How to Relieve Lower Back Pain While Sleeping – Using Pillows
Many people in Plano, TX, ask an important question: How to relieve lower back pain while sleeping? What can you do for severe back pain? How can I relieve back pain at home? Some of the common ways to relieve back pain at home are regular exercise, anti-inflammatory diet consumption, posture maintenance, heat-and-ice therapy, quit smoking, and proper sleep.
Sleep plays a crucial role in your physical and mental health. It repairs your blood vessels, rests your spinal muscles, and reduces the risk of diabetes, stroke, hypertension, kidney diseases, and cardiovascular conditions. The question is how to relieve lower back pain while sleeping using pillows? In today’s article, we will answer this question. Read on!
Research shows that lumbar spine pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Some studies show that awkward sleeping positions, bad posture, and poor lifestyle can cause back pain.
It means medical conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer are not the only causes of lumbar spine pain. Let us now discuss the best sleeping positions to reduce lower back pain. Remember, you need a soft pillow for the following sleep positions.
Sleep on your Stomach
Although lying on your stomach or belly is not an effective sleeping position, research shows that you can sleep adequately and relieve back pain when you place a soft pillow under your abdomen. However, this position can put stress on your neck, meaning you need to position the pillow accurately.
People who find it difficult to fall asleep on their back can sleep in this position to relieve back pain. If you have a degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc, sleeping on your front with a soft pillow under your abdomen is an excellent way to reduce discomfort.
Besides, placing a slender pillow underneath your belly can help improve your spinal alignment. Make sure you rest your head on a soft pillow. However, if you find it uncomfortable, you can avoid using a pillow for your head.
Sleep on Your Side
How can I relieve back pain at home with this sleeping position? Sleeping on your side with a soft or slender pillow between your legs is an effective way to reduce discomfort and pain. However, research shows that sleeping on your side without a pillow between legs can lead to spinal misalignment and cause straining in your lumbar spine.
Besides, you can also place a firm pillow between your knees to elevate your legs, leading to the natural alignment of the spine, pelvis, and hips. Make sure you place a pillow in a proper position to support your head and neck. You can place another small pillow for extra support if there is a gap between the mattress and your waist.
Sleep on Your Back
A growing body of research evidence shows that sleep plays a vital role in relieving back pain. However, too much sleep can worsen the problem. If you can’t sleep on your stomach or side, you can consider sleeping on your back with a pillow under your hips or knees.
Sleeping in this position allows you to distribute your bodyweight evenly. The purpose is to relax your spine and enjoy a good night’s sleep. Not only does sleeping on your back lessens pressure points, but it also improves your head, neck, and spinal alignment.
Ensure you place a soft pillow under your knees for additional support, leading to improved and maintained spinal curves. If there are any other gaps between your body and mattress, you can use another pillow. For instance, place a slender pillow beneath your lumbar spine for extra support.
How can I relieve back pain at home?
Studies highlight that too much sleep is detrimental for people with lower back pain. Therefore, you must focus on other healthy activities, such as a healthy diet, exercise, stretching or yoga poses, and stress reduction activities that include meditation and deep breathing.
What can you do for severe back pain? If you have severe back pain, you can use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as NSAIDs, to reduce pain. Common NSAIDs are naproxen and ibuprofen. These medications block the production of prostaglandins to reduce inflammation and pain in your lumbar spine.
Contact MINT Today!
MINT is a reputable minimally invasive surgery clinic in Plano, TX, with licensed, qualified, and experienced neurosurgeons. When your homemade treatment options and conservative medications fail to relieve your lumbar spine pain, you may need surgery to fix the problem. How to relieve back pain while sleeping? Contact MINT today for more information on home remedies and surgical options.
