Tips for falling asleep on your back? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

woodahs · 01-04-2005, 09:14 PM

Does anyone have any tips on how to sleep on your back as opposed to your stomach or side?

yawningdog · 01-04-2005, 09:50 PM

I had to learn to sleep on my back due to lower back pain. It was really hard for me to get to sleep this way. I could nap straight out like I was dead, but not at night. So here is the things that I tried. I prop up my knees with a pillow. This takes some of the pressure off your back. Try those really foamy, never gets dent type of pillow for below your knees. And make sure that the blankets are not pulling down on your feet. I also had to give up a pillow under my head so that I was totally flat from hip to head. That was really traumatic, I had something like 8 pillows. I would put a pillow along side my face and sorta tip into it. I hope this helps you. It will just take time to get used to the new position. By the way, why do you need to sleep flat?

analog2000 · 01-05-2005, 09:59 AM

Put tennis balls in socks and safety pin the socks to the fronts and sides of your pajamas. That way whenever you roll over in the night you roll on the tennis balls and wake up. I had some success doing this so that I could switch from sleeping on my stomach to my side. Still can't sleep on my back, though.

Gianluca · 01-13-2005, 04:08 PM

normally, when someone can't sleep on their back its because they have trouble breathing, which is caused by having possible sleep apnea. I suppose there is the possibility that one just can't sleep on their back. And there are ways of "MASKING" it so you can sleep on your back. But that doesn't fix any underlying problem (ie. Apnea or other sleep disturbances). I would seek guidance from a sleep physician.

thanks,
Gianluca