Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: December 11, 2025
Lying down in bed is supposed to be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, but for many the prospect of getting in bed only worsens their spinal discomfort. Why does back pain develop or worsen when you lie down, and more importantly, what can you do to alleviate this discomfort so that restful sleep is easier to come by? We answer those questions in today’s blog on why back pain can intensify when you lie down.
Back Pain In Bed – What Gives?
Simply put, there are more than a few different issues that could be contributing to your back pain that worsens when you lie down in bed, so it’s never a bad idea to talk with your primary care physician or a spine specialist to determine exactly what’s going on in your back. We’ll talk about some of the ways you can manage your issues below, but knowing what you’re dealing with makes it much easier to ensure you are treating the problem in the right way. Let’s explore some of the conditions that can cause back pain to develop or intensify when lying down:
- Herniated Disc – A bulging or herniated disc can feel more uncomfortable when you lie down and gravity’s impact on the disc changes. Discs can shift out of place and irritate nearby spinal nerves when you go from standing to sitting.
- Spinal Stenosis – Spinal stenosis develops when the opening through which key spinal nerves pass on their way down your spine begins to shrink, which can compress or irritate these nerves. This spinal opening can narrow when you’re lying in bed, especially if you have an unsupportive mattress, leading to discomfort when you try to sleep at night.
- Muscle Strains – Sometimes all that you are feeling are the effects of a hard day on your body. When you lie down, your muscles relax a little, and it becomes easier for you to notice soreness or muscle strains now that you’re trying to relax.
- Ankylosing Spondylosis – Ankylosing spondylosis is a form of inflammatory arthritis that tends to worsen at night. Normal daily movements oftentimes help to keep ankylosing spondylosis inflammation at bay, so it’s not always as noticeable during the day. This inflammation can worsen when you stop moving for the night, leading to the discomfort you’re experiencing when you lie down.
- Posture/Bed Problems – Finally, your nighttime discomfort may have less to do with your spine and more to do with your posture positioning throughout the day or the bed you’re sleeping in at night. Try to have better posture during the day, and consider upgrading to a more supportive mattress if it’s been a while since you’re changed out your mattress.
Treating Back Pain When Lying Down
As we noted above, it’s a good idea to connect with a medical professional if you’re interested in learning more about your nighttime back pain. However, if you want to try to manage the condition on your own, here are some conservative treatments to consider:
- Regular exercise
- Physical therapy
- Gentle stretching/Flexibility training
- Hot/Cold therapy
- Posture improvements
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Improvements to sleep environment
Follow the instructions of your treating physician, but know that you’re more likely to experience long-term nighttime back pain relief by pursuing active treatments, like exercise and physical therapy. Medication can help to alleviate some of your symptoms, but it doesn’t typically target the root cause of your discomfort, which is where you’ll need to focus your attention if you want to overcome the problem. Movement-based activities should help to strengthen and stabilize your spine, which is important because spinal weakness and instability are oftentimes to blame for the issue causing your back pain when lying down.
Don’t take back pain lying down. Bring a professional into the fold and let us set you up with a personalized care plan to put your back pain to rest for good. For more information, or for help managing a different type of spinal issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brian Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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