Back pain red flags – Night Pain Back pain that worsens at night or while you're sleeping might indicate something more severe like an infection or cancer. This is especially true if you also have other symptoms in addition to your back discomfort when you sleep or relax.
If your back pain wakes you up in the middle of the night or appears when you're in certain positions, such as lying down, then this could be a sign of a more serious problem. It could be a sign of a more systematic problem such as an infection, fracture, severe nerve compression or even cancer.
Nighttime back pain may be caused by a variety of factors, including poor posture, inadequate support from the mattress or pillow, underlying medical conditions, or previous injuries. It is important to address back pain at night as it can lead to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and reduced quality of life.
“Red flags” include pain that lasts more than 6 weeks; pain in persons younger than 18 years or older than 50 years; pain that radiates below the knee; a history of major trauma; constitutional symptoms; atypical pain (eg, that which occurs at night or that is unrelenting); the presence of a severe or rapidly ...
The main cause of back pain in bed is poor posture, either from how a person sits at work or how they sleep at night. Between the vertebrae in the spine are intervertebral discs, which rehydrate at night (this is why we are taller in the morning, and part of the reason that the elderly lose height as they get older).
The ideal sleep position: On your back
The best position to avoid back pain is lying flat on your back. Even so, many people find it the hardest way to enjoy deep sleep. For optimal spine alignment, place one pillow underneath your head or neck and another underneath your knees.
Contact your health care provider for back pain that: Lasts longer than a few weeks. Is severe and doesn't improve with rest. Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain goes below the knee.
Sharp pain rather than a dull ache: This could indicate a torn muscle or ligament, or a problem with an internal organ in the back or side. 2. Radiating pain: This pain "moves" or shoots to the glutes or legs, which could indicate a nerve compression condition. Radiating pain could be a sign of nerve damage.
Waking up with back pain is often the result of sleeping habits or overstraining the body during physical activity. However, morning back pain can also be a symptom of certain medical conditions, such as fibromyalgia and DDD.
Some symptoms (often called "red flag" symptoms) may suggest that the back pain has a more serious cause. These include fever, recent trauma, weight loss, a history of cancer and neurological symptoms, such as numbness, weakness or incontinence (involuntary loss of urine or stool).
If you haven't done anything physical to trigger that back pain, and you're also feeling anxious or very tired along with the pain, that may mean you are experiencing a heart attack. Common heart attack symptoms can be: Pressure, tightness, or pain in the chest. Ache or pain in the neck, jaw, or back.
A common cause of back pain is an injury like a pulled muscle (strain). Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve) or ankylosing spondylitis can cause back pain. Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer or an infection.
Acute (short-term) back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks. It usually resolves on its own within a few days with self-care and there is no long-term loss of function. Chronic back pain is pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of back pain has been treated.
If your back pain lasts more than two weeks and keeps you from participating in normal, daily activities, see your family doctor. If your pain is severe, you should see a doctor sooner. You should seek urgent medical care if you have: Fever associated with back pain.
If you're experiencing back pain when sitting, your impulse may be to lie down and then try to slowly progress back to sitting, says Dr. Atlas. But this is the wrong approach. You should lie down to relieve the pain, but the goal should be not to return to sitting, but rather to regain your ability to stand and move.
Sit with a back support (such as a rolled-up towel) at the curve of your back. Keep your hips and knees at a right angle. (Use a foot rest or stool if necessary.) Your legs should not be crossed and your feet should be flat on the floor.
Going on walks: Initial research suggests that going on a walk or brisk walking (Nordic walking) can help relieve back pain if done regularly – for instance, every two days for 30 to 60 minutes.
Call your doctor immediately if your middle back pain is accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure in your chest that radiates to your shoulders and arms, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and/or vomiting.
When the blood flow in a coronary artery is blocked, it causes an immense amount of pressure. In many people, this causes a sensation of pressure, cramping, or squeezing in the chest. The pain can also radiate to the back; that's why many people feel both chest and back pain before a heart attack.
Chest pain remains the most common symptom of a heart attack, but there are other warning signs you shouldn't ignore, such as back pain. Interestingly, the American Heart Association notes that women are more likely than men to report back pain occurring before and during a heart attack.