Nocturnal back pain, also called nighttime back pain, is a specific type of discomfort, usually of the lower back, that many people experience. Many of us feel the need to lie down and take a rest when we experience back pain. Nocturnal back pain, however, is not relieved by lying down. In some cases, lying down actually makes the pain worse, and in rare cases, the pain doesn’t even start until a person lies down. Nighttime back pain can lead to a host of other problems, many of which result from the lack of restful sleep.

The Causes Of Nighttime Back Pain

Sometimes the cause of nocturnal back pain is obvious, such as if a person suffered a recent injury. Other times, though, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the discomfort. Nocturnal back pain should not be ignored as it can be a sign of serious health issues.

Most nighttime back pain can be corrected by adjusting your sleeping position or visiting a local chiropractor for adjustments. That being said, this type of lower back pain when you lay down can be a symptom of tumors on your spine, a fused spine (ankylosing spondylitis), or osteomyelitis, a bone infection often caused by staph bacteria. If you are experiencing nocturnal back pain and have a history of cancer, if your back pain spreads down your legs, or you are experiencing a numbness or tingling in your legs, you should contact your doctor as these could be signs of something more serious.

Other causes of nighttime back pain can include degeneration of the spine, a herniated disc, spinal fractures or injuries, or conditions such as pregnancy, arthritis, kidney stones, and scoliosis.

What To Do About Back Pain At Night

If you have pain keeping you up every night, that’s a problem. Sleeping is one of the best things we can do for our bodies at the end of a long day. People who don’t get enough sleep can experience depression, a lack of alertness during the day, poor memory, relationship problems, irritability, and a higher risk of health issues like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.  Thankfully, there are a lot of remedies that may be beneficial.

• Most people find some relief from lower back pain by sleeping on their back. Nighttime back pain can be caused from your spine straightening out as your body sinks into your mattress. To prevent this, tuck a pillow under your knees to help your support the natural curve of your spine.
• If you prefer to sleep on your side, using a body pillow can help prevent your spine from becoming misaligned as you sleep. Bend your knees slightly and place a pillow between them to keep your back, hips, and legs aligned.
• Sleeping on your stomach is not recommend if you experience any kind of back pain. However, if you need to sleep on your stomach, place a soft pillow just above your hips to help keep your spine curved in the proper way.
• Make sure you have a good mattress. Back pain or not, you’ll never get a good night’s sleep on a bad mattress. Many mattress producers will allow you to try out a mattress for free for a couple of months, so take advantage of these offers. We can suggest whether you would benefit from a soft, firm, or in-between mattress at your next visit to Marshalls Creek Wellness Solutions.
• Create a good sleeping environment. Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol before bedtime and make sure your bedroom is comfortable and cool. You can incorporate essential oils that might help with sleep and relaxations into your nighttime routine, and be sure that distractions like TV and cell phones aren’t keeping you up.

Schedule A Visit To Your East Stroudsburg Chiropractor

Marshalls Creek Chiropractic And Wellness Solutions would love to help with your nocturnal back pain. Discover what to expect from your local chiropractor on our New Patients page, and consider corrective exercises and massage therapy as well as chiropractic adjustments to help alleviate back pain. At the end of the day, lower back pain is caused by a number of things, and the only way to know how to fix it is to know what is causing it. Schedule an appointment with Marshalls Creek today so we can work together to alleviate your lower back pain.