Simple Steps For Sleeping with Lower Back Pain
To help you
reclaim your sleep schedule, here is a simple guide to sleeping with lower back
pain:
1.
Sleep on your side to relieve pain
from a pulled back muscle
One of the most common causes of lower back pain is a pulled
back muscle, which occurs when a muscle in your lower back is strained or torn
as a result of being over-stretched. Symptoms from a pulled back muscle
typically resolve within a few days, but the intense pain can make it difficult
to fall asleep at night. Worse yet, the longer you lie in the bed, the more
deconditioned your body gets and the worse your symptoms may become.
No single sleeping position works for every person with a
pulled back muscle but a good place to start is to test sleeping on your side. When
sleeping on your side, try the following:
·
Avoid
a tight curled-up fetal position and instead sleep with your body slightly
elongated.
·
Slip
a slim pillow between your knees to support the natural curvature of your spine
·
Find
a head pillow that holds your head midway between each shoulder. If your pillow
is too think or too thick it can bend your neck at an uncomfortable angle.
2.
Don’t skimp on your mattress
If you scour the internet, you will discover all sorts of
suggestions to extend the life of a sagging mattress. These include methods
like sliding plywood under your mattress and ditching your box spring. While these
tricks work for some, the best approach is usually to replace a worn-out
mattress.
It is important not to neglect your mattress because, for
some people a sagging mattress can exacerbate lower back pain by placing
addition stress and strain on your spinal structures.
When it comes to sleeping with lower back pain, the most
expensive mattress is not always best. Instead, the best mattress for you is
ultimately the one that provides the best night’s sleep. With this is mind,
here are a few tips to help get you started in your mattress search:
·
Your
mattress needs to support the natural curvature of your spine. This means your
spine should look similar when you are lying on your back or side as when you’re
standing with good posture.
·
Visit
your local mattress store and try out various types of mattresses. After 15
minutes on a mattress, you will have a general idea if it is a good fit for
you.
·
If
you sleep with a partner, consider a larger-sized mattress. This will allow you
both room to sleep without startling one another awake at night.
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