Why Do I Feel Like Needles Are Poking My Back and How Can I Find Relief?

Reviewed by Suo Lee, MD

Internal Medicine

Feeling like needles are poking your back can happen when nerves or muscles get irritated. Special exercises, physical therapy, or sometimes medicines can help ease the pain.

Explanation

Sometimes, your back might feel like it is being poked by needles when nerves or muscles are irritated or under pressure. One common reason is that a nerve, such as one involved in sciatica, may be "pinched" by nearby tissues. This causes a sharp, needle-like pain that can be very uncomfortable. Another reason could be a condition like fibromyalgia, where the body feels pain in many places, including the back. To find relief, doctors often recommend gentle exercises and physical therapy to help stretch and strengthen the muscles around the spine. This can ease the pressure on the nerves and make the pain go down over time. Other treatments, like medicines, can help by reducing swelling around the nerves and calming the pain. Simple home care, such as using a warm or cold pack or having a massage, may also help make you feel better. If the pain continues or gets worse, it is important to talk with a healthcare provider to make sure you get the right care for your back.

(References)

Davis D, Maini K, Taqi M, et al. Sciatica. [Updated 2024 Jan 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet].
Abdi S, Datta S, Trescot AM, Schultz DM, Adlaka R, Atluri SL, Smith HS, Manchikanti L. Epidural steroids in the management of chronic spinal pain: a systematic review. Pain Physician. 2007 Jan;10(1):185-212. PMID: 17256030.
Clauw DJ. Fibromyalgia: A Clinical Review. _JAMA._ 2014;311(15):1547–1555. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.3266
Hayden JA, Ellis J, Ogilvie R, Malmivaara A, van Tulder MW. Exercise therapy for chronic low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Sep 28;9(9):CD009790. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009790.pub2. PMID: 34580864; PMCID: PMC8477273.
Senbursa G, Pekyavas NO, Baltaci G. Comparison of Physiotherapy Approaches in Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Korean J Fam Med. 2021 Mar;42(2):96-106. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.20.0025. Epub 2020 May 22. PMID: 32438535; PMCID: PMC8010438.

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