Back pain only after lying down 4-5 hours
(24 discussions)
For the past 4 months I have been woken from sleep after about 4-5 hours with a pain in the middle of my back on the right side.
It occurs in the exact same spot every night.
I have been to many different kinds of practitioners to assess this problem but no one really has a clue as to what’s going on. An acupuncturist suggested that perhaps it’s a rib head.Once I start moving around, I’m completely fine.
I exercise regularly and feel no pain during the day, just at night after lying down for several hours.
Then I can’t go back to sleep.
I have had x-rays, blood tests, urine test and nothing appears to be wrong. But I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in a long time and am exhausted and occasionally depressed. Any clue?
24 comments
Erin Stevens
Exact same thing happens to me as with Jason. I was put on Topamax for migraines and oddly enough can now sleep for 7 hours before “stiffening” up in pain. Leads me to thing that it is a degenerative nerve or arthritic thing. I plan to bring it up to the neurologist who prescribed the Topamax when I see her next.
Jason Bisso
I get pain on both sides of my back only after lying down for a few hours. The pain intensifies when taking a deep breath. It doesn’t seem to matter what position I lay in. There is absolutely no discomfort throughout the day starting within an hour of after I’m up and about. I have not seen a doctor because the pain is not excruciating. Would love to hear opinions from anyone….
Willy
I have exactly the same and went to see a physiotherapist. He told me it was a ‘swollen disc’. I absorbs moisture and then swells and that’s what causes the pain. When standing straight, the moisture is pressed out of the disc and the pain is gone.
Lori Lehman
I am experiencing the same syptoms as Ean except my pain is in the upper middle part of my back. I thought it might be my mattress or even my pillow but I have tried several others and it still hurts each night. It has been a little over a month. Any idea as to the cause. I am considering seeing a chiropractor.
michael
I have the exact same problem.. Its been going on for about 2-3 years now.. I have gotten MRI and Xrays, blood tests, nerve tests.. Everything shows normal.My pain starts after a few hours of laying flat or even on my side. It’s not my bed, since I have tried many different beds (hotel rooms, friends, etc). The only way for my back not to hurt is to sleep in a reclining chair (like a zero gravity type chair.. knees up, back up, support under the knees.Pain is in the lower back. The muscles tighten up and feel like muscle cramping.Anyone get any relief?
Zoe
I have this exact same problem! after 4ish hours in bed I wake with pain in my middlt back, spreading round both sides. I can’t get comfortable, and it’s much worse whe I lay on my side. It keeps me awake, and I too haven’t had a whole nights sleep in weeks. Have also tried different beds but still same problem. Within as soon as I get up it’s gone! Anyone any ideas ?
soul
yes this is all meim fine during the daybut when I lay down and after a few hrs I start to get lower back crampscan some one please sugest a curethkssoul
Liza B
I have the same problem and it happens only when lying on my back. I am not used to sleeping on my side, and thus I can’t stay long on this position and have to turn on my back. When I get up though, the pain is all gone immediately. Any ideas?
Geoff
I have the exact same symptons as Zoe! have had this problem for a couple of years now.Tried Chiro,Physio,Osteo,Bowen Therapy,Mio Therapy,Massage,Acupuncture etc.. and still no relief! have also had all the apropriate scans and xrays and everything appears normal Have only ever had one pain killer that has helped for a little while before my body becoming amune to it and it stops working! the pain killer is called Tramal or Tramadol… but the sides affects I had were sweating at night and they made me very itchy during the day!!! I am at the stage where I’m desperate to try something else or would realy be very grateful to hear if anyone else out there has had some relief from something they have tried with similar symptons.Regards,Geoff.
Carla
I have the same problem. I feel no pain during the day, then after being asleep a few hours I get a burning pain in the middle of my back, down and around the sides. It’s so bad it sometimes makes it almost impossible to turn over. Once I do, I’m fine. It’s been going on about 2 weeks and it’s pretty scary.
Jacquie
I have had the same thing for 10 months. It started after I had taken anti-biotics, the last one being Levaquin. I also have had an MRI and Cat scan, X-ray, blood tests, etc. Tests have not revealed what it is. If you find out what it is,let us know. I’m exhausted from having to sleep sitting up also.
sam
hi,i’ve had the same problem for about a mth now. what i’ve done is I am now sleeping on 2 pillows instead of one and it seems to have worked. slept fine for the last 2 days
Jason McKeever
I have had this problem for almost 6 years. no meds, no treatment works. been to the hospital the doctor and the only thing they told me was I had a urinary infection almost 5 and half years ago. I haven’t slept more than 3 hours at a time in forever. I would love to know anything at all that might help!!!
Tom
I have felt a pain in my upper lower back on the left side on and off for the past 6 years. It only bothers me when I am lying down, as soon as I get up it goes away. I recently had x-rays and was told that I have Scheuermann’s disease. This could be the cause of your problem.
akin apampa
Hi allHave exactly same problem – ok during the day however after 4 – 5hrs sleep the lower back pain starts. Go a bit of relieve sleeping with a pillow between my knees. I have also noticed that once I pass air (fart) there seems to be a temporary relieve. I wonder if the back pain pain is due to build up air pressure internally around the lower back whilst sleeping.Can part solution be finding a means to relieve this pressure – any thoughts
andrea
Glad to know I am not the only one suffering from this. I haven’t had a decent nights sleep since January. 5 pillows help a bit but not much.
Mark
Out of the blue I started experiencing a sharp pain in my lower back switch then transferred further up and slightly to the left (I’m left handed if it helps work out a pattern).During the day the pain would decrease then at night as I drift off to sleep the pain would get worse and worse (particularly if I tried sleeping on my side). I stopped exercising, tried extra pillows, etc but what seems to help the most is changing the chair the I sat in at work. The previous one looked stylish and comfortable but had poor back support. After swapping it for a no-frills adjustable chair, the pain seems to have reduced at night. Hope this helps someone
Linda
I was searching the web to find the answer. We all have pretty much the same issue…4-5 hours of sleep then no more unless sitting in a recliner. Surely there is a doctor out there that can address this matter. Help us. I have gone to several doctors, and had an MRI. No answers yet.
Tara Lynn Jones
I have the same problem. I have had an MRI, Xray, etc. The only thing tat has helped is cymbalta and neurontin. I hate taking medications but, I have to sleep.
Chriss
Has anyone heard an answer for this? I’m having the exact same thing. Just started a few weeks ago. Making me crazy.
ranjan
How many among you have a history of irritable bowel syndrome or colitis ?
sally
I have this troouble with back pain when being asleep for a few hours; for me it is mostly relieved by constant changes of position during the night, sometimes up to 30 times a night. The pain still increases to a point of not being able to sleep, as soon as I am up and moving, I find myself breaking wind alot, and someone else stated this does ease things dramatically. I do suffer from an intolerance of wheat, though have no confirmed diagnosis of IBS. The wheat does however cause severe bloating and wind. I have noticed that excluding my intolerances from my diet, I do get a longer nights sleep pain free, and really have linked my back pain to the build up of gases in my body, causing pressure on my spine; I would suggest any one try to find if they have a similar intolerance and remove it from their diet. Hope this helps someone.
Tom
In the past 3 months I’ve only had about 2-3 nights with back pain, otherwise I’ve been fine. Here’s what I did. First I went to an orthopedic, he prescribed physical therapy. Did that for a month but no improvement in back when I lied down. Then I had an MRI, and it showed nothing. Did more physical therapy, and no change. Then I basically just slowed down my physical therapy exercises, only doing them about once or twice a week. About 4 months ago I decided to dedicate myself to doing religiously, I’ve been sleeping great since. I do exercises for about 20 minutes before bed every night. The key is: Do the exercises EVERY night. Also, it may take a month or two before you see the improvements, so stick with it. The exercises I do are: lie on back and bring my knees to my chest, Cobra Pose, Cat Pose, Child’s Pose (with hands in front of me), and a stretch where I lie on my back, feet on floor knees bent, then drops knees to right side of body and arms to left side and vice versa.
rita
After I lay down I get this painIn my lower left side and it gets worse if I stay lying down. It goes away if I get up after a short time. It will wake me up if I fall asleep. It does go up in strength when laying down and will go away if I’m up for awhile.