According to a survey of people with chronic pain, most participants reported that their backs were the source of their discomfort. But how can you know what is causing your back pain? It can be helpful to evaluate the severity and frequency of your pain levels while standing, walking, or lying down. If you notice your back hurts more when you lie down, your symptoms could be linked to a variety of injuries.
3 possible reasons why your back hurts when you lie down
Your back consists of a large group of muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and cartilage. Plus, a delicate and complicated network of nerves runs through your spine. If you overexert or compress any of this tissue during work or play, you can experience back pain, especially when lying down. Several types of tissue damage can be contributing to your back pain while lying in bed, including:
- Strains, sprains and tears — Muscles, tendons and ligaments can be stretched too much during activities. You can strain your back while lifting a heavy object, repeating motions or not using proper alignment when exercising. Strained lower back muscles can specifically hurt the lower back when you lie down. To help limit these symptoms, physical therapists can target the source of your strain and use soft tissue mobilization techniques to reduce inflammation.
- Sciatica — The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. When it is compressed or pinched, shooting pain can travel from your back to your legs. Certain sleeping positions can aggravate the sciatic nerve and make it difficult to lie in bed for long periods of time. Physical therapy techniques like trigger point therapy can help release pinching around the nerve.
- Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and it refers to the gradual breakdown of cartilage around a joint. Spinal osteoarthritis involves the degeneration of the spinal discs. Millions of people experience symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis, which involves a consistent ache in the lower back. Various sleep positions can apply extra pressure on an osteoarthritic spine and lead to pain. Several therapeutic exercises can help patients manage their chronic pain and increase the mobility of their spine.
Panther PT can help you pinpoint why your back hurts while lying down
Are you losing out on sleep because of back pain? Our team of expert physical therapists can help you target the reason. Manual therapy, acupuncture and aquatic therapy are just some of our techniques that can help you lie down without your back hurting. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.