Many people are familiar with a sharp, sudden, and radiating pain in their lower back. In fact up to 80 percent of adults in the United States will experience some kind of back pain within their lifetime. This common type of musculoskeletal pain is often caused by strain, injury, or structural problems in the spine.
Repetitive movements and actions can trigger back pain. But your back isn’t just affected by movement, standing and sitting. Your sleeping posture also plays an important role in your spine’s health.
Since your spinal column is vital to supporting your head and body, it’s imperative to ensure you’re not causing any damage to it during while you sleep.
Neck alignment
When your spine is misaligned, you’ll feel stiffness, inflammation, pain, and soreness—especially in the cervical region. If you find yourself waking up with neck pain, you should consider adding support to your neck while you sleep.
Your pillow height can determines how well your normal cervical curvature is supported. A neutral spine position is ideal for maintaining the gentle curve of your neck. When cervical regions are misaligned cervical you can feel stiffness, discomfort, and it may also cause your muscles to weaken over time.
Low back pain
The National Sleep Foundation suggests certain sleeping positions that are ideal for supporting your spine. Healthy options, such as sleeping on your back, ensure that you’re close to a relaxed position and your spine is aligned and balanced.
Sleeping in a fetal position or on your stomach are the worst options because these positions exert undue pressure on your back and neck. When you sleep in these positions, don’t be surprised if you feel pain, numbness and/or tingling when you wake up. Putting pressure on your spine by sleeping in a strenuous position can lead to other medical ailments down the line.
Worsen existing conditions
When painful symptoms worsen, it could be a sign of more serious, underlying physical conditions which may need medical attention. Constant neck pain and stiffness are common symptoms of osteoarthritis, muscle strain, injuries, herniated discs, and other degenerative disc disorders. It’s always a good idea to have persistent pain checked out by your doctor.
If you continue to have poor posture while you sleep, you could cause pain to flare-up and worsen both while you’re awake and asleep. Don’t exacerbate your symptoms—again, see your doctor.
Houston Neurosurgery & Spine’s accomplished team of neurosurgeons and experts can help you find relief with a range of minimally-invasive procedures to relieve your neck and back pain. Whether you’ve suffered from an injury, degenerative disease, or poor posture, you’ll get a comprehensive examination and treatment plan designed to help you find relief from your pain at our neck and back pain clinic Houston.
Schedule an appointment at Houston’s leading neurosurgical spine center where we treat all neurological conditions including herniated discs, sciatica, pinched nerves, facet joint syndrome, and more.
Contact us for information and to schedule your appointment.