Mid back pain, but only when sleeping
This is my first post on the forum. I apologize if the same subject has been addressed before, but after searching I couldn't find anything that addresses this rather specific and strange experience I'm having.
I'm 5'11", 103-104kg, 35 years old. When I started the program I was 34 years old, 92kg. I'm an American living in South Korea, and have consulted one of 2 South Korean SS coaches, Kim Kyoungha, for form checks and a couple of lessons. I don't actually train with him at his gym because it's too far away for me to go regularly. Instead I am training alone at a powerlifting gym near me that has well-calibrated, good equipment.
To start I should be clear that in a sense I am Not Doing The Program because I have not successfully incorporated the Power Clean into my program. Kim Kyoungha taught me the Power Clean but I have had trouble with wrist flexibility and recovering from an elbow injury that has kept me shying away from it. Kim Kyoungha told me that, whether I do the Power Clean or not, once I got my Deadlift up to 125 kg I should not be doing it every workout. Instead he said I should alternate it with Chinups and Back Extensions (if not the Power Clean).
So last week I did Chinups and Back Extensions instead of the Deadlift. During my 72-hour recovery period, I noticed that I had a sharp mid back pain when I woke up in the morning, which I have never experienced before. (I have experienced lumbar strains before, which is one reason I started training, but this is not lumbar, it is some kind of thoracic strain.) In fact the pain is what woke me up. It was accompanied by some abdominal muscle spasms. These spasms seem to be only on the left abs, not on the right, though the back pain is on both sides. The pain increases with thoracic extension. However, after getting up and going about my day the pain slowly subsided and I was able to train, though I was worried I had strained my back. On my training day I skipped the Deadlift because of this worry. I also thought perhaps my recent incorporation of Chinups and Back Extensions could have caused a mid back strain.
The pain has returned each time I sleep, for the past 4 days. During this time I have not trained so I've missed 2 more training days. I regret missing training days but I'm also hoping the rest is helping me recover from this "injury," if it is one.
I should add that I sleep on a mat on the floor, and have been typically sleeping on the floor since 2007 when I was 23 years old. I can sleep okay on a bed as long as it's firm, but the softer it is the more "tight" and uncomfortable my lumbar is. But I've never experienced MIDDLE back pain, and never a pain that ONLY comes when I sleep. After getting up and going about my day the pain subsides until I hardly notice it at all. But after 5 or 6 hours of sleeping it comes back. I am able to sleep again after taking Tylenol.
I should also add that I have not been wearing a belt in my training. I suspect this could be a factor.
I can understand if this is just a minor strain, which may have been caused by newbie form problems with my chinups or back extensions. But can someone advise me on why the pain only comes during sleep? Everything else seems to be fine.
Thanks for reading my long-ish post.