Ever Wondered Why Pain Feels So Much Worse at Night? Here’s the Science Behind It.
You go to bed after a tough day, wanting to sleep, but instead of relief, the pain gets worse. It doesn’t matter if it is back pain, shoulder stiffness, arthritis, or nerve discomfort; pain at night is an annoying feeling that keeps you from getting proper sleep and recovery. But the truth is, it is not “only in your mind.” Your body actually suffers physiological and postural changes during night-time that can enhance the feeling of pain. Motion ceased, hormonal changes, inflammation raised, and muscle tensions are all factors that contribute to the situation.
Common Reasons Why Pain Feels Worse at Night
1. Reduced Movement and Joint Stiffness
You keep moving around throughout the day, and this keeps blood flowing and joints lubricated. While during the night you lie still for hours, muscles and joints become stiff, and the body’s pain detector turns on louder.
2. Inflammation Peaks at Night
The human body operates via a natural circadian rhythm — one of its parts is that the inflammation tends to be higher at night in most people. The process is known as healing, and while it helps to restore tissues, it can also make the pain stronger, especially in those suffering from arthritis or fibromyalgia.
3. Hormonal Changes
The body’s production of cortisol (a natural anti-inflammatory hormone) is limited at night. Thus, less cortisol means greater pain sensitivity, and the person will feel the condition more severely.
4. Poor Sleeping Posture
Taking unlikely sleeping positions and wearing bad-supportive mattresses can cause muscles to get strained and nerves, especially in the neck, back, and hips area, to get compressed.
5. Nerve Compression or Circulation Issues
Lying down can really aggravate conditions such as sciatica or herniated discs. Since gravity alters the distribution of pressure on nerves and blood vessels, these conditions can become quite painful.
6. Psychological and Emotional Factors
The nighttime is when you are more aware of your discomfort because your mind has fewer distractions. Pain perception can be greatly influenced by anxiety, stress, or fatigue, which can then increase the difficulty of falling asleep.
Best Physiotherapy in Lahore for Nighttime Pain Relief at Physio Resource:
Physio Resource, which is the best physiotherapy clinic in Lahore, is focused on treating patients suffering from chronic pain, musculoskeletal stiffness, and posture-related discomfort through physiotherapy based on scientific evidence. A professional team will find the source of your pain and make use of the advanced treatments like manual therapy, electrotherapy, dry needling, and individual exercise programs to speed up your recovery and to improve your sleeping quality.
If your pain gets more intense during the night, it is the body’s way of indicating an underlying problems, In that case, we are here to enable you to deal with it.
Schedule your appointment for a consultation at Physio Resource in Lahore:
Don’t allow the discomfort in your sleeping position to affect your sleep negatively or your peace of mind. Visit Physio Resource, the top physiotherapy clinic in Lahore where our team of experts from different disciplines provides psychotherapy, nutrition, and physiotherapy for best recovery.
Physio Resource
Phone No: 0304-4283442
Address: 93-A1, Gurumangat Road, Gullberg, III, Lahore
About the Author – Dr. Ahmad Bilal
This blog is written by Dr. Ahmad Bilal, a Consultant Physiotherapist with over 7 years of dedicated clinical experience who has a doctorate in Neuromuscular Physical Therapy (NMPT). Dr. Bilal is known for his skills in pain management, posture correction, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. He is in charge of the best physical therapy clinic in Lahore, named Physio Resource, which offers patients an evidence-based and patient-centered physiotherapy service that ensures their comfort, strength, and mobility.
Written By: Dr. Ahmad Bilal (Consultant Physiotherapist, MS NMPT)
