Waking Up With Lower Back Pain? Here Are Ways to Find Relief

Morning lower back pain is highly common among people of all ages. The pain can happen for many reasons including sleep position, mattress type, pregnancy, and injury to the back. The well-being of our patients is our top priority so if these issues continue, contact us to help alleviate them. Continue reading for tips to relieve morning lower back pain and ways to prevent it from happening again.

Lower back pain is the second-most common reason that Americans visit the doctor. Almost 85% of adults have lower back pain at least once in their lifetime. Waking up with lower back pain can happen for many reasons.

Fortunately, lower back pain is often treatable and can sometimes even be prevented. We look at what causes lower back pain in the morning, how to feel better, and under what circumstances it might be best to talk to a doctor.

Why Do You Wake Up With Lower Back Pain?

People wake up with lower back pain for a number of different reasons. Certain sleep positions, a person’s mattress, and injuries are factors that can cause morning backaches. In many cases, however, lower back pain has no identifiable cause.

Sleep Position

Some sleep positions can trigger lower back pain and stiffness, whereas other positions may prevent such discomfort. Sleeping face down can place greater pressure on the spine, which can then lead to lower back pain in the morning. Some people also experience lower back pain after sleeping on their back.

Pressure on the spine can make it more difficult for the back muscles to repair and restore themselves during sleep. This pressure can also damage the ligaments and the discs that cushion the vertebrae, potentially leading to inflammation and more pain.

In contrast, side sleeping may prevent or alleviate sleep-related backaches. But evidence linking sleep positions with back pain is limited. More research is needed to determine, more definitively, which sleep positions are best for reducing lower back pain.

Mattress Type

The kind of mattress you sleep on can also affect whether or not you experience lower back pain in the morning. The best mattress for preventing lower back pain depends on your body type and what position you tend to sleep in.

A good mattress for preventing and alleviating a backache is firm enough to keep the spine aligned while offering enough contouring to cushion the pressure points where your body’s weight is most strongly positioned. The lower back is the primary pressure point for stomach and back sleepers.

A mattress that is too hard or too soft could place additional stress on the lower back or provide too little support, pulling the spine out of alignment. Both extremes could potentially lead to a morning backache.

Medium or medium-firm mattresses may be the best option to prevent pain, providing just the right amount of support for most people to maintain comfortable spine alignment without putting additional pressure in the wrong spots. People with a larger or smaller build, however, may need more or less support to stay comfortable.

The condition of the mattress can also have an effect on pain. An older mattress that sags in some places may not offer the support it did when it was newer and may induce back pain.

Injury to the Back

Lower back pain can result from gradual wear and tear to the bones, muscles, or ligaments that comprise the spine. The back can also experience sudden injury as a result of things like moving too quickly, lifting heavy objects, sitting for extended periods, or direct trauma to the area.

Strained back muscles: Sudden injury or overuse can cause tearing or stretching of muscles in the back. This in turn can lead to localized pain, muscle spasms, or inflammation that causes stiffness.
Broken vertebrae: Broken vertebrae cause sharp and severe lower back pain that can appear suddenly. They almost always result from direct trauma to the spine, such as a fall. Older people with osteoporosis are more likely to develop such fractures. Treatment includes rest, medication, physical therapy, and, sometimes, surgery.
Ruptured or slipped disc: Vertebrae are separated by discs, made of cartilage, which cushion the spine and allow it to stretch and move. A slipped or ruptured disc in the lower back can impinge on nearby nerves causing sharp pain, numbness, or muscle weakness. Treatment can include pain medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
Spinal stenosis: This narrowing of the space inside the spine can put pressure on the nerves of the spinal cord and cause significant back pain. This condition can be caused by bone diseases, tumors, a herniated or bulging disc, arthritis in the spine, or, in very rare cases, tumors.

Pregnancy

More than 60% of pregnant people experience some lower back pain, especially in the latter half of a pregnancy. Several physical changes can contribute to pregnancy-related back pain, including weight gain, hormonal fluctuations, and a shifting center of gravity. Although the pain may get worse further into the pregnancy, it usually dissipates after giving birth.

Pregnant people may prevent morning back pain by sleeping on their side with their knees bent. Also, placing a pillow between the knees or under the stomach can help to relieve pressure on the spine. If the bed is too soft to provide enough support while pregnant, placing a wooden board between the mattress and box spring could provide a temporary fix.

Small lifestyle changes that people who are pregnant can make during the day to help reduce back pain include: