Severe back pain only when lying down

 I started noticing severe back pain when I lied on my back on my bed about 15 years ago. 

 I was a young  not very bright about it because I didn't see a doctor. What helped it to mend was sleeping with two pillows between my knees  help relieve the pressure on my lower back. I also started injuring my back more often lifting items heavy items. 

Now, however, now 15 years later, even though I sleep with the pillows both sides still,  I started injuring my back again. I finally went to the doctor this time because my back hurts so much that when I bent down even a tiny bit I cried out in *excruciating* pain. 

 I just had x-rays and they were sent to my orthopedic doctor. Apparently, whatever the problem is, he says he can't treat me and I need to get treated at the hospital. That scares me because they might want to surgery.  

Hi Rebecca, 

Did you ever get a diagnosis?  I have had extreme night pain for three months, the only thing that helps is sitting up or getting up.  Laying and turning over is excruciating.

I've had two CT scans which showed nothing but mild degeneration.  They did CRP which was 20.5 (high).  SED Rate was 24 (but high).  They want to do an MRI, but I feel like it would be a waste of money. 

I did one course of Prednisone and the pain went away on day 4, continued to taper off the next 6 days, but after stopping the Prednisone the pain came back.

What was your diagnosis?

Thank you.

I do get sever stomach spasms while sitting sometimes, espoecially after eatinfg garlic and other spicy foods and sometimes without a reason, but the spasm are more severe when I just lye down, so it may have a connection to a certain angle the intestines are positioned or perhaps by supporessing certain nerves in one's back.

I have noticed ne thing how to reduce the spasms is to drink either carbonated water or mineral carbonated water. I hopw this helps someone, that would be such a great thing.

I had this problem and went to the doctor, eventually.

It was immediately helped by taking omeprazole twice a day. However on further investigation [gastroscopies, biopsies etc] it turned out to be a tumour in the duodenum.

So don't ignore it, get professional help asap.

Hello, I found this site last week and hoped I could come up with an answer. I hurt my back a few months ago, and worked with a chiropractor to fix it. However, I popped a rib and had to have it adjusted back into place. My chiropractor suggested I sleep on my back, but that's when the pain under my shoulder blade started waking me up after a few hours' sleep. I always read laying down before I go to sleep. A few nights ago, I started reading sitting up, and then laying down to sleep. I haven't had that sharp pain since. I'm also getting a new mattress. The chiropractor suggested firm with a pillow top. Hope that helps.

I’ve been dealing with a similar problem for over 16 years & its progressively getting worse. I’ve had countless X-Rays,MRI’s and CT Scans but doctors can’t pinpoint the area  in my lower back that’s causing the pain. The pain increases tenfold when I lay down making it nearly impossible to sleep more than 2-3 hours without waking up. A dull toothache like throb in my left hip & severe pins & needles and numbness in my left foot particularly in my heel. It all started after a bad fall at work 17 years ago & eventually forced me to retire in 2014. I’ve been talking pain killers for over 16 years and when I’m having a bad pain day the pain killers are completely ineffective. Epidurals didn’t work & chiropractors sometimes made it worse. I had a consultation with one of the best neurosurgeons in the world and he said he would only risk surgery if the pain was effecting my ability to walk or stand. So I usually sleep on a recliner so I can at least have a chance to sleep more than an hour or two. Dose my pain sound familiar to anyone? And if so have you found a remedy that works? I’m desperate for some relief!