Do you wake up most mornings with a stiff or painful back? As many as 84% of people in the United States experience low back pain at some point in their lives, which often peaks first thing in the morning.
Specializing in evidence-based pain management, physiatrists Stephanie Clop, MD, and Alexander Behnaz, MD, treat back pain with cutting-edge therapies at Integrated Spine and Pain Services in Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia.
You might wonder why your back pain is at its worst in the morning, or why morning is the only time you experience back pain. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about morning back pain.
You might feel your back pain shortly after waking up when you rise from a lying to a seated or standing position.
The pain may seem to flare up at dawn because you’ve been in the same position for hours, leading to less blood flow in your back. Once you get up and start moving, the pain subsides.
Some other factors can contribute to back pain in the morning. For instance, you might have back pain when you wake up because of:
Anyone, even people without pain-causing medical conditions, can wake up with a stiff or painful back because of their mattress. Whether it’s lumpy, stiff, or unsupportive, the wrong mattress can set the stage for back pain the next day.
Your posture matters, even while you sleep. If you sleep with poor posture, you can wake up the next day with a painful back.
Some spinal conditions cause back pain daily that seems to flare up in the morning. Our experts at Integrated Spine and Pain Services can diagnose or rule out pain-causing conditions like:
Conditions like these might improve with personalized, minimally invasive treatments at Integrated Spine and Pain Services, such as nerve root blocks, epidural steroid injections, or radiofrequency ablation.
Short of getting professional treatment, there are a few steps you can take to reduce back pain upon waking up.
Before or after you get up to start the day, you can try:
If these steps don’t help your morning back pain, it’s time to consider visiting Integrated Spine and Pain Services for a detailed evaluation. Our experts also encourage you to book an appointment if your pain is accompanied by leg weakness, fever, or unexplained weight loss.
Don’t wait to consult an expert about your morning back pain. Call Integrated Spine and Pain Services or request an appointment online today.
