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Pain after sleep: what does your body "signal"?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The biological and physiological significance of pain for higher animals and humans is enormous, since pain is a "signal" of a danger threatening the body: an injury, a destructive effect of an infection, a malfunction of some organ. When pain appears, the body's defenses come into full "combat readiness" - to eliminate painful stimuli and their negative impact. And often the first to give an alarm signal is pain after sleep.
Causes of pain after sleep
Pain after sleep occurs due to the negative impact on the body and its individual parts of both external damaging factors (injuries, adverse weather conditions, chemicals, etc.) and internal ones. With external ones, everything is clear: each person perceives them, as they say, "in real time", and in this case, for example, pain in the legs after sleep, which appeared after a long stay on the legs, does not raise questions...
But with internal algogenic factors (that is, factors that cause pain ) everything is much more complicated and... more dangerous. Internal causes of pain after sleep include: acute or chronic inflammatory processes, the presence of infection, dysfunction of an organ or an entire system, benign or malignant neoplasms, changes in the innervation system of internal organs, decreased blood supply to a body part, organ or tissue.
At the same time, the psycho-emotional and vegetative manifestations of pain are so diverse (and in many cases are individual in nature) that only a doctor with sufficient clinical experience can determine the true causes of pain after sleep - especially chronic pain - and who, based on the results of tests and a comprehensive examination, will make the correct diagnosis.
But, unfortunately, people rarely seek medical help with such complaints. In addition, neuropathic pain after sleep, which is caused by damage to the somatovisceral sensory system of a person, in most cases has a psychogenic etiology and is therefore diagnosed extremely rarely.
Back pain after sleep
Back pain after sleep can be caused by an unnatural body position during sleep, traumatic injury to the spine, spasms of the back muscles, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine (scoliosis), excess body weight, and also during late pregnancy.
The simplest and most common cause of back pain after sleep is the position in which a person rests at night. Orthopedists believe that it is best to sleep on your side, with your shoulder not on a pillow, but on a mattress, and the space between your head and shoulder should be filled with a small pillow. Therefore, you should avoid large square pillows, replacing them with small ones - rectangular in shape. This recommendation applies primarily to those who have problems with the cervical spine, in particular cervical osteochondrosis.
Back pain after sleep often plagues those who like to sleep on their stomach. As a rule, in this position the head is turned to the side, which compresses the blood vessels. And sleeping on the back does not allow the spine to relax, so in the morning a person may feel back pain.
Lower back pain after sleep can be caused by lumbar radiculitis (radiculopathy), lumbago (lumbar pain), destruction of the lumbar intervertebral disc, displacement or prolapse of the disc (hernia), traumatic stretching of muscle tissue. In addition, lower back pain after sleep, radiating to the lower abdomen, accompanies kidney stone disease, and in women is associated with some gynecological diseases, such as endometriosis.
Neck pain after sleep
Neck pain after sleep is a symptom of such widespread pathologies of the cervical spine as cervical osteochondrosis and spondylosis, myelosis, and muscle hernia.
Neck pain radiating to the back of the head in the mornings torments those who have sedentary work and move little. It is they who are most often diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis, as well as cervical spondylosis, in which cracks in the cartilaginous discs lead to attacks of acute pain in the neck, back of the head, and shoulders.
Due to drafts, poor posture and nervous tension, a person may develop nodular seals in the muscle tissues of the neck (miguelos), which provoke pain in the neck, including after sleep, and pain in the muscles of the shoulder girdle. In the case of a cervical hernia - a typical sports injury - pain is caused by a rupture of the membrane (fascia) of the long and posterior scalene muscles of the neck.
Shoulder pain after sleep
First of all, the cause of pain in the shoulder after sleep can be associated with the already mentioned osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, as well as with inflammation of the shoulder joint - arthrosis or arthritis. With arthritis, pain in the shoulder torments with the slightest movement of the arm. For arthrosis, which develops from arthritis, pain in the shoulder after sleep is felt even without movement, which often does not allow you to fall asleep at all.
It should be noted that many people with some cardiovascular pathologies may feel a dull pain in the left shoulder area upon awakening.
Headache after sleep
Primary headaches with physical exertion may occur in the morning, immediately after waking up, if you had an intense workout in the gym the night before, or if you did heavy physical work. By the way, after intense mental work or sitting for many hours in front of a computer monitor, pain in the back of the head after sleep may also occur.
Secondary headache in the morning after sleep appears due to sleep apnea, increased blood pressure or intracranial pressure, musculoskeletal pathologies, and also as a side effect of regularly taken sedatives and sleeping pills.
Headaches that become more intense at night and headaches after sleep are sure symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. This pathology is the result of an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid that bathes the brain. The circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is disrupted in cases of craniocerebral trauma, brain tumors or hematomas, as well as meningitis and encephalitis.
A very common phenomenon is a headache after a daytime nap. In theory, a healthy adult has absolutely no need to sleep during the daytime. However, this does not apply to those who are associated with work and night shifts, or who simply do not have the opportunity to get a full night's sleep, such as parents of infants.
Ancient Chinese doctors believed that daytime sleep in adults shortens their lives, since an irresistible desire to take a nap in the sunlight indicates weak blood vessels and heart. Modern views on the advisability of daytime sleep for adults are diametrically opposed and agree on only one point: you should sleep during the day not lying down, but half-sitting, and the duration of such rest should not exceed 25-30 minutes. In all other cases, you are guaranteed a feeling of exhaustion and a headache after a daytime sleep.
If you have a headache after a long sleep, you should keep in mind that the optimal duration of night sleep is 7-8 hours per day. With "insufficient sleep" everything is clear, since it is definitely harmful. But doctors consider constant oversleeping a pathology and call it increased sleepiness (hypersomnia). Despite a long night's rest, sleep lovers often complain of lethargy, fatigue, irritability and memory problems.
An incorrect sleep pattern not only leads to headaches after sleep, but also reduces a person's mental abilities, increasing the risk of developing Alzheimer's syndrome. According to the international Alzheimer's Association, insufficient and excessive sleep accelerate the aging of the human brain.
Leg pain after sleep
Significant physical exertion sharply increases the content of lactic acid in muscle tissue, which is formed during the breakdown of glucose. This is why pain in the legs occurs after sleep. The pain affects the foot, shin and thigh.
The same pains often accompany rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis, sciatica (inflammation of the sciatic nerve). In cases where pain in the legs after sleep is accompanied by swelling of the soft tissues of the lower extremities, doctors first suspect the development of varicose veins in the patient - even in the absence of its visible manifestations.
Other causes of leg pain after sleep include tight or uncomfortable shoes, high-heeled shoes and, of course, excess weight, which creates additional stress on the joints of the legs.
Pain in the feet after sleep can be caused by osteoporosis (that is, a deficiency of calcium in the body), poor circulation, nerve damage, and also a type of arthritis called gout.
With plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the muscle located along the foot - from the heel to the phalanges of the toes), pain in the heel after sleep is a concern. Such pain often occurs in those who work standing, have extra pounds or flat feet.
Chest pain after sleep
Short-term squeezing and pressing pain in the chest after sleep, which radiates to the neck, back and shoulders, can be associated with heart disease - from angina to myocardial infarction.
Experts advise not to forget about intercostal neuralgia, in which chest pain after sleep is a consequence of the violation of the correct position of the ribs and the pinching of the intercostal nerves. Most often, this happens with injuries in the chest area, with scoliosis, from prolonged overstrain of the chest muscles, as well as with the displacement of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc with a rupture of its fibrous ring, that is, a hernia of the intervertebral discs.
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Stomach pain after sleep
Abdominal pain after sleep or abdominal pain syndrome is a typical manifestation of functional disorders of the esophagus, stomach or intestines, as well as a sign of possible pathologies of the organs located in the upper abdominal cavity - the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts, pancreas and spleen.
In addition, morning abdominal pain can be caused by diseases of the human reproductive organs: the uterus and ovaries in women, the prostate gland in men.
Muscle pain after sleep
This type of pain (myofascial pain syndrome) is explained from the point of view of anatomy and physiology by the fact that when muscles spasm, there is a reaction of special hypersensitive "trigger" (or trigger) points - compactions of muscle tissue with a diameter of several millimeters. Such points with increased irritability are present in many muscles. This is why morning myofascial pain - with the slightest stretching of a muscle during some movements - is perceived as pain in the body after sleep.
Research has shown that pain in the muscle itself, as well as in adjacent areas, is caused by prolonged muscle strain, which triggers the mechanism of trigger point formation. And prolonged muscle strain occurs during forced prolonged stay in one position - with an incorrect posture at a desk, in front of a computer, behind the wheel of a car. The appearance of muscle pain is provoked by their hypothermia.
Moreover, muscle pain after sleep can be the result of constantly wearing a bag with a shoulder strap, narrow bra straps, a tight belt on jeans, heavy warm clothes pressing on the shoulder girdle...
Treatment of pain after sleep
The choice of treatment for pain after sleep is influenced by the etiology of pain and the place where it occurs. In pharmacological therapy of pain, including pain after sleep, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are most often used, although they do not always have a positive effect. The most widely used drugs for pain treatment include Indomethacin, Piroxicam, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac.
Indomethacin (synonyms - Inteban, Metindol, Indocid, Artitsin, Artizinal, Melitex, Nurikon, Peralgon, Wellopan, Artrotsid, etc.) is an effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent for rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis and neuralgic pain. Adults take the drug orally after meals at 0.025 g (25 mg) 2-3 times a day. To relieve acute pain attacks, the dosage can be increased to 0.05 g (50 mg) 3 times a day, the maximum daily dose is 200 mg, with long-term use - no more than 75 mg. Possible side effects of Indomethacin: headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in the epigastric region, skin rashes. The drug is contraindicated for use in patients with a history of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, ulcerative processes in the intestines and esophagus, bronchial asthma, during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Piroxicam (0.01 and 0.02 g tablets or capsules, as well as gel and cream) has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects and is prescribed for pain and inflammation of the joints and soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system. Taken orally, 1-2 tablets once a day. After the acute stage of the disease, maintenance treatment is prescribed. For external topical use, Piroxicam gel or cream (5-10 mm column) is applied to painful areas of the skin 3-4 times a day. Possible side effects of this drug include nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, in rare cases, liver or kidney dysfunction, stomatitis, skin rash and itching, leg swelling, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, as well as anemia, leukopenia or thrombocytopenia. The drug should not be taken in case of ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, asthma, liver and kidney dysfunction, pregnant and lactating women.
Indications for the use of Ibuprofen (synonyms - Nurofen, Ibupron, Ibuprof, Ibusan, Ipren, Bonifen, Profen, etc.) are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis, gout, neuralgia, myalgia, radiculitis, traumatic inflammation of soft tissues; as an adjuvant, it is prescribed for headaches and toothaches. 1 tablet contains 200 mg of ibuprofen. For moderate pain, the drug is taken orally at 400 mg three times a day (maximum daily dose - 2.4 g). It should be borne in mind that taking Ibuprofen can cause side effects in the form of nausea, flatulence, constipation, heartburn, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, insomnia, skin rash. The drug is contraindicated in ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, disorders of hematopoiesis and kidney and liver function, in childhood (under 6 years). And during pregnancy it can be used only as prescribed by a doctor.
Main indications for the use of Diclofenac in the treatment of pain after sleep
Similar to Ibuprofen. Adults take Diclofenac tablets 25-50 mg 2-3 times a day, children over 6 years old - 2 mg per kilogram of body weight. Diclofenac in the form of ointments or gels is applied only to intact areas of the skin.
Side effects of this drug include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease, dizziness, headache, insomnia, tinnitus, convulsions and itchy skin rashes. Contraindications include: gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, hypersensitivity to diclofenac, children under 6 years of age, pregnancy and lactation. In the presence of chronic or acute liver, kidney and stomach diseases, as well as people with bronchial asthma, hypertension and heart failure, Diclofenac should be taken with great caution due to the risk of negative side effects.
According to statistics from the European Federation of Pain (EFIC), 19% of Europeans suffer from chronic pain, with Norwegians experiencing pain most often, with almost 30% of residents complaining of pain after sleep, and Italians, 26% of whom suffer from such pain.
The third US President Thomas Jefferson once said that "the art of living is the art of avoiding pain." If you do not have this art, and your body constantly gives you painful "signals" - seek qualified medical help so that pain after sleep does not darken your life.