Does anyone have severe lower back pain upon awakening in the morning? If so, do you know why this may be happening?

[tlongmire]

For the last month this has been happening to me. It doesn't happen every night and does get better when I'm up an moving for a while.

Hugs, Terri

[soup]

It could be an indication that your meds are low in your blood and that once they have risen the pain disappears or something completely unrelated to Parkinson's. It's so difficult to know for sure. Perhaps the phrase 'better when I'm up an moving for a while' actually is related to when you take your meds. Not much help I'm afraid

[Helshubby]

i know the feeling . Was in hospital with pneumonia 6 weeks ago and since i came out of hospital have had severe lower back pain. I'v tried osteopaths and have now started acupuncture to try to get it to sort itself out ! My back goes into spasm and it is incredibly painful. Even after getting up in the morning , which takes ages , it is stiff most of the day - although after 2 trips to acupuncturist it is noticably better. Been to see GP (tried to give me painkillers - no thank you) and have been to see Neuro who referred me for an MRI to "check exactly what is going on" . I'm seeing a physio tomorrow so maybe they can point me in the right direction. Hang in there and keep fighting !!

[etterus]

A very common complaint of people with degenerative disc disease is difficulty getting out of bed. The discs are shock absorbers/spacers that have no arteries and veins; they are avascular. They imbibe nutrition through the rich blood flow in the adjacent vertebrae and swell up at night while unloaded. When we get out of bed they protest with the load of weight bearing. As we move on they slowly lose the fluid through the day and become less swollen.

Trunk rigidity that is common with progressive PD contributes to the problem. As in many PD complaints, regular exercise is the key.

[karolinakitty]

I had a slight back injury when I was very young and have had problems since. the best way I found to avoid this is to sleep with a pillow between my knees to help in leveling out the spine while laying in one position for such a long period of time....my chiropractor from years ago taught me this...you don't need a big bulky one just a small throw pillow...

[sherrywolz]

I was diagnosed 5 years ago, and yes, lower as well as now mid back pain is a problem for me. Generally, much more noticeable, when I have slept an extended period of time on my back. MRI was done 2 years ago, and as etterus explained, I do have degenerative disc disease as well as some issues with 3 vertebrae in my lumbar spine. Have recently started PT and notice that, overall, the pain is not as severe. Sleeping with a pillow at my back as I'm on my side does seem to help prevent the back sleeping issue for the most part.

[tlongmire]

Thanks everyone. I think part of the problem is that I can't turn over in bed so I'm in the same position all night. However, that's been the case for well over a year so........???

[Coblrman]

I know too many people (without PD) with this issue. I highly recommend placing some plywood (not the chipboard type but real plywood) between the box-spring and mattress. For kingsize bed uses two pieces instead.

[mistydog1]

Massage helps with lower back pain . I had the opposite problem as the day wore on my back would go into one continuous spasm. I found stretching more and going for periodic massages helped a lot . I wasn't up for adding another pill to my PD collection.

[Dextor]

I have the same problems. I use my dresser to get to the bathroom. Any long period of standing--cooking dinner, ironing it hurts. I am seeing a spine doctor and doing injections and it is getting better.

[paddyfields]

I've had a stiff lower back for many years - cause of knock on problems (trochantric bursitis and tenosovitis as well as sciatica). However, until last April aching etc was confined in my hips - now aching base spine at night but I can sleep and particularly early morning. Under the NHS NICE guidelines you can now be referred to a private physio by your GP. who has gone through some kind of validation but only for three things: head,neck or headache pain. PD stiffness is obviously a factor in my case and the real probems started about the same time as the tremors leading to dx. four years ago. Private Physio is treating giving me manipulative treatment as well as exercises to improve, among other things the sacro-iliac joint right at the base of the spine and strengthen the gluteal muscles (physios seem to be confined by the NHS to giving you exercises and box ticking) . I can vouch for the magic effect of the pillow between the knees which worked for me for several years but unfortunately does not work now. A memory foam topper made things worse and I now sleep on a Dunlopillow 3" mattress directly on the non padded base of my storage style divan.

[cabbagecottage]

a good idea about the pillow between the knees . My husband is less stiff and painful since he has had a hospital bed . I raise the knee part as well as the head , it has helped the cramping feeling .

[hairbyjen]

ok i know exactly what you are going through. when you move a certain way you have shooting pains up your back. When i started on my birth control patch this happened the very first day. i don't know if it has something to do with hormones but it comes and goes. its not fun at all. when i get up out of bed I'm a bit stiff but no more pain at all.