Lying and Resting During an Episode of Back Pain

Some people have low back pain when they are lying resting in certain positions. 

A few people have low back pain only when they lie down. Many people with low back pain feel worse when they are lying down and dread the thought of another night with more back pain and less sleep. If you have low back pain only when lying down, or if you regularly wake in the morning with a stiff and painful low back that was not painful the night before, there is likely to be something wrong with the surface on which you are lying or the position in which you sleep.

 It is a comparatively easy task to correct the surface on which you are lying, but rather difficult to influence the position you adopt while sleeping. 

Once you are asleep, you may regularly change your position or toss and tum. Unless a certain position causes so much discomfort that it wakes you, you have no real idea of the various positions you assume while sleeping .Many people with back problems are told never to lie face down when in bed. There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that this is harmful to the back. 

On the contrary, it may well be that your back ceases to be painful in the face-down position. If you have not already discovered the effects of lying face down, you should experiment to see what effect this has on your problem the next time you experience pain while lying. Certainly there are some low back problems that are aggravated by lying in this way. If you have sciatica, lying face down is nearly always impossible.

  Correction of Surface

There are two simple ways in which you may be able to reduce strains on your low back caused by a faulty lying position:

The first and most important way is to lie with a supportive roll around  your waist. This roll will support your low back as you re stand will prevent strain that can develop when you lie on your side or back.You may purchase a lumbar night roll specifically made for the purpose from the agents listed at the back of this book. You will need to supply them with your waist measurement and advise them how much you weigh. Alternatively, you may substitute a rolled beach or bath towel. Fold the towel in half from end to end then roll in from the side. This will create a roll of about 3 inches  in diameter and 3 feet  in length. Wind the roll around your waist, and fix it in front with a safety pin to ensure that it remains in place where you normally wear your belt; otherwise, the roll will move up  or down during your sleep, it may actually increase your night pain. The measurements given above are merely a guide; lumbar supports need to fulfill individual requirements, and each person must experiment for himself. You can follow the general rule that when you lie on your side, the roll should fill the natural hollow in the body contour between pelvis and rib cage; and when you lie on your back, the roll should support the low back in moderate lordosis.

The second way is to ensure that your mattress does not sag. The mattress itself should not be too hard; in fact, a soft mattress can be extremely comfortable provided it is placed on a firm support. To ensure that your mattress is supported on a firm hard surface, it is best to place it on the floor and spend three to four nights sleeping in this way to determine if this is the source of the problem. Avoid a bed with a wire base and use a solid base instead , with a rubber or inner spring mattress on top of it.If you have tried these  suggestions without benefit, you should consult a health provider trained in this specialty.It may be that you require special advice regarding the surface on which you lie or the posture you assume while sleeping. It may also be possible that you need special treatment for your low back problems.