Why do People Experience Back Pain While Sleeping?
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In the United States alone, over half of the adult population experiences lower back pain of varying intensity, and this often happens when they try to sleep. For many, the solution can be as simple as switching to a more comfortable mattress and pillow. Yet others will experience chronic back pain, no matter what changes they make to their sleeping environment. What causes this?
1. Poor posture – Some people simply have a poor sleeping posture, and this imperfect alignment puts additional strain on the spine. Too much arching, hunching of shoulders, excessively tilting the head – there are many different postures that are bad for the back. Because people spend hours in the same position while sleeping, this can easily lead to pain upon waking up or in the middle of the night. 2. Medical conditions – Arthritis and scoliosis often cause nocturnal back pain, as do most other medical conditions that have a direct effect on the spine’s curvature. Disc degeneration between the vertebrae is also fairly common among the older population. In some cases, even seemingly unrelated things, such as kidney stones will also have an effect.
It is important to note that in rare cases, back pain at night can also be a symptom of a much more serious disease, such as several types of cancer. Typically, this also comes with other signs, such as leg pain or throbbing and problems with bowel control.
3. Spinal injuries – People will also find it very difficult to get comfortable while they are recovering from a sprain or fracture. Those who suffer a spinal injury from sports or an accident will find that pain will persist even after treatment for some time. In most cases, though, doctors will prescribe medication if the pain is severe enough to prevent sleep. Nocturnal back pain is a common problem, and is usually not a cause for alarm. Despite that, health experts stress that people should take it seriously, as it can interfere with a person’s need for adequate sleep.
Sources: http://www.sleepwarehouse.com/ http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/arthritis-scoliosis http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/should-i-see-a-doctor-back-pain