I have treated many patients who had suffered with insomnia because of their back pain. Have you been up most of night with back pain? Are you desperate for a good night’s sleep? Many patients I treat for back pain had not been able to sleep in the same bad with their spouse for years. Even though they had bought different mattresses, and some were very expensive. They said it would have been worth the money just to get to some sleep.

People who suffer with back pain tend to buy different beds – some very expensive beds. Some patients have tried putting boards under their mattresses, or they sleep on the floor. Many have slept on their couches or were sleeping propped up in their recliners. They try buying different pillows: soft or contour pillows for their necks and firm body-pillows for between their knees. It is sad because they will tell me they have not slept with their spouses in years, because they hurt too much to stay in the bed. These back pain sufferers report they have the “Goldilocks” syndrome, and they actually have tried sleeping in every bed in their house. Nothing helped them for any length of time.

Some back pain may resolve in a short time, and there can be temporary reasons for the pain. However, it can be a more serious problem, if the symptoms persist. Back pain and interrupted sleep can become a cycle, even though back sufferers try so hard to get some sleep. Many of my patients told me they had slept in every bed in the house, just like Goldilocks. Because they cannot sleep, they keep their spouses awake by tossing, turning and having the television on, or playing soothing music. While they are surfing late-night television, it is common that they watch infomercials and buy things such as inversion tables, aids for sleeping, diet, or exercise programs; all for the hope of pain relief and sleep.

There are temporary reasons for back pain. An example is a pregnant woman. Her back pain can be because of so much extra weight around her mid- section during the day. The same thing can happen from being overweight. Other reasons could be improper carrying to one side, anything from a heavy purse to a child riding on the hip, improper sitting, sitting while leaning and peering at a computer screen. The list goes on, because of our more sedentary lives.

If the pills do not help you, on the next visit when you see your doctor, he or she will probably tell you to go to a physical therapist. If you are still in pain, when you go back to your doctor again, then you may get to have X-rays or MRIs to figure the actual diagnosis and exactly what is wrong. If you are diagnosed with a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease, you may be referred to an orthopedic specialist or a neurologist. At that point, they could recommend having an injection (epidural) which may help short-term: two months, two weeks, two days, or not at all.

If your pain continues, surgery may be recommended. After surgery, some patients are very disappointed because they still have pain and some of the previous symptoms. I call this process a “medical pipeline”.

There may come a point, where your specialist recommends back surgery. Some surgeries are successful – while others are not, and without saying, these patients are extremely disappointed. If you need to continue to take pain medications long-term, then you will be under the care of a pain specialist. At this point, you would have a diagnosis of “failed surgery syndrome”.

Learn what others are doingfor sleeping with back pain#1. Stop by Dr. Richard E. Busch III’s site where you can find out all about how to avoid surgery for back pain#2 and why to say no to surgery.