I know going to a doctor/chiropractor would probably be best to start with but I have to wait until I have insurance for that. I can't afford it out of pocket. So I am looking for tips, tricks, approaches, and really any information that has helped you or someone you know.
Starting about 2 months ago, I began waking up sore. My shoulders and middle back, sometimes my neck and lower back - I just hurt so much in the morning. I am sore for a number of hours after waking and feel better as the day goes on but I still feel stiff. Someone told me I might need a new mattress but I had just gotten one in November. Unless it took time and this is the source of my issues? I got the same brand and kind of mattress I had before, just a bigger size. I don't know if it would make sense for the new mattress to be causing issues.
Anyways, what are some things I can work on at home to improve things until I am able to see a doctor?
A lot of back pain (especially when it presents on awakening) actually originates in the neck. Ideally we sleep with our spine straight. A pillow that is the wrong height will cause a curvature in your spine, which can pinch the nerves that lead to your back and cause you to feel pain there. I got a "side sleeping cervical" pillow off of Amazon and it made a big difference for me. It holds my neck straight with the rest of my spine. Give that a try and see if it helps!
Just because a mattress is new, doesn't mean it is good for your back! I have had this happen to me before. The same brand doesn't mean the same quality either, especially with cheaper/budget mattresses. I ended up needing to upgrade after spending 3 years tossing and turning. My back was getting worse and worse. I invested in a more premium mattress and 90% of the back issues were gone in ONE WEEK. So I would look into that!