Rolling onto Your Back and Getting Stuck

Recently we had a reader ask the following question: “When I roll onto my back or lie down, It’s very difficult and painful to get up. What could be causing this issue?” That’s our topic for this patient education article – the conditions and injuries that can cause you to get stuck on your back and how to best resolve the issue.

Getting Stuck on Your Back

While it sounds like a thing that could only happen to a turtle, getting stuck on your back can happen to anyone. There are several conditions and injuries that might contribute to this situation. Here are a few potential examples:

• Acute Injury to the Spine. Car accidents, slip and falls, and the like can damage and weaken the spine.
• Pinched Nerves & Bulging Discs. These are some of the most common spinal conditions and can lead to numbness, and paralysis if left untreated.
• Muscular Dystrophy & Related Conditions. These conditions decrease a person’s muscle mass and can make it difficult to perform routine tasks.
• Paralysis. Spinal nerve damage can lead to numbness, loss of sensation, and paralysis – which can prevent a person from getting up from a lying position.

Treatment Options

As with everything, treatment is directly dependent on the cause. As such, it’s essential to get an accurate diagnosis before beginning treatment. Depending on the cause, patients may benefit from spinal injections, physical therapy or prescription medication. If nerve damage is involved, however, spine surgery will likely be necessary.

If you have a spinal condition or injury that is making it difficult to get up off your back, consider an Inspired Spine procedure. Our minimally invasive keyhole spinal surgery techniques offer the shortest operating times and hospital stays currently available. Even better, patients report minor pain and fast recoveries with our procedures. Contact us today to learn more about our Inspired OLLIF and Inspired MIS-DTIF procedures, and to find a provider in your area who performs these procedures.