Having a night of quality sleep is crucial. After a long day, we naturally yearn for the feeling of our backs against a mattress as we drift off. However, if you have back pain every morning, it could ruin things for you.
If you have this challenge, you’re not alone. Many things can cause your back to hurt every morning, including poor sleeping positions, a medical condition, and even a bad mattress.
Let’s look into these things and see what you can do.
Common Causes of Back Pain in the Morning
1. Poor Sleeping Posture
Sleep is good, and how you sleep matters, too. You might wake up with back strain if you put unusual pressure on your spine while sleeping. Poor sleeping posture can also cause uncomfortable pressure in the joints.
Sleeping frequently on your stomach may also lead to back pain. So, how should you sleep to avoid hurting your back?
The best sleeping position is to lie on your side. If you lie on your back, ensure there’s a pillow underneath to reduce pressure on your spine. However, if you must sleep on your stomach, place a pillow beneath your waist to take pressure off your spine.
2. Poor Quality Mattress
The cause of your back pain may be your mattress. Experts say that you should replace your mattress every six to eight years, even if you think yours is still okay.
Mattresses that are too soft or too hard can hurt your spine quickly. It might help if you had a custom mattress personalized according to your taste for maximum comfort. The mattress will fit your preferred sleeping style so it is a perfect fit for you.
3. Disc Degeneration
Disc degeneration usually comes with age due to the wear and tear of the spinal discs. It can cause excruciating pain, which generally gets worse over the night. That’s because the pressure in the disc is more in the morning.
Steroid injections and pain killers can help relieve the discomfort from disc degeneration. A corset or brace that supports the back can also help.
4. Pregnancy
It’s not uncommon to experience back pain during pregnancy, even as early as the first trimester. However, it usually occurs in the late second or early third trimester.
The weight from the uterus can cause pressure on the spine, and after sleeping for long hours, you’d likely feel back pain in the morning.
As a pregnant woman, you can try stretching more and standing with your legs rather than using your back for support too often. If the pain becomes unbearable, do a warm compress.
5. Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that amplifies pain by influencing how the brain interprets pain signals. Although anyone is at risk of the condition, it is more prevalent among women.
Common symptoms include:
- Musculoskeletal pain, which you’ll feel in your spine
- Trouble staying asleep
- Mood swings
- Tension headaches
- Anxiety and depression
- Difficulty remembering things
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for Fibromyalgia, but prescription pain killers can help manage the pain and improve your sleep.
Back Pain Every Morning
Physical exercises like the plank that work on your core can help you manage back pain. But if the discomfort gets severe and the recommendations do not work, whether you change your mattress or sleeping position, consider seeing a doctor for a checkup.
