Back Pain When Sleeping Or After Sleep...

Sometimes when you sleep for an extended period of time in one position it can cause soreness in the back when you wake up. The same thing can happen when in one place for many hours. Here are a few things you can try to get better quality sleep and not wake up with a sore back:

• If you have an extra comforter/sleeping bag, place that under you to change to consistency of your mattresss.Maybe it needs to softer (or straighter). Check your mattress (is there a bow or a dip in there? ). Recently I had a patient who had an issue with her bed and it caused a lot of lower back pain.
  
  
  
• Use a different neck pillow- try to choose a cervical support pillow with a neck roll.
  
  
  
• Use something under your knees when you sleep (this is how I sleep)- I just put a pillow under my knees if I sleep on my back and between my legs if I am on my side. You can also use positioning products such as the knee elevator (for back sleeping) or the Spinal Relief pillow (for side sleeping)
  
  
  
• Do some stretches right when you get up specifically for your lower back. When you get into the hot shower- let the water hit the lower back area and bend down slowly and to the side. Don’t extend back to much as this is not good for your back.
  
  
  
• You should also need to get adjusted…go see a chiropractor to get treated and see what he says. You can also get some muscle work on your back. Plus, get some biofreeze (pain relief gel) that you can massage into the lower back muscles
  
  
  
• If your back pain has been going on for some time, Use a hot pack on your lower back in the evening time while watching tv (gel packs work great).
  
  
  
• Finally, sleeping for an extended period of time (over 9-10 hours) - try to avoid that. It can be avoided, so just get up and move around, stretch in the a.m. You can always take naps later.
  

Pay attention to what you are doing during the day also – and see if that is somehow contributing to your lower back. Sounds simple, but certain activities can bring on the pain moreso. For example, wearing heals for a greater part of the day, standing for a long time, exercising without doing a stretch before or after, doing a certain exercise (for example elliptical machine/rowing machine)




CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources:

• The Power of Vitamin D: better sleep, better mind
  
  
• When Lack of Sleep Can be Deadly
  
  
• 6 Ways to Get A Better Nights Sleep
  
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Dr. Bellinger’s Favorite Neck Pillow- The Cervical Traction Neck Pillow

My Cervical traction neck pillow dilemma...

Not to worry, there’s no actual problem with the pillow itself, just not enough of them to go around. Here’s what happened. My parents traveled here to Connecticut from Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday. I completely forgot that my mother uses a traction pillow and loves it. The problem was I use one too and I only had one upstairs. There was not one in the guest room.

We always have a supply of the pillows at the office but I didn’t want to go get on because it was late; plus, this time of year especially we get extra orders so I din’t want to disturb the supply.

I gave my mother mine and I used one of my other pillows. Needless to say, my mother slept like a baby while I missed my favorite pillow. I’ve learned my lesson. Now I have ones for my wife and I as well as one in the guest room.

I can honestly say, sleeping without it for a couple of nights, combined with trying to catch a cold, I woke up with an achy neck for the 1st time in a year.

There are a lot of great benefits from using this neck pillow but just having a pillow that you like, that’s comfortable, and helps give you a good night’s sleep is worth much much more that the pillow actually costs. Its really a win win win – correct neck posture, reduce neck pain and sleep comfortably. Do yourself a favor and get one if you don’t already have one and get one for a loved one. Tell them Dr.B sent you !


CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources:

• How to Use the Traction Side of the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow for Maximum Pain Relief and Better Sleep
  
• More information about the cervical linear traction neck pillow
  
• Back Pain Relief with the Right Back Support Pillow
  
• The Neck Pain Support Blog
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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