Nocturnal Lower back Pain ? Anyone else?

Hey there -- I've had the same symptoms, exactly. I'm 40 year old New Yorker, in otherwise excellent health, but I have lower back pain only at night. When I lie down to sleep it starts up, I take a few Advil, then I can sleep for a few hours until pain wakes me up. This leaves me incredibly fatigued and cranky since I'm not getting deep sleep.

I've seen loads of doctors and nothing mechanical seems to be awry, and I haven't be positively diagnosed for Ankylosis Spondylitis. After taking lots of various pills, I know sleep with a lidocaine patch and some over the counter anti-histamines to help me stay asleep. It's been a huge improvement but definitely not a cure.

Hello zthacher and thank you for your comment. I regret I have no magic cure for you and my problem continues to date and if anything my lower back pain has got a little worse. I still take two tablets before sleeping which helps but like you I just don't get enough sleep and a lie in is impossible due to pain, Once out of bed things improve and I get by at work and play without much bother but I have noticed that the pain is there in the background at maybe a one or two waiting to strike again when I lie down to sleep. I have an appointment with a pain management specialist soon and I will let you know how I get on. I am sure the problem is mechanical which is better but no one seems to be able to resolve the issue. I hope you can get some relief as you are much younger than me and you should be in great shape. I am from Ireland by the way and its good to hear from a New Yorker so thank you again for sharing your story.

I definitely recommend a lidocaine patch. Ask your doctor about it. It took me years to discover these and they're a huge help. It's a big sticker you put on your lower back and it numbs it. Zero side effecs, but they're expensive. If you're in the UK they're probably cheaper -- in the US all meds cost a fortune.

HI there, I had this terrible sleep problem for more than a year with very sore lower back pain - and no respite on either side or sleeping on my front or pillows under bits of me etc etc. TERRIBLE I know - I have now finally got rid of it - by relaxing - do you find it is a bit better if you have a drink or two in the evening ? - I did - and then I started to psyche myself out of it - also using lidocaine patches and the odd ibuprofen at night, and also do a daily 10 minute pilates routing before I go to bed - that is specifically for this problem - but more than anything else it was the deciding to calm down and sort of let go a bit - I know this sounds a bit flaky - but I promise you I am not remotely into weird medicines etc - I just had to sort it out as it was ruining my life and this did work for me - I now sleep pretty much every night - even though I still get bouts of intermittent back pain ( my lower discs S1 - L5 are fusing and I have 3 other hernitated discs !) All the best

Hi ya Sonofhomer,

I hope your troubling back, is better now

For two reasons, I have the very same symptoms as yourself

And i wish for no one, to have the problems.

My back pain started about 4 to 6 weeks ago

As I was decorating me house and we were sleeping on the blowing u beds,

Now this could be the course of my back problem,

But it just got much worser over the last 4 weeks.

I usually go to bed around 1030pm and between 5 to 6 every morning, I am Woking up because of the aching, needle like pain

And like you, I am twisting and turning all through the night, trying to get comfortable.

The strange thing is, I don't have no problems during the day, only in the early hours of the morning, after a bad sleep.

Is there cure, relief for the problem ?, have you got better over the last 2 weeks ?

Hi Lepacorn

Sorry to hear of your back pain and sleep disruption. I still suffer from this 'nocturnal back pain' (google it) an its 3 years now since problem developed.

You should see your doctor asap as all back pain can have different reasons for developing and you need a professional diagnosis.

No one has come up with a cure for my particular problem so I have learned to live with it.

I hope you get better soon and I will keep an eye on this discussion in the hope someone can come up with solution to nocturnal back pain.

Regards

Sonofhomer

Hi sonofhomer

Did you ever find a solution to this? My back has been absolutely killing me these last few weeks but only when I'm in bed for a few hours. Your symptoms sound the same as mine and this is not pleasant at all

So far I've tried pain killers and a hot water bottle but no improvement yet. The doctor has prescribed me strong anti inflammatories and I'm only 2 days in so will let you know how it goes.

For the record, I'm 29 so I guess it can happen to anyone

Thanks

I've developed the same nocturnal back issues as many of you have descibed here. I can certainly sympathize. Has anyone tried Physical therapy? Acupuncture? Like all of you, I am looking for a solution. 

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I already know I have a grade ll anteroliisthesis of L5- S1, but it has always been manageable. his past month has been hell trying to get some rest.

Hi,

 I'm a 51 yr old male in relatively good health, except for my back pain.

I suffer from burning in my lower back, all day everyday and it gets worse everyday after 5 or 6 pm. I'm able to function during the day but at night my back burns like a fire. When I lie down, the pain is unbearable. I practically cry every night and there's no way I could sleep without pain medication. It's now been 7 years. The original diagnosis was degenerated disc disease and I tried all the recommendations of my doctors... Exercise, heat,ice,epidurals, chiropractors, medicine, salt baths, new mattresses , acupuncture, yoga, trainers and on and on. After 5 years of severe pain, I had the 2 level spinal fusion, where the surgeon removed 2 discs and replaced them with devices to stabilize the spine and he inserted screws to hold it together. It's been 2 yrs since the surgery and the pain is worse than ever. It's likely nerve damage. Since the MRI doesn't show any structural problems, none of the doctors can offer any solutions. I try to walk everyday for exercise and my legs are ok ( slight numbness down my right leg, but not too bad).

 The lidocaine patches slightly reduce the pain, but at least it's something. I'm considering a spinal stimulation implant, similar to a Tens unit, that is surgically placed under the skin. Does anyone know if those really work?

 I'm seeing a new physical therapist on Friday and I'm praying he can offer a  solution to reduce the pain.

 I often sleep in a recliner and that helps a little.

 Does anyone know why the pain gets worse at night? Or why it's worse when I lie down?

 I appreciate any info possible. I take some comfort that there are other who  have similar symptoms, I just wish I could find a solution.

 Thanks and enjoy your day!

I came across this post because I have the same problem. When I lie on my back I wake up in terrible pain but as soon as I get up and move around everything is fine. Sometimes I get stuff legs too but since I took up running a few months ago, this might not be related.

I went to a physiotherapist about another problem and mentioned this nocturnal back pain. He explained that it was the fluid around the spine (I think, I am not good with technicalities) that somehow becomes stuck when you are lying in one position for a long time. He suggested the only solution was movement and stretching exercises such as the cat-cow yoga exercise. Other general stretching such as reaching to touch your toes, and standing then stretching back with your hands placed on the small of your back also help.

The only solution I can think of for sleep is to make sure that I never lie on my back when I am asleep, online suggestions include two tennis balls sewn into your pajamas (but I don't wear any) or a pillow between the knees when you lie on your side, but the pillow always seems to shift and I end up on my back waking up on my back in terrible pain!

I hope this helps.

Reviewed your post regarding back lower pain while sleeping at night, I have same problem since 25 years.  Till now visit to many Doctors but no result.  If you get any solution please write.  

Same condition as you have (My pain only begins when I lie in bed and is mild enough to allow me sleep. However I usually wake up 3 to 4 hours later with more severe pain which disrupts further sleep and I toss and turn looking for best position to get much needed rest.)

Regards ////

I'm so grateful to have found this discussion, for I realize I am certainly not alone in this battle.  I'm a bit sad to find it seems there has been little success to bring relief.  I am a 65 year old female, who like the rest of you, find laying flat to be a painful nightmare.  17 months ago I gave up the bed for a recliner in order to get at least some sleep.

Two days ago I had a lumbar facet injection procedure done as an outpatient.  When I awoke from the procedure I was in severe pain...obviously not the anticipated outcome.  Laying on my stomach for 30 minutes did the same as laying on my back does at night.

Pain Management Dr. said he could do nothing to help me and just...dropped me???  I am just curious who prescribed the patches or if anyone has any insight on where I should head next with this.

I WANT TO LAY IN A BED AND SLEEP...and we all say AMEN

 

I came across this discussion back in 2014 and I was SOO grateful! I have experience nocturnal low back pain since 2007. It sort of came and went at first, then over the years progressively got much worse. A friend gave me some of her Lidocaine patches and my life changed!! I could not even believe the difference. I am 32 now, I had non-invasive low back surgery at 16, and L5/S1 is like bone on bone now; there is quite literally almost zero disc space. It is the oddest thing that the pain is like a 10 at night (without the patches) - so unbearable and so depressing. I tried a Temper-pedic, ended up not liking it, and got a Sleep Number. When I called my insurance company I had at the time and the woman told me I could get 90 patches for $10/month I started CRYING! I did not think they'd be any less than 100 a month. Two years later, and I still wear one every single night. Very rarely do I wake up with discomfort. It still happens only slightly on occasion, but it is nothing like it used to be. I always say these patches are like magic. I don't even know how I could have been in so much pain and these have the ability to almost take it all away. Pretty amazing.