Causes of back pain when lying down
Pain in the back that appears after sleep causes severe discomfort and does not depend on physical activity, so it can intensify in a stationary position. Based on their localization and accompanying signs, one can judge the nature of the pathology - whether it is of vertebrogenic or non-vertebrogenic origin.
In 85% of people, back pain is due to diseases of the spine, joints or muscles, in 9% - kidney diseases, 6% - other internal organs.
Shpidonov Gennady Stanislavovich
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University (neurology)
10 years of experience
Causes of pain when lying on your back:
- excessive physical activity during the day;
- incorrectly selected mattress, pillow;
- lying in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
- excess weight, which causes strong pressure on the spinal structures when lying down;
- 2-3 trimester of pregnancy;
- pathologies of the musculoskeletal system: spinal deformity, osteochondrosis, arthrosis, rheumatism, spondylosis, ankylosing spondylosis, infectious bone diseases, hernia, displacement or degenerative changes in intervertebral discs, pinched nerves;
- back injuries, pelvic bone fractures, muscle tissue damage;
- diseases of internal organs, including cancer.
Back pain at night can appear in any part of the spine. The
intensity of the pain can be mild, moderate or intense, the duration can be short or long, the nature is sharp, reminiscent of a lumbago, or aching, the location can be one-, two-sided, at the top. or lower back.
Pain in the cervical region often occurs due to diseases of the spine, in the chest area - heart and lungs, in the peritoneum - pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, in the lumbar area - urinary, reproductive system in men and women.
Let's look at the most common causes of back pain when lying down.
Scoliosis
In the early stages, the pathology does not manifest itself, the intensity of pain increases as the curvature intensifies. Associated symptoms occur:
- decreased range of motion, stiffness in the spine;
- muscle spasm, which is accompanied by increased pain;
- breathing problems due to compression and deformation of the chest;
- asymmetry of the shoulders and shoulder blades.
Severe forms of scoliosis are accompanied by disruption of the functioning of internal organs.
Osteochondrosis
It is the most common cause of back pain. At first, the pain is aching, moderate, and may go away after warming up and applying painkillers. However, as the inflammatory process intensifies and the elasticity and strength of the intervertebral discs decrease, the pain becomes sharp and acute.
Severe pain may indicate a pinched nerve
In addition to pain, the patient feels a burning sensation, tingling, and numbness in the affected area. These symptoms occur after prolonged sitting or lying down and spread to the limbs.
Pyelonephritis
Aching, nagging pain in the lower back, which intensifies when lying on your back, is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, weakness, and difficulty urinating, indicating kidney disease. With pyelonephritis, pain increases at night, is localized on the right or left, and can radiate to the lower abdomen.
Shpidonov Gennady Stanislavovich
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University (neurology)
10 years of experience
Ankylosing spondylitis
If back pain in a lying position intensifies in the second half of the night, after a long period of lying down is accompanied by stiffness, then we are probably talking about ankylosing spondylitis or ankylosing spondylitis.
With ankylosing spondylitis, after getting out of bed, a person needs a warm-up to get rid of stiffness
The pathology is an inflammation of the intervertebral joints, which leads to their fusion (ankylosis). As a result, the mobility of the spine deteriorates, muscle spasm and pain occur. The spinal column is deformed, which disrupts the functioning of internal organs.
Duodenal ulcer
The pain can be aching or cutting, causes a person to wake up at night, subsides after eating, but returns 2-3 hours after eating. Accompanied by nausea, vomiting, flatulence, bloating, and sour belching.
Appendicitis
Pain syndrome with appendicitis depends on the location of the appendix. When the vermiform appendix is located behind the cecum, wrapped towards the kidney and ureter, the pain radiates to the lower back, groin, and pelvis.
The pain occurs suddenly, its intensity can increase gradually, but more often it is too strong from the first minutes of the attack.
Prostatitis
Pain in the spine in men when lying on their back may indicate inflammation of the prostate gland. It is localized in the lumbar region, lower abdomen, and is accompanied by problems with urination.
Shpidonov Gennady Stanislavovich
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University (neurology)
10 years of experience
Back injuries
If it hurts to lie down at night after excessive exercise or lifting heavy objects, then there is likely damage to the muscles and other tissues surrounding the spine.
When a person has “broken his back,” the pain is severe, shooting, and does not allow him to roll over on his side, straighten up, or get out of bed.
Neck pain due to the wrong choice of pillow
Even a healthy person can experience transient neck discomfort and pain if they spend nights in an uncomfortable bed. A pillow that is too high and forces you to tilt or tilt your head too much can cause neck muscle soreness in the morning. An excessively low pillow can also cause pain.
The cervical spine with a horizontal body position needs support, and if there is no support for it, this causes muscle tension during sleep, which leads to unpleasant sensations.
In order not to experience pain associated with an uncomfortable sleeping place, it is necessary to choose a pillow that is optimal in height, which will keep the neck and head in a physiological position throughout the night, without disturbing blood flow or causing muscle tension. An orthopedic pillow made from materials with shape memory is optimal for this. During sleep, such pillows take on a certain shape that follows the contours of the parts of the body in contact with them. This allows a person to take a comfortable position and relax with the greatest comfort.
Treatment of back pain in a supine position
Treatment of back pain should be carried out by a doctor, which one depends on the disease that caused the pain syndrome. If you are sure that the pain is not related to pathologies of the spine, then it is better to consult a therapist. After studying the clinical picture to identify infectious, inflammatory and oncological processes in the body, the doctor will prescribe tests and ultrasound. If necessary, he will refer you for consultation to a specialized specialist.
But in most cases, back pain when lying on your back occurs precisely because of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. They are treated by a neurologist. If possible, you should contact him immediately.
Neurologists with high ratings and impressive medical experience specialize in the treatment of pain that occurs when you lie down.
At the initial appointment, the doctor will listen to the patient’s complaints, conduct a physical examination and palpation of the spine, and neurological testing. To understand the cause of discomfort in the back when lying down, an MRI will be prescribed. This is the most informative instrumental study for diagnosing diseases and injuries of the spine, damage to muscle tissue, and pinched nerves. At the SmartMed clinic, patients are examined using an ultra-precise tomograph Siemens Symphony 1.5 Tesla installed in 2021.
MRI is the basis of instrumental examination for back pain
Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor selects the most effective method of therapy. More often, complex treatment is required, which includes medications, massage, physical therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures. In severe cases, surgical interventions are resorted to.
Drug therapy
The following groups of drugs are used:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- painkillers;
- antispasmodics;
- muscle relaxants;
- chondroprotectors;
- vitamin complexes.
The type, dosage and release form of the medicine are chosen by the doctor, based on the cause of the pain and the general health of the patient.
To treat back pain, injections, tablets, ointments, and creams are used.
Physiotherapy
A specially selected set of physical exercises allows you to restore mobility, strengthen the ligamentous-muscular system, improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue, and get rid of discomfort in the back.
Massage
Patients with neurological diseases should undergo 2 massage courses per year, each including 5-10 sessions. Its effectiveness is increased by swimming, exercise therapy, reflexology, and magnetic therapy.
Surgical treatment
The operation is indicated for patients with hernias, advanced forms of osteochondrosis, ankylosing spondylitis, cancer, appendicitis and other severe surgical pathologies.
Folk remedies
If the pain is not severe and has arisen for the first time, then it can be stopped using the following folk remedies:
- cabbage or potato compress;
- sheep wool belt;
- rubbing with tincture of propolis, hot pepper, “triple” cologne;
- ointment based on horse chestnut;
- hot bags with salt or mustard.
Important! Most folk remedies have a warming effect. In case of inflammatory diseases, their use is prohibited!
What to do if your back starts to hurt at night?
If your back hurts at night, the first thing to do is seek medical help. It is best to visit a vertebrologist. This specialist will help you draw up an examination plan based on the results of the initial examination. An individual course of treatment will then be developed.
Usually, the back begins to hurt at night due to osteochondrosis. This degenerative disease is most easily treated using manual therapy techniques. In our manual therapy clinic, treatment usually begins with spinal column traction procedures. This procedure allows you to restore the physiological state of the spine, increase intervertebral spaces, relieve pain, and create conditions for straightening compressed cartilaginous discs.
After normalization of the patient's condition, a course of rehabilitation therapy begins. Reflexology, kinesiotherapy, osteopathy, therapeutic massage and gymnastics are used.
You can sign up for a free initial consultation with a chiropractor or vertebrologist in our clinic right now. During the first appointment, the doctor will make a diagnosis and tell you how to treat nighttime back pain.
How to get rid of back pain when lying down
Let us remind you that you cannot self-medicate, since it is impossible to get rid of pain forever without eliminating the cause of its occurrence. However, there are times when it is not possible to see a doctor immediately. In this case, you can alleviate the condition at home by adhering to the following recommendations:
- Lie down on a hard, flat surface and take a comfortable position to relax your back muscles as much as possible.
- If the pain does not subside, apply an ice pack to the area of pain. Under no circumstances should you warm the body, as heat will only increase inflammation.
- Rub the sore spot with an ointment with an anesthetic effect.
Shpidonov Gennady Stanislavovich
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University (neurology)
10 years of experience
Following these recommendations is first aid for back pain, not treatment. After therapeutic manipulations, the pain may subside for a short time, but this does not mean that the problem is solved.
Typically, patients with chronic pain that lasts a long time turn to a neurologist. And all because people self-medicate, mask the symptoms, but do not act on the cause. As a result, the underlying pathology progresses, which is why the severity of the pain increases.
Diagnostics
The diagnostic method, which is prescribed by the appropriate specialist (urologist, orthopedist, neurologist, etc.), depends on the symptoms. If you have mixed symptoms, you should consult a therapist. After examination, palpation and collection of a primary history, one or more examination methods are prescribed:
- X-ray;
- Ultrasound;
- MRI;
- ECG;
- computed tomography;
- densitometry;
- laboratory tests (urine and blood tests).
Densitometry – non-invasive diagnosis of pathologies of spinal bone tissue
Only having a complete picture of the disease, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment.