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Severe back pain waking me up in the night. (over a month)

Posted , 7 users are following.

laura44918
laura44918

My husband for the past month closer to 6 weeks has been waking up at almost the same time 4:30 am in agony, the pain is in the lower right part of his back and radiates to the front and is so severe can take his breath away, it lasts anything between 20 mins to an hour, in that time I get him a glass of water and he attempts to move around and it eases off no pain killers they make virtually no difference.

It's not the mattress as he has tried sleeping in our bed then in each of the spares beds (2) for more than a night at a time, with the same outcome, gp first thought muscle prescribed meds no help, he has been given now a appointment for xray and blood work urine test clear. But the reason I'm asking is not for a diagnosis or anything like that, that will come in time, but for anyone who has had a similar issue as the waking at 4:30 in agony is taking its toll on him he is becoming quite down and even said I dread going to sleep as I wake up in pain.

He is in his mid forties and other than this a very good bill of health also fit and healthy and what I find bizarre no pain in the day at all. Any experience greatly received.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • laura44918
    laura44918

    Posted

    Sorry first time user, should say appointment for blood test and x ray. Urine clear.

    • lis10127
      lis10127 laura44918

      Posted

      Laura, it sounds to me like there must be a connection with how he is sleeping ie his body position through the night must be aggravating/misaligning something in his back, especially if he has no pain through the day. if he sleeps on his side has he tried sleeping with a pillow between his knees to keep his hips aligned. if he sleeps on his back he could sleep with a pillow under his knees to keep his spine in a more neutral position. He should not sleep on hos stomach as that aggravates discs etc. It may not make any difference but if its not the mattress then his body positioning is a possibility

  • amkoffee
    amkoffee laura44918

    Posted

    List10127 suggested both things I was going to suggest your husband try. the only other thing I could add is that it may be that he is pinching off a nerve that is only happening when he's laying down for a length of time. if these two pillows situations don't work he should really consider some physical therapy. with physical therapy he will learn some stretches to do before going to bed which may head off this pain before it gets started. he could also try taking some aspirin before bed. I'm not suggesting an aspirin for the pain relief but for the inflammation relief it will give. He could try NSAIDs for the same reason. he might also consider adding magnesium. magnesium will help with muscle cramps so if this is a muscle issue then the Magnesium should help. just a word of warning: magnesium will give you loose stools.

  • donna76140
    donna76140 laura44918

    Posted

    I have fibromyalgia and I have to take to painkillers every morning before I get out of bed my lower back is the worst if I don’t take them before I get up then I can’t straighten my back so I feel for your husband and hope you get some answers soon please keep us posted ❤

  • laura44918
    laura44918

    Posted

    Thank you for your replies, I probably should have said but the first thing gp suggested after asking about mattress which we said he has tried different beds was placing cushions and that has been no help at all. As first time visiting the GP he put it down to sleeping and cushions to prop him (I've never had so many cushions and pillows before) but to no avail, unfortunately again this morning my husband was up at 4:47 bent over in agony and trying so hard to move get comfortable. I really would love to help him as its awful watching him in so much pain. Fingers crossed when he has his x ray and bloods something will show up as no far nurofen joint and back, aspirin joint and back and the GP has also tried naproxen all so far with no positive results.

    • JohnAk
      JohnAk laura44918

      Posted

      HI LAURA

      I HAVE A BAD BACK PROBLEM THE ONLY TABLETS THAT HAVE HELPED ME ARE GABAPENTIN AND CO CODAMOL THEY HAVE HELPED TO TAKE MOST OF THE PAIN AWAY

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