My back is always tense. its dufficult for me to sleep at night.i have tried heat/cold, muscle relaxers, massages, & ben gay, but no luck.any suggestions?

Stretch: I don't see the most important thing listed-- exercise and stretching. Consider yoga, or a similar program to improve flexibility. Stand, bend forward, and let your weight pull your arms toward the floor- gently do this multiple times per day, without bouncing. Take 15 minutes to stretch each am and each pm. It takes work, but works much better than any medication.

Underlying causes: We presume that you have had a thorough medical evaluation to determine the cause of the muscle tension. If not, consider doing so. Back tension can be due to many things - underlying arthritis, degenerative disk disease, or muscle pull. Was there a recent or even distant injury? Are you on medications? Some can actually cause dystonia or muscle tension. Discontinuing them may help. ? Work respite.