Back Pain After Side Sleeping: Causes & Relief

Question
QUESTION: I have waken up before after feeling fully rested, but realizing I'd not gotten a full 8 hours and so rested longer which strangely has given me a sore back from assumably sleeping on my side funny, or whatever. This makes it very hard to lift anything, and even maintain posture for the day. I've had two days in a row like that, but am feeling better now. What causes that kind of pain, and can massage therapy help? I would think rubbing those muscles would be the same as using them, and if they are damaged, assumably the reason they are in pain, it could only cause more pain, or make the damage worst. Would massage therapy be at all useful for this kind of thing? Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi James,

There are several causes for this kind of pain. Were you recently lifting anything heavy? Do you have a job that requires you to be lifting constantly or heavy items? If yes then it can be the type of work you do and it's starting to affect your body. How old is your bed? Do you sleep with a lot of pillows? Are you stressed out currently? You said that you sleep on your side. Try sleeping with a pillow between your legs. By using a pillow this will help even out your pelvis a bit. Massage therapy can help greatly. With massage you will receive an assessment and then the proper muscles can be loosened. Try putting a heat pack or source on your back when you get up in the morning.  I hope this helps and if you need anything else just ask.

Zira

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I don't do heavy lifting, and don't have a job currently. I actually sleep on a couple mattresses with the foam pad on top (forgot what those things are called). I've had one of the mattresses for life. I'm 27 years old. The other maybe 10 years old. I sleep with one pillow. I am not really too stressed out, but do try to keep myself busy everyday while enjoying not being employed while looking for work. No matter the cause of pain a good massage should be able to fix the problem?

Answer
In all honesty James i think that your bed may be the problem. Massage will help, but it will only go so far. Massage will stretch out the muscles and loosen them, but if it is your bed causing the problem then your back will start to go back the way it has been lately. And the longer you leave it the worse it will get.

Zira