If we suffer an injury, one of our first reactions is oftentimes to stop what we’re doing and to go lie down in bed to help protect the area from further stress. Oftentimes this helps ease discomfort in the short-term, but after 24-48 hours, controlled exercise and activity is typically better than prolonged rest.
But what if you’re dealing with chronic or inconsistent back pain that didn’t develop due to an acute injury, and the only thing that seems to provide relief is to lie down? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at what you should do if lying down is one of your most common pain relief techniques for your back pain.
Back Feels Better When I Lie Down
There are a number of different reasons why your back discomfort may feel much better if you decide to lie down, so if you’re dealing with these symptoms, it’s a good idea to set up a consultation with a spine specialist. Knowing exactly what you’re dealing with will allow your doctor to develop an individualized treatment plan, which is the key to overcoming your condition. Treating the wrong problem or only attacking symptoms because you haven’t identified the root cause of your pain is a recipe for prolonged discomfort, so while we strive to provide some information with this blog, the best source of information will come from a physician who can examine your spine in person.
A number of different aches and pains may relieve as a result of lying down, but the one we want to focus on today is called spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is a condition where one of the vertebrae in your spine shifts out of position. Typically it occurs in your lower spine, but it can also occur in the thoracic and cervical portions of your spine. It’s also different from a slipped disc, which happens when the disc between two vertebral segments shifts out of its normal location.
Spondylolisthesis can develop for a number of reasons, with repetitive trauma and natural arthritic degeneration being two common contributing factors, while others develop the condition as a result of acute trauma or a genetic issue that leads to bone abnormalities. As a result of the above factors, a vertebral segment can shift out of place, putting pressure on nearby nerves or the adjacent vertebrae.
Symptoms of the condition include:
- Lower back pain
- Pain that subsides substantially when lying down
- Numbness
- Tingling sensation
- Stiffness
- Visible curvature of the spine
If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms, set up an appointment with a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi. He’ll begin by asking about your symptoms, conducting a physical exam and then taking a look at your vertebral segments with the help of an X-ray. Between the physical exam and the imaging results, a diagnosis of spondylolisthesis is pretty straightforward.
After diagnosis, your doctor will walk you through some common spondylolisthesis treatment techniques. Typically this will involve a combination of non-operative treatments like rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and controlled stretching to help protect and strengthen the area. Corticosteroid injections may also be used to make movement and strength training more comfortable.
Most people experience pain relief with the help of these methods, but if symptoms persist or the vertebral shifting is compromising a spinal nerve, a minimally invasive surgery may be performed. In some cases, this will involve a fusion procedure to create stability and prevent vertebral segment shifting, while other times a spinal cage containing bone graft will be inserted in place of a spinal disc to help restore natural height and spacing between the vertebrae. Surgery typically yields great results, but because all surgeries can carry additional risk, in most cases it will not be pursued unless weeks of conservative care have failed to provide relief.
So if your only relief for your back pain is to go lie down in bed, talk to a spine specialist about the possibility of vertebral shifting and spondylolisthesis. Through a few simple conservative techniques, we can help you get back to a pain-free way of living. For more information, or for help with your spinal issue, give Dr. Sinicropi and his team a call today.
