Back Pain in the Morning – Causes and Treatment Options

Back pain in the morning commonly denotes an issue with a person’s sleeping position, mattress, or pillows. However, back pain in the mornings every now and then can be a sign of a medical problem. Back pain in the morning can make it difficult to get the day started. They can find solutions to their problem and have more pain-free mornings by figuring out the source of the pain. The potential causes of waking up with lower back pain are discussed in this article, along with some possible solutions. Continue reading to find out how to treat back pain in the morning and when to see the best spine surgeon in Bangalore.

Causes and Treatment for Back Pain in the Morning

Back pain can be acute, or it can persist for more than a month (chronic). The majority of back pain is acute and will go away in a few days with the right at-home care. If the pain doesn’t go away, you might want to see a doctor to see if there’s something more serious going on. There are several reasons why someone might wake up with back pain. The following lists a few possibilities.

Degenerative disc disease

The lumbar spinal canal may narrow with age due to normal wear and tear on the back’s discs and vertebrae. This narrowing is known by doctors to be degenerative disc disease (DDD) or sometimes spinal arthritis. DDD has the ability to compress the spinal nerves, which can cause pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility, usually in the neck or lower back. The pain may radiate to other areas of the body and can range from mild to extremely severe. Morning symptoms may be more severe and may even keep you from falling asleep.

Other DDD signs and symptoms could be:

• a foot drop or a weakness in the legs.
• tingling and numbness in the legs and arms
• pain that could aggravate by bending, lifting, or sitting.
• walking, shifting, or changing positions relieves the pain.

Treatment

DDD treatment options include:

• using OTC (over-the-counter) painkillers
• putting on heat and ice packs.
• wearing a back brace for some time.
• going through physical therapy.
• attempting alternative treatments like chiropractic or acupuncture.

If a patient has serious symptoms, the best spine surgeon in Bangalore may advise surgical procedures like spinal fusion or disc replacement.

Fibromyalgia

Back aches and stiffness in the morning are common signs of fibromyalgia. This chronic condition can lead to aches, pains, and tingling in various body parts.

Other fibromyalgia signs and symptoms include:

• fatigue.
• inability to sleep.
• Memory and concentration issues, also known as “fibro fog,” are common.
• headaches.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• tingling and numbness in the arms and legs

Treatment

Depending on a person’s symptoms, fibromyalgia treatment normally involves:

• medicine that reduces pain.
• medications that reduce inflammation.
• lifestyle improvements, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and workplace adjustments that are appropriate.
• complementary therapies, such as chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, and acupuncture.

Individuals suffering from fibromyalgia can take the following actions to lessen their morning back pain:

• stretching exercises, including pulling the legs in toward the chest or starting to reach each arm in front and across the body, before stepping out of bed.
• Just after getting out of bed, take a warm shower to help circulation and loosen up tight muscles.
• making sure that the bedroom is heated or cooled comfortably.
• minimizing back strain by positioning the body with the help of pillows.

Severe exercise the previous day

Regular exercise can ease back pain by strengthening the back. However, overcomplicating it at the gym or during a sport can cause stiffness and back pain in the morning. A person should be mindful of their posture both during and right after any strenuous physical activity. Proper warm-up and cool-down techniques can also lessen back pain and muscle tightness the next day.

Treatment

The symptoms of back pain brought on by exercise can be relieved by the following:

• putting hot or cold compresses on the injured area.
• taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

Improperly waking up

The way one gets out of bed can make a big difference in how painful the mornings are. Even if an individual is well-rested, getting out of bed immediately or bending far forward can hurt the back.

Treatment

A person should take the following actions to reduce the likelihood of back stiffness and pain in the morning:

• Slowly make your way to the bed’s edge to start.
• Move to a seated position with the legs hanging off the side of the bed by using the arms as leverage.
• Slowly lower the feet to the floor and start standing up after a small period of modification.

Poor sleeping position can also cause back pain in the morning

Certain sleeping positions can put additional strain on the neck, hips, and lower back. Back pain relief does not always require a person to completely change their usual sleeping position. Instead, a person can use pillows to support their entire body as they lie down in the position that feels most comfortable to them. For instance:

• To better align their spine and lessen lower back pain while lying on their backs, back sleepers might try placing a pillow under their knees.
• To better coordinate their hips and spine, side sleepers may find it helpful to place a pillow between their legs.
• Pillows can be placed underneath the lower abdomen of stomach sleepers to lessen the curvature of the lower back.

If using pillows does not help a person’s symptoms, they should look into other possible causes of back pain in the morning.

Unsupportive mattress

Back pain in the morning may result from mattresses that do not adequately support a person’s weight or body shape. Manufacturers usually advise customers to change their mattresses every 10 to 15 years. Noticeable sagging or markings that persist where a person has slept are two indicators that a mattress needs to be replaced.

It’s crucial to select a mattress that is both pleasant and fully supportive when purchasing a new one. If a customer is not completely satisfied with the product after a few weeks or months, some manufacturers provide an extended trial period that enables them to return the mattress.

Pregnancy

A usual musculoskeletal concern during pregnancy is lower back pain, which can happen in the morning. In some regions of the world, lower back pain during pregnancy affects between 30 and 78% of women.

Lower back pain often during pregnancy can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

• hormones like relaxin and progesterone are released more frequently, which may soften pelvic muscles, tendons, and joints and lessen back support.
• the fetus’s added weight necessitating additional back support.
• also, a person’s growing fetus causes their center of gravity to move forward.

After giving birth, back pain brought on by pregnancy usually disappears. While it doesn’t decrease the risk of back pain during pregnancy, exercise may lessen the intensity of back pain throughout pregnancy.

If back pain does not go away on its own, one or more of the following remedies may help:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are available for pain relief.
• Muscle relaxant: Prescription muscle relaxants can help loosen up tense muscles and reduce back pain caused by muscles. Although long-term use of muscle relaxants could increase the risk of side effects, they are usually ineffective for treating chronic lower back pain. Anyone thinking about taking muscle relaxants should talk to their doctor about it.
• Cold and heat therapy: Lower back massages with hot or cold packs can ease discomfort and inflammation while also facilitating better movement.
• Gentle stretching: Lower back pain and mobility may be improved with simple stretches. To make sure that stretching won’t make their symptoms worse, an individual should first discuss this with their primary care physician.

When to consult a doctor?

If self-care methods do not relieve a person’s morning back pain, they should see a doctor. If you are experiencing severe pain that reduces your ability to move or perform daily tasks, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Along with back pain, a person should seek medical attention as soon as possible if any of the symptoms listed also appear:

• bladder or bowel issues.
• Arms or legs that are numb or weak.
• breathing difficulty.

In order to determine the condition, the doctor will:

• ask about the symptoms of the patient.
• assess the patient’s medical background.
• perform a physical evaluation.

A doctor may occasionally advise tests to help determine the root cause of back pain. These could include imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans or nerve conduction studies. It is advised to consult the top spine surgeon in India for effective treatment.

To Summarize

Back pain is usually brought on by poor sleeping patterns or overworking the body while exercising. However, specific medical conditions like fibromyalgia and DDD can also cause morning back pain. If back pain doesn’t quite improve with self-care techniques, like trying a new sleeping position or mattress, an individual should consult a doctor. It’s also important to see a doctor if you have severe back discomfort that prevents you from moving around or performing your daily tasks.