Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

We all hope to wake up feeling rested and recharged, but for some people, those first few steps in the morning are met with pain and discomfort in the spine. Greeting every morning with back pain is no way to start your day, but what could be causing this discomfort, and more importantly, what can be done to treat it? In today’s blog, we explore some of the causes and treatment options for morning back pain.

Causes Of Morning Back Pain

If you were involved in a car accident or fell off your bike, it’s probably pretty obvious that direct trauma is playing a role in your morning spine pain, but for most people, one traumatic event isn’t usually the reason for their discomfort. Oftentimes conditions that present with morning back pain develop slowly over months or years and aren’t tied to one specific event. Many people simply notice that their back has started to feel a little tight or sore in the morning, and over time those symptoms become more apparent and intense.

So what could be causing this morning back pain? For a confirmed diagnosis, head to a specialist in your area, but know that they’ll likely begin by working to rule out or confirm one of these potential issues.

• Degenerative Disc Disease – Over the years, the small, flexible discs that separate each vertebra in our spinal column can wear down. As they degenerate due to stress and injury, they can become smaller, stiffer and less able to comfortably handle movement and stress. After an extended period of immobility, like when you’re asleep, acclimating these degenerative discs to movement can be a little uncomfortable, which is why symptoms may be more noticeable in the morning.
• Spinal Stenosis – Key nerves pass through the spinal canal as they traverse throughout our body. If the openings through which they pass begin to narrow (due to aging, degeneration, injury, inflammation, stress, etc.), these nerves may become compressed and relay pain signals to the brain. If sleeping or staying in one position leads to canal narrowing or puts dull, prolonged pressure on a nerve, you may notice some discomfort upon waking and moving first thing in the morning.
• Spondylolisthesis – Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebral segment slips forward over another, which can compress nerves. This vertebral misalignment may be less noticeable when you’re upright and may worsen when you’re lying down or in the same prone position for eight hours a night. Symptoms tend to be most noticeable in the morning when getting out of bed and standing up.

Treating Morning Back Pain

Treatment really boils down to understanding what you’re up against and coming up with a plan based on your unique challenges and fitness goals. Start by talking with a physician in your area and getting an official diagnosis. Although morning back pain is oftentimes tied to a nerve issue, specific treatment plans will vary, so you’ll want to know exactly what you’re dealing with.

In many instances, a doctor will recommend a combination of conservative treatment options to see how your spine responds before pursuing more hands-on care. Those treatments typically include:

• Low-impact exercise
• Stretching
• Physical Therapy
• Weight management
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Posture improvements

If those treatments fail to improve symptoms, or if they worsen, more hands-on care may be warranted. Corticosteroid injections or a minimally invasive decompressive procedure are two typical forms to operative treatment. These care options tend to be quite effective, but because other risks are involved, and because conservative care is usually pretty effective as well, operative care is considered a last resort for morning back pain.

If you’re looking to get a handle on your morning back pain, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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