Waking up in the middle of the night with back pain or struggling to fall asleep because your back aches can be frustrating. Many people deal with back discomfort at some point. However, this discomfort often goes away with rest, stretching or a few small posture changes. When you’re feeling back pain at night, you may not be sure whether you should be worried.
You may be asking yourself, “Should I be worried about my nighttime back pain?” Here’s how to know: If your back pain is constant no matter what position you’re in and it’s significantly worse at night than during the day, it may be time to seek help from a licensed physical therapist or another health care professional. Learning more about back pain and concerning signs to look out for can help you determine whether it’s time to get treatment.
What causes back pain at night?
Nighttime back pain can be caused by several things. Some common causes include:
- Poor sleep posture (like sleeping on your stomach)
- An old or unsupportive mattress
- Muscle tightness or fatigue from daily activity
- Overuse or strain from lifting, bending or sitting too long
In these cases, the pain is usually mild and may improve with a change in sleeping position, better pillow support or light stretching. If your pain sticks around during the day and gets worse at night, though, there may be more going on.
When to be concerned about nighttime back pain: Key signs
- Your pain is worse at night — In many cases, back pain from muscle strain or poor posture feels better when someone lies down to rest. If you find that your back pain gets worse when you lie down, it could be a sign of something more serious. Some causes of pain worsening at night could include nerve sensitivity, inflammation around the spine, and disc issues. When lying flat makes your pain worse instead of better, it’s a good reason to seek care.
- Your pain doesn’t change with position — If you try sleeping on your side, back or with a pillow between your knees, and nothing seems to make the pain better, professional treatment is a good next step. When pain doesn’t respond to normal movement or position changes, it may mean the source of the pain is deeper or not related to your muscles. This could include issues like infections, referred pain and widespread inflammatory conditions. A physical therapist can assess your movement and help identify if the issue is related to muscle, joint, disc or nerve.
- You’re losing sleep — Missing out on sleep because of back pain night after night is a signal that you can benefit from professional support. Sleep is when your body heals and recharges. If pain is waking you up or keeping you from falling asleep, it might start to cause more serious challenges. One study found that there may be a causal relationship between lower back pain and sleep disturbances like insomnia. This relationship is potentially bidirectional, meaning that your symptoms may be in a cycle that causes both your back pain and your insomnia to worsen. Pain management and sleep improvement practices can be key to breaking this cycle and finding relief.
- Your pain is disrupting your daily life — When any symptom is affecting your ability to engage in day-to-day activities, seeking treatment can be essential. If your back pain is causing significant distractions or preventing you from keeping up with work responsibilities, physical therapy can help you start working toward recovery. Physical therapists use a range of techniques, including prescribed exercises and hands-on manual therapy, to directly address the causes behind back pain.
- You’re also experiencing other symptoms — Pain alone may or may not need professional intervention. If you’re experiencing other symptoms along with your pain, however, it could indicate that treatment is necessary. Symptoms like numbness, tingling or weakness in your legs or feet might mean that a nerve is irritated or compressed. These symptoms can interfere with your ability to walk, lift or balance in addition to causing discomfort. Symptoms like numbness and weakness should not be ignored — it’s a good idea to reach out to a physical therapist to check what’s going on and begin a tailored treatment plan.
Decrease your pain and improve your sleep with physical therapy at Forever Fit
Forever Fit is here to help you understand your back pain and find the best ways to manage it. With personalized care and expert support, we want to help you get back to restful nights and better mornings. We offer specialized back pain treatment at our Gaithersburg, Maryland, location. You can also get comprehensive treatment at whichever location is closest to you.
Our team is here to help you sleep with less pain. Contact us today to schedule an initial appointment at one of our convenient Maryland locations.