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Resource Center — Health & Wellness

Many Reasons for Back Pain That Affects Your Sleep

Back pain can come on quickly due to a fall or lifting something the wrong way, or, it can start as a nagging ache and get worse over time. You may experience it as a dull ache or a sharp stabbing pain but no matter how it presents itself the end result is the same – it can affect your mood, many of your daily activities and often times your sleep.

Causes of Back Pain

According to the National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases back pain can be caused by mechanical problems with the spine, injuries from sprains fractures, accidents and falls, and certain conditions and diseases.

Examples of Mechanical problems can include: disk breakdown, spasms, tense muscles, and ruptured disks.

Examples of diseases or conditions that can cause back pain include: Scoliosis, Spondylolisthesis, Arthritis, Spinal stenosis, Pregnancy, Kidney stones, Endometriosis, and Fibromyalgia.

Other possible causes of back pain are infections, tumors, or stress. Often the exact cause of back pain remains a mystery.

How Can I Find Sleep With Back Pain?

When you’re suffering from back pain it can be hard to get a good nights sleep.

Low back pain can have a vicious cycle. The pain can interrupt your sleep causing you to miss out on those all-important REM cycles when your body works on repairing and rejuvenating itself. You wake feeling tired and in more pain, and the next night the cycle continues. A few days of this cycle can have a real impact on your pain, mood and overall physical well-being.

Finding a position to sleep without pain can cause you to toss and turn all night. Just the effort of turning over can make the pain in your back flare up. What can you do to try to get a few hours of sleep when your low back pain is bothering you?

When sleeping on your side, place a pillow between your knees. Try to keep your top leg from falling over your bottom leg. You also can put a small, rolled-up towel under your waist.

Or, you can consider what sleeping in an adjustable bed might do for you. With the simple touch of a button you can adjust the head and foot of the bed to a position that takes the pressure off of the painful area, which may temporarily allow you to find relief from your low back pain and get some much needed sleep.

Can I Prevent Back Pain From Recurring?

Once you’ve had low back pain you are likely to have it again. To avoid future pain try the following tips:

  • Practice good posture when sitting, standing and walking
  • Get regular low impact exercise. Walking, swimming, riding a bike are good, inexpensive options.
  • Warm up and stretch before exercising or physical activities.
  • Quit Smoking. People who smoke are more likely to have low back pain.
  • Wear comfortable low-heeled shoes with good support.
  • Lose weight. Excess weight puts extra stress on your back.
  • Lift with your knees, keeping object close to the body.
  • Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
  • Sleep on a quality mattress with good support such as an Easy Rest Adjustable Mattress.

Are you tired of waking at night with low back pain?

To learn more about Easy Rest Adjustable Sleep Systems simply click on the “Request Information” button on the upper left hand side of this page to download our free color catalog and the Better Sleep Council’s Better Sleep Guide. Don’t wait, do it today. Your back will thank you.