Hi witsend,

I empathize with you and I suffered with a similar problem of not being able to lay on my back sometime ago. However I guess my problem was not exactly same as yours, because mine was caused by lifting a heavy weight when my spine was completely unprepared for it. It lead to a injury in my lower spine making it bend. (Its now called scoliosis).

Now my problem is alleviated to a large extent and I can sleep much better. But then, I have a whole lot of other health problems too. I only have a suggestion for you. After much research I tried homeopathy and that seems to be helping me. I am not completely cured or pain free, but I guess it helps. The other thing you could probably do is investigate osteopathy and consult one if you haven't already done so.

Don't feel alone. Try and keep up your spirit and have the faith that things will get ok. I wish you all the best for getting well soon.

Thanks for the well wishes

This might sound a little nieve, but what is osteopathy? What makes it different than regular chiropractic? I've seen a few chiropractors that are into "the natural" way of doing things and have been given some natural medications that didn't work.. are you saying there is something I haven't tried?

I'm at the point where there isn't anything I wouldn't try if there was some hope of relief!

hi, i'm sure it's different from you, but i have so much pain laying down, can't find a position that i don't hurt. no sleep. i had back surgery in june and then again in july. discetomy of my L5 and something... first surgery was to correct foot drop and it worked.. then my spinal fluid started leaking ended up having to have another surgery to repair that.. then and infection in my back.. anyways it's been over 3 months and a month ago i started getting the pain it is painful when i stand and walk, well it really never stops, but the laying down is the worst.. consider your self lucky that they give you something for pain, i got somthing for sleep, but it only works a couple hours. my doctor wants me to go back to p.t. those people just shruged their heads at me.. i tried to explain to the doc that it wasn't my muscles, but he thinks it is.. he wants to wait another month or so till he trys some injections. i just want it to stop now. getting very frustrated and the lack of sleep doesn't help.. most people with back pain get relief when they lay down.. my last mri i couldn't get off the table.....it takes me at least 5 minutes to get out of bed and alot of noise. i was considering the back crackers, but now i'm sure i don't want to after listenting to you. something has to be putting pressure on the nerves in that laying down position. have u had anyone suggest injections in your spine? going to try to see my general doc today and beg for pain pills. please let me no if you find out anything that works. am running out of patients.. i still go to work but am unable to do the job i was hired to do. they let me drive around instead. no lifting so i have been lucky in that way. but not getting anysleep it's hard to maintain my focus.. i have heard that acupunture is a good alternative. have u tried that?

Most common pains are sitting pain, standing pain and pain while lying. You didn't mention how you injured your back? What is the cause of problems...

Sometimes osteopathians are better than chiropractors. But there are many kind of osteopathians. Some of them are very similar to chiropractors.

i don't know how i cracked my disc but a piece was causing foot drop, my op corrected it.... then i started leaking spinal fluids, had to have another op to fix it. then i got an infection in my spine... now i'm thinking i have another infection but am being tossed back and forth from the infection doctor to the surgeon. went to my general practioner today. he looked at my mri and started calling the other doctors telling them they better look into the infection again.. he's a good kid.. at least he gave me some pain pills to help me cope.. working was getting too hard. anyway, he told me it was not in my back musles like my surgeon thought.. i'm going to try some aquatherapy and am really praying for it to help. it's getting interesting.. at least he told me i wasn't crazy.. i thanked him for that.

I have foot Drop to. Mine started 4 weeks ago and i've not tried any procedures. My Dr said it was my desision to let it heal, try injections, or go with non-intrusive surgery. I chose surgery. Surgery is Tuesday but i'm worried that other complications such as your might spring up.

My pain was sever but has subsided some. Its still very annoying and I don't sleep well and in pain and discomfort constantly.

I have foot Drop to. Mine started 4 weeks ago and i've not tried any procedures. My Dr said it was my desision to let it heal, try injections, or go with non-intrusive surgery. I chose surgery. Surgery is Tuesday but i'm worried that other complications such as your might spring up.

My pain was sever but has subsided some. Its still very annoying and I don't sleep well and in pain and discomfort constantly.

[ my first surgery was okay, i was up that night walking and raiding the fridge in the hospital.. all i can say is do exactly what the doctor tells you. do not feel like your fine and try anything like lifting anything more than u are supposed to. i my have over done it. walked a little too much and picked up a cooler that had some ice in it.. good luck and please let me know how it goes. just be so careful. you no they kick u out of the hospital so fast now, and i understand some of the reasoning but not being in there has a tendency to make people underestamate the severity of the procedure. again good luck and take it easy..

So I was reading this forum. And I can totally empathize with those who have low back pain. I tell you one thing I have tried it all. Osteopathy, Homeopathy, Chiropractic and PT and it never worked. In fact it seemed to make it worse. After my third chiropractor I came upon this one chiropractor that explained everything to me in great detail. Simply put he explained to me that Not every chiropractor is equally as good. Everyone thinks they are ALL the same. They are NOT. Its like ANY profession there are good ones and bad ones. He specializes in a thing call Gonstead Chiropractic which is chiropractic but they do more studying and a more thorough job. He has helped me tremendously. I am so glad because I have heard so many stories of unsuccessful surgery I refused to do it. I can do everything I ever wanted and I am playing golf, sleeping better than i ever have, and I am 48. Don't be discouraged. There is help. Oh and just to help a little more if the chiropractor doesn't take and X-ray or use chiropractic instrument they aren't being responsible enough.
Blessings

You are not alone. I've heard many people say that their herniated disc pain is much better when they are laying down, however, mine aswell is as much a pest whether I am standing or laying down.
Try sleeping on your side, with a pillow inbetween your legs, this should take some pressure off of your vertebre. It has helped me a tiny bit. But I hope the best for you.