Waking Up With Back Pain

 

Back pain can make you dread lying down straight on your bed and sleeping peacefully goes out of the window no matter if the sheep counting goes from hundred to a thousand. According to latest statistics, 8 out of every 10 Americans are suffering from back pain and it is affecting more women than men (nearly one-third of women suffer from back pain compared to a quarter of men) and it is more common in older adults.

 

Before we move on, it is important to understand the cause of back pains. As mentioned earlier, back pain and sleep complications go hand in hand. A bad sleeping posture can cause your back to stiff out and in the long run, can cause a spiral of problems. About 32% of people suffering from back pain report having sleep difficulties. Sadly, only one in every ten people find out the primary cause of back pain and sometimes the reason is as simple as a bad sleeping position. I myself was once part of the later 90%, until I found out that the reason behind all the sleepless my back pain is because of my poor sleeping position and mattress.

 

Waking up with back pain that gradually fades away once you are up and running is known as back pain, which is not due to any medical reason. Your mattress, pillow and most importantly your sleeping position are the main culprits in this case. Think about it, if your pain was really due to some medical condition or as a result of straining your back, you would feel back pain all the time. The good news is that you can get rid of your pain by making simple changes in your sleeping positions. Here are the most common tips to avoid back pain and say farewell to all those sleepless nights that were spent in agony.

 

Back sleeping is the most recommended sleeping position to avoid back pain due to the fact that your body weight is distributed evenly, putting less strain on your back. To take it up a notch and really avoid any pain what so ever, try to sleep in a way that your back is neither totally flat nor arched up while sleeping on you back. A good way to achieve this position is by putting a pillow under your knees. This helps to support the natural curve of your spine when you sleep on your back.

 

Side sleeping is the most common sleeping position. The best way to avoid back pain when sleeping on your side is to place a pillow between your knees. You can use a full length pillow for extra comfort. Also, make sure that your top leg does not fall over your bottom leg. Another way to add comfort is by placing a rolled towel under your waist, while still in the side position.

 

The worst sleeping position of all is the stomach sleeping. Sleeping on the stomach puts pressure on your back by flattening the natural curve of your spine. It can even cause pain between the shoulders because the neck is not supported in a good manner. It is best to avoid this sleeping position and pick either one of the two sleeping positions mentioned above.

 

What if you are following the already mentioned tips to the core and still suffer from back pains on a daily basis? This means that either you have a medical condition (which is to be honest a prime example of jumping to conclusions) or that something else might be wrong as well. The nearest thing to back pain while sleeping has to be something related closely to you while you are asleep and nothing is more close to you while sleeping than your mattress. Take it from me, you need to re-evaluate your mattress if nothing is working and you will surely feel the difference in a couple of days. Look for signs of weariness and notice whether you need a firmer mattress to support your back. According to research 63% people have reported improved quality of sleep and a significant decrease in back pain after changing their mattress. Sleep experts recommend that you must evaluate your mattress every 5-7 years.

 

We hope these changes will help you rid of your morning back pain. However, if your back pain still persists, I advise you to consult your doctor as there might be other reasons besides your sleeping position and mattress evaluation.

 

 

 

Eugene Gabriel has his BSc (Hons.) Degree in Psychology. He has always been fascinated by the effects of good quality sleep, or the lack of it on human productivity and overall well-being. He has helped thousands of individuals suffering from sleeping problems by teaching them about the healthy changes they need to make in their lifestyle in order to sleep peacefully. Read his post on health and sleep. You can also follow him on twitter @eugenegabrielj.