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Post by iamkristinl16 on Feb 11, 2020 16:44:33 GMT
I want to try to switch to sleeping on my back in hopes that it will help with some issues I am having, including hip pain, neck pain, arms falling asleep, jaw pain as well as wrinkles/puffy eyes. But I have slept on my side or stomach for years (particularly my left side, and it shows) and am not sure how well this will work. Last night I tried to fall asleep on my back and I felt like I couldn't fully relax. I have seen different pillows for it but haven't gotten one yet. Are there any tips or tricks that would be helpful? If you have switched, what benefits did you see or feel? Thanks!
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Post by busy on Feb 11, 2020 16:46:02 GMT
Please, someone have a magic trick for this lol
My right shoulder would really really really like me to start sleeping on my back and I just can't do it.
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Post by katlady on Feb 11, 2020 16:54:00 GMT
I’ve seen ads for pillows that help side sleepers. Maybe look at the reviews for those. If I find it, I’ll post a link.
ETA- Google “side sleeper pillows”. There will lots of ads and some comparison reviews. Good luck! I like to sleep side and it bothers one shoulder.
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Post by peano on Feb 11, 2020 17:06:00 GMT
Well, you can try having nerve impingement issues in your R hip and L shoulder. That’s worked like a dream for me I can say I love my memory foam mattress topper because it has reduced some of my aches and pains and since I sink in a bit it helps me feel cradled and not quite so vulnerable.
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Post by walkerdill on Feb 11, 2020 17:09:52 GMT
I switched over to back sleeping due to hip & knee pain. I started off sleeping with a wedge pillow then ended up getting a temperpedic bed. It has been a life saver! It did take me about 2 weeks to fully adjust to back sleeping though.
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,838
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Feb 11, 2020 17:33:22 GMT
I used to be mostly a side sleeper but injuries made me have to switch. What helped was not going to bed until I was really sleepy and starting out on my back. It became pretty easy to switch after about a week.
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Post by littlemama on Feb 11, 2020 17:47:09 GMT
I cant imagine sleeping on my back! Even pregnant, I slept on my stomach until about 6 or 7 months!
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Post by redshoes on Feb 11, 2020 19:05:43 GMT
I don't sleep on my back but if I did, I would probably try to elevate my head just a little and tuck a pillow under my knees so I could have bent knees....when I fall asleep on the couch, this is how I wake up, so it must be comfortable haha!
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Feb 11, 2020 19:10:09 GMT
Wedge pillow. But even those I need a physical reminder while asleep.
Try a pillow tucked right up at your side/s, or roll a towel at your side/s as a sub-conscious reminder.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Feb 11, 2020 20:03:43 GMT
Please, someone have a magic trick for this lol My right shoulder would really really really like me to start sleeping on my back and I just can't do it. Me too!! And it’s my right shoulder too
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hannahruth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,682
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Aug 29, 2014 18:57:20 GMT
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Post by hannahruth on Feb 11, 2020 21:30:04 GMT
A hip replacement!
Following surgery was told to sleep my back for 6 weeks. Ha Ha - me - I had been a side sleeper in a tight foetal position.
No the hip had to be as stable as possible so back sleeping it was. I ended up sleeping with a low pillow under my knees as that reduced the pressure on my lower back and have been sleeping like that since (Sept 2019). Now I don't even think about it and I am sleeping reasonably well.
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Post by janniepea on Feb 11, 2020 21:40:20 GMT
Break your femur!
No, don’t do that but in my case it worked! I can’t imagine sleeping on that side again and for the most part I’m sleeping on my back. Occasionally I’ll turn over on my other side but I’m on my back for the most part.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 11, 2020 21:46:36 GMT
I’m having trouble too. I like sleeping on my right side, or at least being able to switch from left to right, but my right shoulder has something going on where it now makes my thumb numb and tingly when I sleep on that side after even a few minutes. Now the left side of my head is perennially congested because I have to sleep on only that side. It’s driving me nuts.
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Post by lisae on Feb 11, 2020 21:49:08 GMT
I always start out sleeping on my back and try to minimize side sleeping because it aggravates my TMJ though I usually have to turn on my side some to stretch out my back. I use a pillow under my knees. If you have a thinner pillow, maybe one that isn't as fluffy as you would like it to be anymore, that works well.
Perhaps you could fall asleep watching TV for a few nights to get in the habit.
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Post by Patter on Feb 11, 2020 22:37:52 GMT
4 pillows. That was my answer. I had hip pain, nerve issues in my arm, etc., because of sleeping like that. I used a pillow under my head, one tucked on my left side, one tucked on my right side, and one under my knees. Worked like a charm, and now it's the only way I can sleep. I am SO thankful I did it last year before I knew I was going to end up with back surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago because it's been the only way I could sleep now since surgery. And we tried the Tempurpedic to the tune of $4,000, and it was awful for us. We gave it to one of our daughters. She loves it but it was NOT for us.
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Post by cmpeter on Feb 12, 2020 0:56:28 GMT
Angie of got n flashy game has a couple videos talking about how she trained herself to sleep on her back.
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Post by elaine on Feb 12, 2020 4:44:16 GMT
Adjustable base with a zero g setting.
I’ve been a lifelong side sleeper. Never slept on my back ever. Then with the mastectomy and 2 reconstruction surgeries, my plastic surgeon said back sleeping only for 8 weeks after each surgery. My zero g setting saved me. It took a couple of weeks to get used to it, but now it is easier for me to fall asleep on my back than on my side. About half the time I’ll wake sometime later in the night and flatten the mattress and sleep on my side for the rest of the night, but only because I’m cleared for as much side sleeping as I want. But I start out each night on my back using zero g because I fall asleep much more quickly that way.
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ModChick
Drama Llama
True North Strong and Free
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Jun 26, 2014 23:57:06 GMT
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Post by ModChick on Feb 12, 2020 4:55:24 GMT
I use to get crazy nightmares as a kid and night terrors and my grandma said never sleep on your back because that causes nightmares (or go to sleep in an unmade bed lol) so I cannot for the life of me fall asleep on my back. It’s like dangling a leg out over the bed. Heebee jeebees. So if you figure out how to switch I’d love to hear it! I’m a side but mostly stomach sleeper too and have hip issues. Not that that’s been enough to psychologically get over sleeping on my back. My grandma meant well because she truly believe it. (She also taught me to wiggle my toes in my dreams to be able to wake from night terrors 😬 loved my Cree Gran!)
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Post by chlerbie on Feb 12, 2020 5:02:20 GMT
When I had my bout of sciatica, I wasn't able to sleep on my side, so I just worked at getting as relaxed as I could on my back with a pillow under my knees. I adjusted really quickly. I'm back to going to sleep on my side, but I often end up on my back now.
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Post by Patter on Feb 12, 2020 11:07:49 GMT
elaine and chlerbie made me realize that now that I have changed to a back sleeper--I sleep better. It's pretty awesome!
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Post by susancinpa on Feb 12, 2020 13:40:09 GMT
What turned me into a back sleeper is our oldest cat. Back when she was just a kitten (almost 20 years ago), she insisted on sleeping on my stomach. In turn, I needed to learn to sleep on my back (she was very adamant and persistent ). While I still sometimes prefer to be on my side, I often sleep on my back most of the night. It was a long time ago, so I don't remember how long before it felt comfortable and natural.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Feb 12, 2020 13:42:43 GMT
Angie of got n flashy game has a couple videos talking about how she trained herself to sleep on her back. I saw her video but am not convinced that a wedge pillow is that comfortable.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Feb 13, 2020 3:24:31 GMT
I have been a stomach sleeper my whole life! Left side or stomach, even while pregnant,
Neck pain and headache lead me to acupuncture. He told me that stomach sleeping is really bad and told me to change it immediately.
So.... I put a folded over pillow under my knees and a pillow under my head and go to sleep. I wake up soooo relaxed and in the same position most of the time. It’s great! Not to say I don’t sometimes end up back on my stomach or side but must less than I was that’s for sure!
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TXMary
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And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
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Post by TXMary on Feb 13, 2020 3:35:17 GMT
I have always been a side/stomach sleeper until I had breast cancer and had a mastectomy and 3 reconstruction surgeries. I was dreading sleeping on my back. The only way I could was to put pillows all around me where I couldn’t turn over. I eventually got used to it while I was recovering from each surgery but now that I am fully recovered I am back to side/stomach sleeping.
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Post by Patter on Feb 13, 2020 13:49:48 GMT
I have been a stomach sleeper my whole life! Left side or stomach, even while pregnant, Neck pain and headache lead me to acupuncture. He told me that stomach sleeping is really bad and told me to change it immediately. So.... I put a folded over pillow under my knees and a pillow under my head and go to sleep. I wake up soooo relaxed and in the same position most of the time. It’s great! Not to say I don’t sometimes end up back on my stomach or side but must less than I was that’s for sure!That's what I do then with the additional pillows at my side too. I love it. I could never use a wedge pillow though. I like to adjust my own pillow the way I like it under my knees. Wedge pillows and too firm and can't be molded as I like.
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Post by camanddanismom on Feb 14, 2020 3:47:42 GMT
I have 2 ideas. I made this same decision to start sleeping on my back in December when I asked for a weighted blanket for Christmas. It did a great job of keeping me on my back. The problem was my feet. I didn’t like the weight on my feet, especially when my cat would lay across my ankles!
I will likely still use the blanket it the summer when I can stick my feet out.
My second idea also seems to be working well. I bought a memory foam thigh pillow. It keeps me from crossing my ankles and seems to keep my from rolling to my side.
Hope this helps.
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stittsygirl
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Post by stittsygirl on Feb 14, 2020 4:22:00 GMT
Adjustable base with a zero g setting. This is what I had to do too. I have a Sleep Number mattress with an adjustable base, though I keep my feet and head slightly more elevated than the Zero G setting. It keeps me on my back all night. I’ve been meaning to get a wedge for travel purposes and see if that will work as well.
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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Feb 14, 2020 4:31:27 GMT
A "dog bone" pillow or a u-shaped pillow helps keep me on my back. It helps me tremendously. My hand or arm will go to sleep if I sleep on my side now. Fortunately, I've NEVER been able to sleep on my stomach so I didn't have to transition from that.
It is still just more comforting for me to sleep on my side but I can't for very long.
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Post by theroadlesstraveledp on Feb 14, 2020 20:56:12 GMT
I bought a contour memory foam pillow that helps me sleep better and elevates my head. I mainly sleep on my back. I tend to do better that way. This may not work for everyone, but it’s something to look at.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Feb 14, 2020 21:09:26 GMT
Well, I have been trying to sleep on my back for three days now with no luck. I need to either get a new pillow or put another one under my current pillow.
For those that use a wedge pillow, do you also use another pillow with it? They just look so hard and not comfy at all.
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