Why Back Pain When Lying Down
Most back pain when lying down is still a sprain or muscle spasm – Most back pain is due to a simple problem such as a muscle sprain or spasm. Back pain may increase when lying down simply because the pressure is put on the injury. Back pain after a fall may worsen when lying down for similar reasons or merely because of nasty bruising that responds to pressure.
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Why does my back hurt when I lie down?
Many things can cause lower back pain when lying down. Your mattress, muscle strain, a tumor, or disc degeneration, to name a few. Because so many things may cause this, it’s important to seek medical care if your pain persists. Lower back pain when lying down can be caused by a number of things.
Sometimes, getting relief is as simple as switching sleeping positions or getting a mattress that’s better suited to your needs. However, if you can’t get relief from changes to your sleep environment, or if the pain occurs only at night, it may be a sign of something more serious, like arthritis or degenerative disk disease,
Talk with your doctor if your back pain is accompanied by:
feverweaknesspain that spreads to the legsweight lossbladder control issues
Your spine and the muscles surrounding your spinal cord can be sensitive. They form the central structure of your body and work hard to keep you standing straight and balanced. If you have pain when you lie down, here are some possible causes.
Why is my back pain worse lying in bed?
Most back pain when lying down is still a sprain or muscle spasm – Most back pain is due to a simple problem such as a muscle sprain or spasm. Back pain may increase when lying down simply because the pressure is put on the injury. Back pain after a fall may worsen when lying down for similar reasons or merely because of nasty bruising that responds to pressure.
How can I tell what kind of back pain I have?
The underlying cause of pain may be hard to identify – It is usually difficult for the brain to distinguish between injury to one spinal structure versus another nearby. For example, a torn or herniated disc may feel similar to an arthritic facet joint due to their close proximity.
- In some cases, the same nerve root can be compressed or irritated by different structures, such as a disc or bone spur.
- See Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerve Roots Your physician will take a thorough medical history, discuss your symptoms, and conduct a physical exam in order to accurately diagnose the cause of back pain.
Sometimes diagnostic tests—such as X-rays, MRI scans, or diagnostic injections—are needed when trying to locate or confirm the underlying cause of pain. See Getting an Accurate Back Pain Diagnosis
How do I know if my back pain is skeletal or muscular?
It can be difficult to differentiate between bone and muscle pain, because they affect similar parts of the body. The pain may also be similar in intensity. However, in general, bone pain feels sharper, deeper, and more debilitating than muscle pain. Bone pain may also last longer than muscle pain and require greater medical attention.
- In contrast, muscle pain feels more “generalized,” and its exact location is difficult to pinpoint.
- People should visit a specialist if the pain is unbearable, or if it lasts longer than 48 hours.
- Doctors who specialize in the musculoskeletal system are called orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons,
- Eep reading to learn more about the various causes of bone and muscle pain.
The following are some potential causes of bone pain. Osteoporosis, like the name suggests, is a disease of “porous bones.” It is more common in older adults, resulting from a deficiency of calcium and vitamin D. Other causes include hyperthyroidism, menopause, and a family history of osteoporosis.
- However, it is important to note that osteoporosis is not painful until it causes a collapsed vertebrae, or a fracture.
- Osteoporosis makes the bones thin, weak, and brittle.
- This increases the risk of bone injuries.
- The International Osteoporosis Foundation say that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will experience a broken bone because of osteoporosis.
Most people do not show symptoms, making osteoporosis a “silent disease.” Watch out for early signs such as:
severe back painloss of heighta stooped or hunched posturea bone injury caused by minor falls or bruising
Osteoporosis is treatable if a doctor diagnoses it early. Treatment includes medicines that slow down bone loss and support bone growth. This may be accompanied by nutritional supplements, exercise, and a balanced diet. A bone injury can result in partial or complete breaking of the bone.
trauma that results from a road accident, a hard fall, or a sports injuryosteoporosisbone stress caused by muscle overuse (called a stress fracture)
Symptoms of a fracture include:
intense sharp pain at the site of injuryan inability to move the injured areabruisingdeformity (a limb that looks out of place or protrudes from the skin)
The doctor will do an X-ray to confirm if a bone is broken. Treatment for a fracture includes cast immobilization, where the injured site is wrapped with a plaster or fiberglass cast. This helps the bone heal, which could take several weeks. Some people may require invasive surgery to internally adjust the bone fragments.
osteosarcoma non-Hodgkin lymphoma multiple myeloma chondrosarcoma giant cell tumor of the bone
Bone cancer is rarely seen in adults. According to the American Cancer Society, osteosarcoma is more common in younger people between the ages of 10 and 30. Just over 10% of cases are seen in people in their 60s and 70s. Some people develop bone cancer due to hereditary conditions.
pain that feels like a dull, deep ache in a bone or bone region (arms, legs, back, ribs, or pelvis)swelling or inflammation, as if a mass or lump is presentsudden and unexplained weight lossfatigue, especially as the cancer begins to spread
Surgery is the usual treatment of choice for bone cancer, where the doctor removes the entire tumor. Other types of bone cancer may require a combination of treatments that include chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy. Learn more about bone cancer here.
- Muscle pain is more common than bone pain, but its cause may not always be clear.
- Also called myalgia, muscle aches and pains can involve the joints, ligaments, tendons, and the soft tissues that connect these with bones and organs.
- Muscle injuries are common in athletes and people involved in high demand sports.
Research shows that muscle injuries make up 10–55% of all acute sports injuries. A muscle can be injured as a result of the impact from a fall, or from an external force such as a sports tackle, or road accident. Muscles can also get stretched — what most people call a muscle strain,
stinging pain at the site of injury, which may become duller with timesorenessinflammation or swellingrednessreduced movement of the affected area
A muscle injury is diagnosed by physical examination, and may require imaging tests such as an ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Treatment for muscle injuries involves heat or cold therapy to soothe the affected muscle, light stretches if the pain is tolerable, over-the-counter pain relievers, and rest.
- Fibromyalgia is an increasingly common type of muscle pain that causes widespread intense pain across the body.
- It also affects a person’s sleeping habits, and is known to cause mental and emotional distress.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fibromyalgia affects over 4 million adults in the United States, which is about 2% of the adult population.
Most people are diagnosed during middle age. People with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are at higher risk of developing fibromyalgia. Other factors that increase a person’s risk are obesity, a family history of fibromyalgia, and certain viral infections.
body pain that lasts more than 3 monthsfrequent fatigue and tirednessanxietydepressionsleep problemsheadaches and migrainestingling feeling in the hands or feet
Fibromyalgia is treated with a combination of prescription medicines and pain relievers, muscle strengthening exercises, and stress management activities such as yoga, massages, and meditation. These are a group of diseases that cause long-term muscle inflammation, weakness, and pain.
So far, researchers have identified four myopathies: polymyositis, dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, and necrotizing autoimmune myopathy. Although their names may seem confusing, all the inflammatory myopathies are a kind of autoimmune disease, An autoimmune disease occurs when a person’s immune cells (that are supposed to fight infections) begin to attack the body’s own tissues, muscle fibers, and blood vessels.
This leads to symptoms such as:
muscle weaknessfatigue or tiredness after standing or walkingmuscles that feel tender to touchmuscle pain
There is currently no known cure for inflammatory myopathies, but some treatments may help to reduce symptoms. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke recommend physical therapy, exercise, medication, heat therapy, and rest, to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Learn more about myalgia, or muscle aches, here. It is best to consult a doctor if the pain lasts longer than 48 hours, or if it interferes with daily life. Contact a doctor immediately if the pain is unbearable, if a limb looks odd or out of place, or if fever accompanies the pain. Several short-term and chronic conditions can cause muscle pain and bone pain.
Many of these conditions can be treated with simple over-the-counter medicines, heat therapy, and rest. However, some may require urgent medical attention. It is important to closely observe symptoms over a 24–48-hour period. If the pain persists, contact a doctor.
Which bed is good for back pain?
Memory foam or latex foam mattresses are best for back pain sufferers. They aid in healthy spinal alignment, blood circulation, and pain alleviation by evenly dispersing the body’s weight.
Are hard beds good for your back?
You have pre-existing conditions – In the doctor’s office, the answer to the question, “Is a firm mattress better for your back” used to always be yes. Doctors used to recommend that patients with chronic pain sleep on a firmer mattress. However, studies have shown that people with low back pain who slept on hard beds had the poorest sleep quality.
How bad should back pain be before seeing a doctor?
When Should I See a Doctor for Back Pain? – Content When your back first starts to hurt, try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever (for example, aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen) and applying ice in the first 48 hours. You may apply heat after 48 hours.
You may need to take it easy for a while, but “it’s best to stay as active as tolerated, and to avoid absolute bed rest,” said Dr. Guo. If your back pain lasts more than two weeks and keeps you from participating in normal, daily activities, see your family doctor. If your pain is severe, you should see a doctor sooner.
You should seek urgent medical care if you have:
Fever associated with back pain Back pain after trauma Loss of bladder or bowel control Loss of strength in your arms and legs Unexplained weight loss associated with back pain
Also, always be more cautious if you have special risk factors for cancer, infection, or fractures that may affect the spine.
