Heres the Sleeping Position Thats Right for You Based on Your Aches and Pains – Well+Good

If youre clocking the recommended 7 to 8 hours of shut-eye per night, that adds up to around 50 hours per week of your life spent snoozingand thats a pretty significant amount of time for your body to spend in any position. While theres no one right sleeping position for everyone, if you have chronic pain, it is possible that youre sleeping in the wrong way, so to speak, and worsening the discomfort youre feeling during the daytime. To that end, the best sleeping positions for different types of pain typically revolve around aligning your body in a way that removes undue pressure from any associated nerves and joints, says rheumatologist and internist Jonathan M. Greer, MD.

Sleeping on the stomach is a big culprit when it comes to exacerbating neck and back pain, as it causes an unnatural extension of the spine. Jonathan M. Greer, MD

To start, Dr. Greers top recommendation across the board for anyone who suffers from any kind of back or neck pain is to remove stomach-sleeping from the equation. Sleeping on the stomach is a big culprit when it comes to exacerbating neck and back pain, he says, as it causes an unnatural extension of the spine. Not to mention, it can trigger numbness or tingling in the arms due to nerve compression, says physical-medicine and rehabilitation doctor Jaspal R. Singh, MD.

But before we get into the back and side sleeping positions that work best for different pain scenarios, a quick word about what exactly youre sleeping on, as that plays a big role in sleep comfort, too: You can let go of the common refrain about an ultra-firm mattress being best for those with back pain. In actuality, I recommend a medium-soft mattress for anyone with back pain, and for those who already have a hard mattress, adding a pillow top or egg-crate mattress topper to remove some of the pressure points that can happen otherwise, says Dr. Greer. Just be sure you dont go too soft, as you dont want to be sinking deep into the mattress either, adds Dr. Singh.

A similar goldilocks situation applies to your pillow (or multiple pillows), which can also affect your overall sleeping positionand whether it works with or against your body. This is particularly important when it comes to upper-back and neck pain, says Dr. Greer: A neck pillow or contour pillow that conforms to the shape of the neck helps extend the neck and prevent it from slipping into a compressed position while you sleep.

In both cases, however, its important to let comfort be your guide, according to Dr. Greer: I always say, if youre doing any kind of exercise or activity that creates or worsens some kind of pain, its a signal that you need to adjust," he says, "and that applies to your mattress, pillow, and sleeping position, as well.

And while were at it, dont forget about your daytime posture and alignment, too, adds Dr. Singh, which can, of course, trigger or exacerbate spine pain in just the same way that a bad sleeping position can. Its essential to maintain a good, ergonomic workstation and a highly mobile lifestyle, frequently changing positions, rather than sitting in one spot all day, in order to bring blood flow and nutrients to the spine, he says.

Lying flat on your back with your legs outstretched can cause unnatural extension of the spine leading to pain, says Dr. Greer. Instead, both he and Dr. Singh suggest lying on your side with your legs bent (toward your stomach, in the direction of a fetal position) with a pillow sandwiched between your knees. Supporting and aligning the hips in this way will take pressure off your spine, says Dr. Singh.

If, however, you strongly prefer to lie on your back, you can do so in a more spine-supportive way by propping a pillow beneath your lower legs (as noted for anyone with hip pain below). Another option: Consider an adjustable bed that bends upward a bit, so that youre not lying fully flat, but instead, a bit more upright. "Elevating the head above the feet, similar to how you would in a recliner, can remove some pressure from the lower part of the back, and help with snoring, too," says Dr. Singh.

As a precautionary note, if your back pain is regularly keeping you awake or persists longer than three weeks, its worth getting it evaluated by a medical professional, says Dr. Greer. And the same goes if youre experiencing recurring numbness or tingling radiating down a leg, which could be a sign of a pinched nerve.

Because lying on your side may worsen hip pain, its best to try sleeping on your back with your legs slightly propped up by way of a pillow placed under the knees. The bony prominence that sticks out of the hip called the greater trochanter has a sack of fluid on top called a bursa, says Dr. Greer, which can often get aggravated when you lie on one side all night, especially if youre on a hard mattressand that can cause inflammation called bursitis. Choosing a back-sleeping position can help you avoid that.

You can choose either your back or your sideits a matter of personal preference and comfort, in this casebut be sure to select your pillow carefully, as noted above. A pillow made specifically to conform to the necks natural shape will be your best bet. You dont want to go with multiple pillows under the neck or no pillow at all, as either option can cause unnatural extension, says Dr. Singh.

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Heres the Sleeping Position Thats Right for You Based on Your Aches and Pains - Well+Good