May 18, 2012

Back Pain In The Morning

Have you ever experienced back pain in the morning? Do you wake up and struggle to get yourself out of bed because of pain? Have you tried different ‘miracle remedies’ for back pain but have never found a solution?  Don’t give up.  There is always hope.  Let’s first help you find what the source (or sources) of your pain is, then we can look for solutions.

We need to address your sleeping position, your mattress, your pillow, your sleep habits, and some of your basic everyday habits or lifestyle during the waking portion of your day.  You may need to spend a few days paying closer attention to yourself, your habits, and your posture or body positioning to be able to isolate the best possible solution to your back pain in the morning.  This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or disease.  It is simply meant to help provide options or solutions that the consumer can contemplate or ask his or her healthcare provider about.

As far as the mattress goes, you may want to try different types of mattresses to find which best suits you.  Most mattress sellers allow for a money back trial.  Don’t just search for the mattress that feels the softest or most comfortable on first contact. In fact, for ‘bad backs’ we find that firmer mattresses provide much better results.  Some of the more popular brands are sleep number, temperpedic, and intellibed.  These are sometimes priced higher and you may be able to find an improvement in your sleep by using a less expensive brand.

If your back pain is a lower back issue than consider your sleeping position.  If you sleep on your back you may need to better support your lumbar (low back) spinal curve by placing a firm pillow under your knees.  This lessens the pressure on the lumbar spine and allows for easier sleep.  If you sleep on your side you will need to use that same pillow, but place it between your knees.  This will decrease the chances that you are causing a rotation in your lower lumbar vertebrae which may be the source of your morning pain.  If you are sleeping on your stomach your first step is to learn how to sleep on your side or your back.  Your back and neck with thank you in the long run as this position is very strenuous on all portions of your spine.

The steps listed above are good things to be aware of when trying to overcome back pain in the morning.  Yet the most beneficial thing you could do for your pain is to seek chiropractic care.  We help our patients address each of these issues as well as inspecting the spine and muscles to help identify what the main issues are.  Chiropractic adjustments are also very effective at decreasing pain, increasing mobility, and improving healing.  Our office can also provide you with exercises and stretched that reduce back pain, promote spinal health, and empower the patient as to which habits may be helpful and which to avoid.  Home care exercises are always included with our treatments. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule an appointment today.  Don’t delay your care. You will be glad you spent the effort to help yourself awake refreshed and pain free each day.

Sleeping Positions

I have been told your preferred  sleeping position can tell a lot about your personality.  Your sleeping position can also tell a lot about your physical health as well.  The average person spends about 1/3 of each day sleeping, yet most of us don’t concern ourselves with our quality of sleep health .

So are you a healthy sleeper? Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do I awake refreshed?
  • What position do I sleep in?
  • How old is my mattress?
  • Do I experience morning back pain?
  • What is the quality of my pillow?
  • Do I experience morning neck pain?
  • How many hours do I sleep continuously

The best position for sleep is usually on your back.  For most people putting a pillow under your knees can reduce any low back strain that may be present while in this position.  Most therapeutic grade pillows are designed to accomodate a ‘back-sleeper.’  Side sleeping is a fine alternative for those who don’t like back sleeping.  In this case be sure to place a pillow between the knees to reduce the amount of low back rotation that can occur.  Stomach sleeping is not recommended.  When sleeping on the stomach the head and neck are in extension and rotation.  This happens to be the most problematic position for your neck and can cause multiple problems.  There is no healthy way to sleep on your stomach when it comes to posture.  Morning neck pain frequently accompanies stomach-sleeping. Deneration of the cervical spine can also be perpetuated by stomach sleeping postures.

If you are waking up with neck pain you should first evaluate your pillow.  Does it support your head and neck?  Does it support your head away from your shoulder if you are sleeping on your side? If your shoulder needs to be raised in order to sleep you should look for a new pillow as this may be the source of your neck pain.  

There are many types of pillows that claim to solve sleep problems and range form $20 to $150.  To decipher which pillow might work best for you identify which sleep position you prefer- on your back, side, or stomach. (Remember- it is highly recommended to avoid sleeping on your stomach).

If you are experiencing morning back pain there are some simple things to do to help alleviate that pain.  If the pain does not diminish within a few days after adjusting your posture you should seek professional advice as your condition may be more serious.  Chiropractic has an outstanding track record for alleviating low back  pain.  Additionally, you should evaluate your mattress.  Most mattresses have a five to nine year warranty.  This is due to the wear and tear that occurs.  If your experience back or neck pain or diminished sleep quality consider the age of your mattress.

For any specific questions about sleeping position or morning low back or neck pain please contact us at 801-810-4144 to schedule a no charge consultation with Dr. Reynolds. We have offices in Draper, Utah and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Morning Back Pain??

The alarm goes off.  It’s time to begin the long process of what we might call “waking up.”  You roll to the edge of the bed.  And that’s where you get the striking reminder:  MORNING BACK PAIN!!  “Why, oh, why does my back hurt so badly in the morning?” you ask yourself.  What type of lower back pain therapy should I seek out?  What about my mid back pain? What about back pain surgery, am I a candidate? It’s time to figure this whole thing out.

There are many questions to ask that can help to identify the exact reason your back is giving you problems in the morning.  The best way to negotiate through the answers is to speak to a healthcare provider; chiropractors are excellent in this aspect.  Chiropractic physicians are experts at asking the right questions and deciphering where the answer should direct the additional questioning.  Some common questions would be:  Where exactly is the pain?  Describe the pain? When is the pain the worst?  What makes the pain worse or better? Does activity make it worse or better?  Does this low morning back pain travel up the spine and causing mid back pain or severe upper back pain?  For the sake of this article we will focus on morning back pain that begins to lessen during the day.

Most often the morning low back pain can be attributed to improper or unhealthy lifestyle habits such as a poorly supporting mattress or overuse of the low back from the previous day.  If the lumbar spine has been allowed to degenerate, then morning low back pain is almost certain. One of the more serious concerns with morning low back pain is the possibility of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).  This is a genetically linked auto-immune disease using presenting in middle-aged young men with sever low back stiffness in the morning.  The morning low back is usually relieved with activity and anti-inflammatory medications.

The best way to decrease low morning back pain is to improve posture and biomechanics.  This means one should optimize how they are using their low back, be conscious of injury prevention, and consistent be in contact with a healthcare professional for any changes to optimal low back wellness.  Chiropractic manipulation is a wonderful lower back pain therapy that allows the spine to maintain its proper motion, thereby diminishing the chances of degeneration.  The least healthy thing for a joint is to stop moving.  This is when degeneration occurs.  With chiropractic adjustment the body can maintain movement at each segment and allow for the spine to withstand everyday life without serious repercussions.

Now, let’s talk about what exactly can be done at home to help decrease, eliminate, or avoid altogether morning low back pain.  Proper stretching before and after activity throughout the day can help lower pain levels.  Avoiding poor posture situations, such as super soft couches or chairs, slumped posture, leg crossing, or hip sinking can also help to eliminate morning back pain and promote healthy functions.  Proper physical activity is another great way of helping low back pain to decrease.  Help the muscles maintain their proper tone by exercising them at a moderately intense activity.  Muscle pain is one of the most common sources of back pain.

Sleeping position is vital to avoiding morning back pain, especially if the spine is already unhealthy.  A healthy spine can endure a lot, but an unhealthy spine cannot.  Side-posture or supine (lying on back face up) positioning are the two best ways to avoid back pain.  Also using a pillow under the knees or between the knees (if on your side) is also helpful to reduce strain on the back while sleeping. One common rule for mattresses:  if the back is unhealthy then the softer the mattress the worse the pain.

Always remember, when it comes to morning back pain it is easier to fix the problem quickly and with less strain on financial resources when it is taken care of early.  If you have back pain please contact your local healthcare provider. The above advice and information is in no way meant to supersede the proper evaluation and guidance from a licensed healthcare provider.

Family Chiropractic & Wellness, LLC

Come to Family Chiropractic & Wellness, LLC and receive the results you have been waiting for!
826 E 12300 S, Suite 4B Draper , UT 84020
Latitude: 40.526545 Longitude: -111.86833000000001
Phone: (801) 810-4144