Why is My Lower Back So Stiff in the Morning?
August 16, 2010
Forget waking up on the wrong side of the bed – when you wake up with a stiff lower back in the morning, it can feel like you’ve woken up after a night of heavy lifting.
For some, having an occasionally stiff lower back after a night’s sleep can come as a result of too much exercise the day before, rigorous activity or a combination of the two. However, for those who are dealing with chronic lower back pain, there are many reasons why your mornings may not be so bright. Take a look at the list below and see if any of these solutions help to alleviate that troublesome lower back pain:
- Before pointing the finger at your back, it might be time to let your mattress take some of the blame. Recent studies have reported that mattresses lose up to 70% of their support after just ten years – and if you’ve got a mattress that’s older than your kids, then you might want to consider trading it in for a new model. For additional support, consider getting a memory foam mattress, which molds to the contours of your body and relieves pressure from sensitive spots like your spine and joints.
- If your mattress isn’t the culprit, then it’s time to look at a medical reason for why you’re waking up with a stiff lower back. If you suffer from arthritis, then it’s possible that you’re dealing with ankylosing spondylitis, which is a form of arthritis that affects the spine. However, other kinds of arthritis can affect the spine as well. If it’s an infrequent arthritis attack, try applying heat to the lower back and take an anti-inflammatory. If the pain is more frequent (i.e. more than once a week), then see your doctor and physical therapist for gentle exercises that can alleviate your arthritis.
- If you feel the pain in your leg as well as your lower spine, then it’s possible that you might have a herniated disc. A herniated disc occurs when the disc presses on the nerves and bones in your lower spine, otherwise known as the lumbar region. A doctor can diagnosis you with a herniated disc and give you medicine; however, the most relief is often attained by visits to a chiropractor, who can use gentle exercises to stretch the spine and relieve the pressure.
If you are suffering from a stiff lower back when you wake up in the morning, we encourage you to visit our Spinal Care clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ. Both clinics come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).
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