I generally sleep on my sides, but I'd simply like to know -- for lower back problems, what is the ideal sleeping position?

From what I've read, either on your side with a pillow between your knees or on your back with your legs elevated.

In bed, I normally sleep on my side with a small travel pillow (they have them at WalMart) between my knees. When my back is really bothering me, I'll go to the sofa and sleep there because I can pile up the sofa cusions to elevate my legs.

Hi WorldTraveler :wave: ,
I am a Side & Stomach sleeper so I had to ask the Doc this question, because sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night & not be able to turn myself over due to the pain.
He said, and I quote" Get all the pillows you can find, including off the sofa and lay on your back in bed when you sleep, pack pillows under your knees to take pressure off your back, put them under your arms and behind your head. With the rest of them, pile all around you, You'll sleep really comfortable even if you've never been able to sleep on your back, and if you try to roll over to your side in the night, you won't be able to, you'll just end up closer to another soft pillow and fall back asleep" He was right, it works great. However I had to get hubby to pack some of the pillows. When I woke up every morning I felt as though I slept on a cloud, I was never cramped or sleep deprived, sore, nothing. I slept great!
I hope this helps,
StarDust

I took a bean bag chair and put it under my knees. It works well and stays in place.

Dan

I sleep in what my son calls my "nest". I have found it easier to sleep on my side (or did til a recent neck injury). I went to Sam's Club and bought a body pillow that I prop along my spine, sleep with a firm pillow between my knees, I have another pillow that I place under my behind (image in a sitting position you would sit on it but you are actually lying down). I hold a firm pillow in my arms to keep my shoulders level so it does not pull across my mid back. I guess it just takes some experimenting to find what works best for everyone, good luck!