Waking up with Back Pain? Here's What you Need to Know

The Real Problems Isn't Just the Pain - its Not Knowing Why.

Many people push through, hoping it will go away. But waking up like this time and time again means something isn't right. The key is figuring out what is causing it, before it turns into a bigger issue.

Is your core stability letting you down? If your back muscles fatigue before your workout or day ends, your spine may not be as supported as it needs to be. Considering things like pacing of your activity levels, ensuring there is adequate rest, but also ensuring there is adequate targeted exercises so that your sore can stay strong.
Too much compression? Heavy lifting, intense workouts, or even repetitive bending could be loading your spine more than it can handle. Even in the pursuit of fitness; if time is not taken to ensure there is adequate strength and stability to the supporting muscles to compliment heavy training loads and volume; then .... its just a matter of time before your back will fail. Once its fkd; you will need to be super careful; possibly for the rest of your life. Its a game changer.
General fatigue? Sore muscles are normal, but if it’s deep, persistent, or affecting how you move, your back might need some adjustments to your life / lift and loading patterns and rest and recovery schedule. When your stabilisation muscles are fatigued - your back is more vulnerable to strains and sprains.
Discal Damage? Sometimes the structural integrity of the disc can be compromised - basically, it starts to fail. Its not necessarily a life sentence of pain though, a lot of people have discal injuries and don't even know they have them. The key thing is to identify if it is a likely cause of your pain and get a tweak to your rehab, life, work, exercise program that can help improve your symptoms and minimise the chance of it getting worse.

When Should You See a Professional?

If you’re waking up stiff and sore, but the pain eases once you get moving, it’s worth paying attention. Consider what you had done the day before and what could have been the trigger. Realistically - Back pain every day is not "normal", and nor should it be accepted as being "your normal". Its a reflection on your back not coping as well with your days as it could / should; and tackling the "WHY" before it becomes a bigger problem can make a world of difference.

Now - if you’re also experiencing any of these signs, don’t ignore them - get help.
✔️ Pain that lingers or worsens through the morning or day
✔️ Pain when coughing or sneezing (a classic sign of a discal irritation)
✔️ Pain shooting down your leg (sometimes with movement, and sometimes on its own)
✔️ Numbness or tingling in your foot or lower leg (sign of a nerve irritation)
✔️ Struggling with simple movements like bending to put on shoes (it shouldn't be that hard!!)

These can be signs of something more serious, and it’s best to get it checked out by a health professional before it slows you down even more.

What can Help?

There is no one-size fits all answer, but the following can help:

✔️ A rehab-focused strength program to improve core and back stability
✔️ Adjusting your workouts to reduce excessive spinal load
✔️ A better bed or sleep setup if your mattress isn’t giving you enough support
✔️ Targeted recovery strategies, including physio-led interventions to keep your back healthy

Pain Doesn't have to be the Price of Getting Fit.

If this sounds familiar, let’s figure out what’s going on—so you can move better, feel stronger, and stop waking up in pain.

Come and Get it Sorted!

If you have back pain / niggles / prior injuries and are either stuck in groundhog day or are not sure where to start - make a time to come and see me.

I help people with stubborn back pain injuries, discal bulges, pre / post op etc., with their rehab and recovery. A fresh perspective and "doing exercise right" for you can make a big difference to your day.

BACK PAIN

Waking up with Back Pain? Don't Ignore it. Here's what you need to Know...

Ever wake up feeling like someone slugged you in the back with a baseball bat? Stiff, sore and struggling to move? Maybe after a heavy day of work of exercise : but sometimes its just like that more days than not?

You are not alone.