What is Nighttime Back Pain
Nighttime back pain is a type of discomfort or pain that specifically occurs in the back while sleeping or trying to fall asleep. This can range from a dull ache to sharp pain and can make it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Nighttime back pain may be caused by a variety of factors, including poor posture, inadequate support from the mattress or pillow, underlying medical conditions, or previous injuries. It is important to address back pain at night as it can lead to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and reduced quality of life.
Causes and Treatments for Nighttime Backaches
Back pain is never a welcome thing, but somehow it feels even worse when it strikes just as you’re easing into sleep or slumbering in the wee hours. But figuring out why you’re experiencing lower back pain when lying down and taking steps to stem it may be the only way back to peaceful night’s sleep, says Kaliq Chang, MD, of Atlantic Spine Center. If you’re experiencing back pain at night, you should know you’re far from alone. Not only is lower back pain at any time of day or night extremely common, affecting up to 8 in 10 American adults at some point, but up to 80% of people with chronic pain also have trouble sleeping because of it, research has revealed. “Pain is definitely one of the biggest contributors to having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up earlier than you’d like,” explains Dr. Chang, an interventional pain management specialist. “Instead of taking sleep aids, however, which may seem easiest, it’s crucial to target the reasons for your lower back pain at night.” Unless your back pain is caused by a worn-out mattress or pillow, you probably aren’t experiencing it only at night. “Many people have some nagging back pain during the day, but it just seems worse at night because they’re distracted by work and other activities during daylight hours,” Dr. Chang explains. Back pain can be worse when lying down.
Other than non-supportive bedding, common medical conditions leading to nighttime back pain include:
- Pregnancy
- Spinal disc degeneration
- Injuries such as sprains or fractures
- Arthritis
- Scoliosis, an abnormal spinal curvature
- Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column
- Kidney stones
“Lying down for sleep can pinch or press on nerves around the spine that are compromised by spinal or other health conditions,” Dr. Chang explains. “Our inflammation levels also rise at night as circulation slows, so this too can contribute to our sense of pain.”
Tips for relief:
Any lingering middle back pain while sleeping should be checked out by your doctor to rule out any serious contributing conditions, Dr. Chang says. After that, try these ways of stemming back pain at bedtime:
- Stretch: Muscle tightness is a massive contributor to back pain. Before getting into bed, take a few moments to gently stretch your back, legs and neck to work out any knots that might wake up you up later.
- Take a bath: Similarly, relax your muscles by soaking in a warm bath. Alternately, some massaging shower heads can target problem areas with bursts of warm water, Dr. Chang notes.
- Adjust your sleep position: We often have a favorite position in which to slumber, but you may need to change things up in order to prevent back pain. Stomach sleeping can be most problematic since it throws the spine out of alignment.
- Put a wedge in it: You can soften the stress on your spine while sleeping by placing a pillow or wedge in strategic spots. If you’re a side sleeper, put a pillow between your legs; stomach sleepers can place one under your pelvis. Back sleepers can use a pillow beneath their knees.
- Buy new bedding: If your mattress is more than a decade old, it may be time for a new one. Saggy pillows that don’t keep your neck in alignment with the rest of your body are also prime candidates for replacement. “Many people don’t fully appreciate how important quality, up-to-date bedding can be in keeping them comfortable throughout the night,” Dr. Chang says. “Try out the ‘feel’ of new products in the showroom or store first before you bring them home.”
