I got was diazepam again, but by this time the spasms just weren't going away for more than four hours or so. They would have me absolutely screaming in pain. Back muscle spasm is what has made it incredibly difficult for me to walk, keeps me on 80 mg of baclofen a day, and is what limits me most. Though once I got onto full dose NSAIDs it toned it all down considerably - proving to me that it has at least some inflammatory component (though not to my doctors).
