HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Thoracic & Lumbar Back Pain Worsening at Night

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/23/2013 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum, yet have been reading it for years now. I am young adult female who was involved in a MVA and now suffers from debilating chronic pain in my thoracic and lumbar spine. Like much chronic pain I have been on countless medications and tried a variety of different pain treatments. I have tried facet joint injections, rizotamys, trigger point injections, and now lidocaine infusions all while talking nerve, muscle relaxants, pain and anti-inflammatory medication. Currently my pain is manageable as long as I don't over-do my activity (which is not very much to be honest). I notice at night that I am able to fall asleep however will wake up an hour or two into sleeping with the most excruciating pain (emerge worth). Even through using heat/ice and mediation it still is sever. It usually will keep me awake for 2-4 hours before being able to fall asleep again. Does any one else have this issue? Any advice?
Posted 10/23/2013 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah...I have this issue often. Do you take anything for sleep? I used to get 5 to 6 hrs of sleep on a good night... I take trazadone, and now I always get at least 6 hrs...still toss and turn, but its better. For now, until traz stops working for me.

Tylenol PM and other sleep aids don't keep me from waking from pain as much as Traz. May have to find what'll knock you out and keep you down.

Wish you all the luck...
Posted 10/23/2013 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome.Glad you starting posting but am sorry to hear the reason.I'm kind of the opposite in that while I'm sleeping it's the only time that I'm not conscious of my back pain.If I get up during the night I usually fall back asleep without much problem.

Maybe while you're sleeping your body is in a position that aggravates your back?

My pain usually starts when I 1st stand up in the morning.

Again,Welcome and hope you solve your sleeping issue,
Rick
Posted 10/23/2013 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Creat1ve, have you had an MRI to test for disk damage?

I was in a MVA in 2004 and for nearly a year afterwards, I had very painful muscle cramps in my back. They would always hit me when I woke up, so perhaps while sleeping vs. being active through the day, my muscles tensed up.

If, though, something happened to your spine, it might be positional. I also have scoliosis and if my neck is too far forward or to the right or left, I get radicular pain in my back and/or shoulders and arms.

So, it strikes me that you should have an MRI to determine the right treatment options. If it is normal, then perhaps stretching and/or warm shower before bed along with muscle relaxants and anti-inflams. I wonder also if Valium would make sense, since it will also help you sleep (though most MRs will too).
Posted 10/23/2013 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Have you had a EMG to check for nerve damage ? Have you tried elavil before bedtime ?
Posted 10/23/2013 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Creat1ve!….and Welcome to the CP forum!

Several of us have back problems, and I'm one of them, with a double lumbar fusion. I still suffer from pain around the clock. However!…we finally found a decent mix of meds to keep me stable, and for quite some time now.

Sleep is important and I believe especially so for us chronic pain patients. I too, have had my share of sleepless nights, and sympathize with you.

I like Cogito's idea of a warm bath, however, a bath or shower is usually not a high priority item for chronic pain patients.

Pillows?….do you use them for more than just to lay your head on? If you lay on your back, two of them under your knees may help keep you a little more comfortable and lessen some of the aches and pains that seem more aggravated by early morning movement.

If laying on your side, again I use two pillows between my knees, and helps to keep the hips and lower lumbar alined.

Med's? I do not see a list of meds that you have tried, but I will assume that you have tried most of them according to your post. If your on ER med's, I tend to take these before bedtime, so that they are still effective and working in the early morning hours.

One med's I use as part of my over all total combination, is Nucynta,….a fairly new med, and underrated by many Dr's/PM's in my opinion. It is a powerful med, and contains both Narcotic, and nerve damage properties. There is a very good writeup on it by one of our members, and if your interested, I will repost the link for you.

Keep plugging away on your search for chronic pain relief, and hopefully you will find the right combination.

Good luck!…and Enjoy the forum!

SE
Posted 10/23/2013 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome to HW!

I also am pretty young and have severe pain in my c/t and L-S . from multiple disk problems.

Do you have a tens unit by any chance? if not you should consider asking your doctor for one, a Tens with a nice rice heating pad (moist heat) on my back usually helps abit. Also maybe try laying on a hard flat surface like the floor for a little bit, that helps me sometimes also. Valuim is also good for the muscle pain and helps you relax so you can sleep at nght.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply