Do you have links to where I can purchase either or both of those wedges? Purchasing them from Amazon is a crap shoot because sellers shrink wrap them to ship and then they never really regain their complete shape. Maybe you can provide the name of a store where I can find them. Thanks
Watch sleeping on the side I dislocated my shoulder years ago from it. I try to sleep on my back but I hate it and to afraid to sleep on my shoulders any more.
If you ever stop to thing about the amount of pain and suffering you have alleviated around this world, you (Bob, Brad, and Mike) have done SO MUCH to help people. THANK YOU!
I like to sleep on my side, however, I often wake up with a ' dead hand ', from lying on it and stopping the circulation. Any advice gratefully received.
I change positions all night. But sleeping on my side causes numbness and tingling in the hands, especially on my right side. Can you do a video on what to do for side sleepers to avoid the numbness/tingling?
I’m on the sunny side of 80 and I’ve been sleeping on my back with a pillow under my legs for years. When I feel like changing positions, I use my legs to “pull” the pillow up between my legs to support my hips while sleeping on my side. Easy peasy and very comfortable. I have done very strenuous work with livestock up until about three years ago. Now I’m up on ladders, painting walls, doing weed eating with a fairly heavy weed wacker. All sorts of heavy work. I’m not huge, 5’1”, female, 6 kids, NO back problems. Simple techniques to safeguard your back and get a good nights sleep work wonders. Listen to these guys, they’re the best.
I experience much improved sleep on my back, since I moved my Tempur travel mattress onto the floor during Covid. My back is much stronger. Core is better aligned. Less sciatica. No more hip twinges and getting up & down from the floor has made my legs muscles like steel. I will never go back to side-sleeping.
Coming from a family of reflux and GERD, we have blocks of wood 4 inch to 6 inch tall to elevate the head of the bed. The beds are sturdy and the matress doesn't arch the back like the wedge can. We mainly keep the wedges for travel.
I had my gall bladder removed 6 years ago and now have diverticulitis . Gas builds up and sometimes a severe attack happens . I take Tums or Pepto to help break up the gas . I change sleep positions many times but it helps to lay flat on my back , legs straight out and head slightly elevated on a firm pillow which helps move the gas out the back door. I still have some neck pain in the morning as I have some arthritis in the neck . So I have to use a combo of your advise . I'm 81 , very active , eat well , 5ft.7 inches and 140 lbs.Thanks for all the advice, time for the sand man . Cheers !
I've been sleeping in a recliner for years now. It's great for your back, because it actually let's your back relax, something a bed doesn't usually do. Also, laying to flat can make it harder for you to breathe, and cause sleep apnea, especially if your overweight, you have to push up that weight sitting on your chest every time you breathe. If you sleep on your back, put your back in a upward angle. 20 to 30 degrees, wedge pillow would be great. This will remove the tension in your chest, making it easier to breathe. This also can add a bit of support for your back, allowing it to relax. Sleeping in a recliner, I recommend a neck travel pillow to support your neck, you don't want to be laying your head on your shoulder, this can cause a stiff neck, because you're putting tension on your muscles all night. I actually stack 2 neck pillows on top of each other, to help prevent my head from bending to far, it really does help. I use to have incredible back pain from sleeping in bed, but after sleeping in a recliner away from home for a couple days straight, I got up, and felt like I had a new back. It was incredible, no pain! After that I've been sleeping in a recliner ever since. Back pain hasn't been a problem, unless I stress my back too much doing something, but usually laying in the recliner for a little while straights me out again, and my back feels fine again. You have to find a recliner that fully supports your back, or your aren't going to be able to sleep in it that well. I'm using a Theater recliner. They are usually the best you can get, at least from my experience.
I will have to try it because I can't sleep on my stomach, side or back because they all cause my back to really hurt bad, I have sleep apnea too. Thanks.
@@aprilstephens5425 The problem with most beds is they don't really support your back, so your back is basically tense all night. You know how your neck starts to hurt if you sit at a desk too long. It's like your holding your arms out straight and eventually it starts to hurt and you have to lower your arms. Well, that's what your back is really doing all night. A recliner, or a bed that can bend similar to a recliner can actually let your back relax, so when you go to get up, your back is refreshed, and ready to work, instead of yelling at you, saying what the hell do you want NOW! ;) Also, sleeping with your chest at a angle, takes stress off your chest, and makes it easier for you to breathe, and if your overweight, losing some of that weight will help as well. I've lost 135 pounds, but before I did that, sleeping was tough, because I would stop breathing, and wake up, over and over again all night. I was lucky to get 3 hours of sleep. I don't have that problem anymore luckily, but I still need to sleep with my chest at a angle. Once your really understand what your back needs, you'll be in good shape. The way I see it is, if you lay on your back properly, that the recliner sort of puts your disks back in place, so over time, you back gets better and better. It may never be perfect again, but it gets pretty close. My back use to lock up, and I couldn't move, but not since I slept a couple of nights in a recliner, and woke up feeling like I had a new back. :) My back hasn't locked up since. So find a good recliner that fully supports your back, or find a good bed that bends into shape for you, and actually allows your back to relax, and it may just change your life. :) Here's hoping for good fortune in that regard.
I sleep on my back with my legs elevated at night to help reduce edema from building up and swelling in my feet and ankles, sometimes the calves up to the knee. When I wake up, my feet and ankles look normal. Thanks Gravity! That wedged pillow for the legs looks great.
I've been a back sleeper for as long as I can remember (I'm 72). A couple times a year I would turn to one side or the other for variety, but my hips would start aching and my knees were uncomfortable. My late husband used to tell me that I snore terribly, and sometimes would stop breathing and then gasp for air (I sleep soundly and was not aware). My personal solution (especially now that I'm a widow): I sleep in a "U" configuration! My head and torso elevated on a 12" wedge on a soft pillow (vertically placed pillow since the wedge is too firm by itself); my legs elevated on another wedge with a soft vertical pillow on top to eliminate frequent daily edema and poor leg circulation; in between those wedges I have a soft pillow for my butt. I sleep soundly and always on my back this way because it's so comfortable.
@@fiendishthingy1630I’m 74 and also a back sleeper. I love sleeping on my back, and feel fine waking up in the morning. However, snoring, stopping breathing and gasping for air are classic symptoms of sleep apnea. You may want to check with a doctor because untreated sleep apnea can be devastating to one’s health. Best wishes.
Not if you have lower back degeneration! If I sleep / lay flat on my back - in 10 minutes - my lower back is killing me!! My back doc said (and I found he is right!) - I need to sleep on my back with my knees up (leg pillow) and my back up (wedge pillow).
@@i_love_rescue_animals I always wondered why massage therapists have the under the knee pillow. I always have them move it. Flat is better for me. But I'm very healthy back wise. My neck has issues.
For those of us with asthma back sleeping with some head elevation seems to help breathing using a wedge. Flat or side sleeping makes breathing difficult; head elevation seems to help.
Thank you for your videos. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia and have had numerous joint replacements and painful, swollen joints (name the joint and it probably hurts me). I also have GERD so begin the night on my back with a wedge pillow and a few other pillows. As I get more and more tired I turn on my right side. I can only fall asleep if I'm on my right side. Regardless, I always wake up due to pain after a few hours and start the process all over again. I wish I could get a good night's sleep. I'm always tired.
In most cases left side sleeping is better for reducing GERD than sleeping on the right side due to the way the digestive system is arranged in the body. Sleep apnea is a big reason why many people have GERD so it's worth getting checked out. My GERD completely disappeared once I got my apnea under control (using an APAP machine). Apnea can also cause a host of other problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, memory issues and strokes, so please don't ignore it! CPAP machines are quiet little things these days, not the big noisy monsters they used to be so don't worry, you won't sound like Darth Vador if you need one 🤣
I used a cpap one night and returned it. My mouth dropped open and the air came rushing out and scared me and my cat. The next time I tried it I was suffocating. Not for me!! Still looking for an answer that's comfortable. 😮😮
@@Savannah-ed4rv a chin strap, a full face mask or mouth taping can help with the open mouth thing. The suffocating feeling is almost always down to wrong pressure settings. Your sleep doctor/technician should be able to solve that problem. You can also learn to keep your mouth closed when you sleep, it doesn't sound possible but it can be done. For me, when I weighed up the dangers of untreated sleep apnea, I decided that I would persevere with the treatment no matter what. A few months later and I sleep better than ever.
With sleep apnea, sleeping on a wedge on my back with my CPAP is the best for my breathing and getting a good night’s sleep. Sleeping on my side always ends up breaking my mask seal and leads to breathing struggles at night.
Since being diagnosed with scoliosis and stenosis and pinched arm nerves I have been sleeping on my back, I’m still in pain all night but back sleeping is the most comfortable for me
I used to sleep exclusively on my back. I got older as we all do and started sleeping on my side. The only problem with that as I end up with shoulder pain periodically or at least my arm falling asleep.
I found that sleeping on my back with a single feather pillow and another one behind it at the bed head, curled around the top of my head slightly, was extremely good for getting to sleep comfortably …. although I mostly sleep on my side nowadays!.
@@Mandellhouse Love the feather pillow idea but can't use them for all night. @houndmother2398 Also wonder if it is on both sides or only one? One side seems to be my best but when my arm or shoulder start acting up I switch sides until that side starts in. It is exhausting getting a good night sleep!!
Over 70 adds a whole new dimention to finding sleeping comfort. Never was a back sleeper but right side works for me. Also use two shredded foam pillows to form a V so my head is elevated taking pressure off my shoulder. This also helps me from turning over. Have a Happy New Year Bob and Brad and your family and staff ❤❤
These two guys have helped me improve my sleeping habits a lot. I never heard of a leg or back wedge [ I purchased both and they work great} before discovering their videos. Their other recommendations are super helpful also. Keep it up guys!
I've loved your channel since before the pandemic. I receive help from every clip I watch. So, thank you, Bob and Brad. I pray for Bob's recovery to full health & a miraculous return to the channel. However, I think the young fellow, Mike, has really been keeping the ship afloat for a long time, now. He's clear, has great ideas & you couldn't ask for a better third partner. I hope his hard work and value to the channel will be reflected in the name, sometime. Bob & Brad & Mike has a great ring, and it also seems only right to give Mike proper credit. Thanks again, best to dear Bob & be well. ☺
Hi. How's Bob doing. Pls convey my best wishes to him. Bob and Brad, I have benefited immensely from your videos. Still continuing to benefit as when any help I require. First video with Mike. Hi Mike. Welcome and Thank you. Once again Thank you Brad. Thank you Bob
I’m 52 and have painful arthritis in my hips and the only position I can sleep,in comfortably is on my back with a relatively low-profile pillow. But these tips are worth keeping in mind as I get older.
At over 70, I slept on my side all my life until four months ago. A broken femur forced me to sleep on my back. Never in my wildest dreams would I have chosen this sleep position willingly, but surprised to find it quite comfortable. And as you point out, I use a low enough pillow height.
Recliners are wonderful to sleep on. I had recent open heart surgery, 2 broken arms & long time gerd plus a touch of sleep apnea. If you cannot afford a bed that you can elevate, a recliner has always given me my best sleep. I can sleep 11 hours uninterrupted in a recliner that is in the halfway back position.
Thank you for this! I've been trying for ages to sleep on my back, because I believed it was better for me. Now I can finally give in to being a side sleeper. Yay! Also, noticed that I have sleep apnoea when I sleep on my back (sometimes), so happy to give that up.
Thanks Bob and Brad! Knew all this mostly, but the wedge pillows are a game changer. There are specific exercises for spinal stenosis on UA-cam also. I keep it under control with these. Wasn’t even diagnosed with it til 69. Also a BIG proponent of controlled, 2x/week spinal decompression treatments at the CHIRO…..
I have severe arthritis that lead to both knees and both hips being replaced, I also took a fall in a store, thanks to a wrinkled mat at the door, that resulted in a broken femur that was fixed with a rod. I miss side sleeping, but now the hands and arms are getting bad arthritis. Sleeping on my back is the only way I can sleep at all. I do have a bed and a recliner that elevates legs and/or upper body as needed.
I prefer side sleeping but when awake am naturally on my back again; it's also easier to breathe when congested when on my back. Will explore leg and head wedges as suggested -- thanks guys!
Thanks! I’m in the age group that this video is directed at. I have been finding side-sleeping to be best for me. I keep my knees together and pulled up (~fetal) and avid having my chest at 90° to the bed - I lean forward so the front of my chest is 80° or so to the bed and my back is 100° or so to the bed (or vice versa). I adjust my pillow so my head rests without drooping or being raised up. 👍🏻
I was a stomach and side sleeper all my life until I had a disc and stenosis problem.At that point, I could only sleep on my back - sometimes with an ice pack, sometimes on my soft sofa instead of in bed. It was very hard to get used to sleeping on my back, but I did, which helped me through a different health issue that sowed up just as my back was getting better. I did experiment with pillows ... I always use a very flat head pillow, so was good there. Now, 2 years later, I can sleep in my old stomach-side position. Feels very good!
Id like to add that to help more with posture you can put a small towel roll under elbows when lying on your back to tilt the humeral head/ shoulder area back towards the bed for a section of the night
I had a left tibial plateau fracture, and I used to be a left side-lying person, but that gets uncomfortable with the plate in my leg. I also have spinal stenosis. My favorite place now is in a fairly firm recliner with separate back and leg adjustments, and even with that, I get 1/2 of the way on my left side. I use a C-shaped travel pillow, but I use it on the side or front of my neck instead of in back. That keeps my head from falling sideways, and it will also go under my chin and keep my mouth closed.😂
Back sleeping with legs raised and nearly featherless pillow, so my neck remains in line with spine, is the best for me. Left shoulder damaged in accident, so cannot sleep on left side, right side is OK if I have a pillow between my legs.
When I sleep on my side it feels like my lower arm is pinching off my blood flow and I can feel my heart beat and wonder if my blood pressure is getting elevated. I usually sleep on my stomach but then I have to turm my head to one side or the other. I have to move around some to find a position where I don't have any neck pain. I don't sleep very well, usually 4-5 hours a night, but I am relaxed while laying in bed. Once I wake up (usually to pee) it's hard to fall back to sleep. If I do sleep on my back I son't use any pillow and use a washcloth to cover my eyes. I can relax this way but I can't fall asleep. It's sort of like meditation. Last night was really bad, I did not sleep even a single minute. I'm assuming I will sleep better tonight because of that.
Back sleeping helps me avoid gerd and facilitates my breathing. I do get my shoulders onto the pillow and use a knee pillow. I end up rolling to the sides because these newer mattresses made of foam act as insulators and my back gets too hot. Then I use a third pillow to stick under my head to level it out.
I started sleeping in a recliner just before I had rotator cuff surgery. The first morning I got up with NO LOW BACK PAIN. Now, any time I even try to sleep on a bed, within minutes, I am seized up with back spasms. So I continue years later sleeping in a recliner. Also, I have GERD and I the last 4 years of using a recliner, I have only had 2 episodes.
I slept on a recliner chair for many years due to the pain from Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Eventually I bought an adjustable bed. I love it!
I was going to suggest a proper Hospital Bed myself, but Deborah beat me to it. So, I'll just comment to bump the Al Gore Rhythm, as more people need to see this.
A couple of years ago, I started using nasal strips to keep my nasal passages open while I sleep. They have been a godsend! It has helped my sinuses, snoring, and dry throat that I used to deal with. I just turned 50. I start out on my back every night and then move to my side. This video gives me some things to watch for. Thanks!
I suffer with GERD and using two pillows one horizontally and the other vertically to raise my head and chest resolve the issue. If sleeping on my side, either side, I have bolted upright when the acid is breathed into my lungs, which is painful and takes hours to resolve. As far as back pain, again on my back I use a pillow on its end to raise my knees to resolve the pain whilst sleeping with a heating pad on my lower back. I do at times sleep on my side, but only my right side because the pain is on my left side. I also used TENS for my knee and hip pain. I have to get up several times during the night for bathroom relief. LOVE YOUR INFORMATIVE VIDEOS! GOD BLESS!! Do another video with that pharmacist about gabapentin and other pain meds PLEASE.
Sleeping on the Right* side will put pressure on the valve at the esophagus and if you're vulnerable to GERD, this will make it happen - if you sleep on the left this is not an issue. *unless you are one of the few people with the organs mirrored...
I am 53 have sleep apnea, use a CPAP, acid reflux, hip arthritis, lower back arthritis and very bad arthritis in both knees. I used to be a side sleeper for most of my life, had a lot of back, hip, knee, shoulder pain and numbness in my arms. About 2 years ago I got a memory foam mattress which helped, started sleeping on my back, then got a wedge pillow for my upper body with a pillow under my shoulders and neck. I also use pillows under my legs putting me in a recumbent position. I feel significantly less pain and stiffness in the morning. This has improved my comfort and overall sleep tremendously and my reflux is almost nonexistent. Now I am trying to find a blow up wedge pillow for traveling.
Thanks for all the great content guys! I was choking in my sleep about 2-3 times per week. I literally thought I was going to die. I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux. Doctor wanted to give me prescription. I researched it on You Tube and found that I could use the wedge like you showed. My problem was fixed immediately with no drugs. I sleep on my side and was getting hip pain because the curvature of my body put extra pressure on that point. I solved that with a full length wedge that goes under the mattress. No pressure points, hip pain went away after a couple weeks.
About 6 months ago I started sleeping in a hammock. The elevation of the legs really helps my varicose veins. I had varicose ulcers which are now closed. I don't have back issues but I have heard hammocks are good for backs and it's the same position you are describing with better support.
I get terrible back pain if I sleep flat on my back. I'd like to sleep on my stomach once in a while as I did in my younger years, but then my neck hurts badly. I don't know if it's because of my head being turned or if it's my pillow. I give up on finding the perfect pillow. I bought an adjustable bed frame and now sleep on my back with my head and feet raised. It really helps my back but not my neck. Those frames are not made for short people. Where it bends is not where I bend comfortably. 😞
So I drop off on my side but end up on my back how do I prevent that as I move about, and suffer from acid reflux but can’t sleep on my left side (which is better) as my nostrils close up and have to mouth breathe
My lower back is messed up every morning I get up. I can barely bend or really anything else , and have to sit with a heating pad on my lower back for 30 minutes, then I’m good to go. Anyone have any ideas as to why my lower back is painful like this? I’m a side sleeper and back sleeper. My mattress is fairly firm and I have a 2 inch memory foam topper on top of that, which doesn’t seem to be helping. I am 60 years old and in good health.
I'm over 80 and in good health and have had lower back pain (sciatica) for over 3 decades. My solution? Ignore the pain, get moving, and be thankful that I'm not in a pine box six feet under. And get rid of that soft foam, which is likely a contributor to your lower back pain. And don't sleep on your back if you can avoid it. Try this. If you have a carpeted floor, throw some blankets down (no foam) and sleep on the floor a few nights and see if the firmer surface helps your back. It definitely helps mine. And work up to walking 30 to 60 minutes a day. Walking seems to move all those vertebra around and get the lubrication between them working better. When you sleep on your back on a softer surface, the middle part of your backbone tends to sink downward into the foam and put pressure on the wrong side of the vertebra. This can cause shifting and thinning of the gelatinous substance, called the nucleus pulposus, in the intervertebral disks that provide cushioning between the vertebra. I find that bending my back backwards for a few minutes in the morning generally reduces or eliminates the pain.
Here are a couple videos you can check out! ua-cam.com/video/pqM3hCLIpIQ/v-deo.htmlsi=Z_f2u4NroNNq2bzS ua-cam.com/video/WQHIBf-C-2w/v-deo.htmlsi=FISTvuJWTBANzXv3
Due to scoliosis and other back issues, I couldn't sleep flat on my back. Not without paying the price the next morning. I've had either an adjustable or hospital bed since 1998 and have been sleeping exclusively on my back since then. Before that, I had to prop up with pillows, but they don't stay in place. Once I got an adjustable bed, my sleep problems were over.
I have always been a side sleeper but I’m trying to reduce facial wrinkles so I’ve been sleeping on my back for the last month. Now I don’t know in which position to sleep based on this video. 🙁
Bev, yes -- side sleeping is bad for your face! I was sleeping on my left side and noticed the left side of my face was way more wrinkled than the right. So I put a folded pillow under my knees. I'm old, tho!!
Try the Origins line of anti-aging serum, you will look 5 years younger in 2 weeks! Women were constantly telling me I wasn't old enough to retire, when I was 60!!
There's a pillow called Sleep & Glow pillow. It's an anti aging pillow with a cut out so your face doesn't get smooshed while side sleeping. It's also supposed to be helpful for for aligning the cervical spine. I haven't bought it yet because it's expensive, but I've been in a lot pain with my neck and I definitely don't want to cause wrinkles, so I'm considering getting one. Amazon has some dupes which are cheaper so I may look into that as well.
i've been sleeping on my back for a few years now. i use a half-moon pillow under my knees and no pillow under my head. i use to use a small round pillow under my neck but i believe it aggravated my shoulder. side sleeping hurts my shoulders.
Well, do to circulation issues in my legs, can only sleep on back. Have done so for many years. No issues. Now adjustable bed I can rause / lower feet and / or head.
I'm 68 and and snore with sleep apnea. I used to have GIRD as well. I don't have any low back issues, but I do have an issue with pain in my greater trocanter region, maybe from a tight piriformis muscle? At any rate, I sleep in a gravity chair (an outdoor, super duper lawn chair that mimics a recliner) with just an inflatable travel neck pillow behind my neck, and I sleep wonderfully. I think I might add a pillow under my knees, at some point, just to see if it's even better.
Wow! My wife (57yrs) has been a flat back sleeper her whole life (one pillow). She just had spinal decompression surgery from stenosis on C3 she now has fusion plates from C1 to C7. She has been sleeping on her back with two pillows which seems to be the only comfortable position for her...Trust me we tried everything. We have a wedge but not the leg wedge so I'll order one ASAP. It's amazing no doctor has mentioned this to us.
I provided meals for an old fellow that lived to be 101 years old. He slept sitting up in his chair for the final two decades of his life maybe even longer. I could never understand how he could do that but he would not sleep in a bed.
My mother does the same thing. For her it's because she can get out of a chair more easily than a bed when she goes to the bathroom several times a night.
I lost a dear friend who was almost 90 years old, and yes, it was a surprise. I thought he'd live to be 100. He slept in a chair. I stopped by and never went into his apartment, as I knew he was a hoarder. He loved when I came by and picked him up in my Porsche and loved hauling ass down Sunset Strip. One day he called me to drive him to doctor appointment. He never returned home.
Stomach sleeper all my life. I can not fall asleep on my back at all. I can doze off on my side, but I will never fall into that deep restorative sleep. I have to sleep on my stomach. I wish my bed had one of those massage table head cradles so I could sleep without having my neck turned to the side.
For some of those with sleep apnea, sleeping on your back is pretty much the only way to make sure that a cpap mask will stay in place all night. If you roll onto your side, it can easily move the mask. Air will then leak from it and wake you up. If you tighten the mask headgear too much, you’ll feel like you slept with your head in a vice all night and it’s painful. Sometimes, sleeping on your back with your head elevated is the only way to get some semblance of sleep while attached to a cumbersome, annoying hose!
@@janeflip1 No exaggeration; I have tried just about every style of mask/headgear out there. Wearing any and all can’t compare to the great sleep that I get when I fall asleep on a recliner without cpap equipment on and I am unencumbered!
I used a cpap one night and took it back. Not for me especially since I've had sleep issues all my life 😢 Looking for alternatives constantly with no success.
@@Savannah-ed4rv just saw a video on congestive heart failure possibly due to sleep apnea. It’s no joke. Keep going back to try to resolve issues with cpap. My uncle did it and found one that works
Very informative. I have always been a side sleeper but I have found over the past year or so that if I sleep on my right side which I have always favoured up until now that my ribs hurtsand the pain can last all day if I have slept on that side for too long. It feels like the cartilage of the 8th rib close to where it attaches to the sternum and when I push on that area it is quite painful, it is really quite weird. I do not remember having any damage done to my ribs and wonder if being pregnant in the past might have caused something that has gone unnoticed until my late 50s.
I had a mattress that lost its supportiveness over time, and I started getting rib pain because my torso was sinking into the mattress too much. While saving up to replace the mattress, I cut a piece of foam to place under my ribcage when sleeping. It did the trick! My new mattress is much firmer and I have never had that pain come back. Your problem might be totally different, but just wanted to share in case this helps you or someone else!
@@calico_mojo I did get a new, firmer mattress last year and it did help a lot. As I am on my own I can make use of most of the mattress and not sleep in just one spot as well a turn it twice a year. I am wondering if it is because I used to sleep almost in the recovery position, so slightly towards my stomach rather than on my side. I am at a complete loss and am glad I am not the only one to have had this problem.
Hmmm, sleeping on the back is best for me, definitely helps my sinuses! I think it's good you share this info with us but so often the studies just do not have big enough populations of people to justify the recommendations broadly
Thank you so much Bob and Brad for this informative video. I am over 50 and a female and I am a side sleeper. Recently I’ve been having neck pain from sleeping the wrong way. Can you do a video on side sleepers
I had back surgery at age 31…since then (now 65) I STILL sleep only on my back with small roll under my knees. Once I got a sleep number it made it more comfortable to raise the head 30 degrees and using a pillow with the middle flattened out for neck support. Another reason to sleep on your back is you don’t create those deep facial creases/wrinkles. 😉
If you have an adjustable bed frame, I've been hearing that the zero-gravity position is best for back sleepers with both the head and feet elevated to relieve pressure around the back and hips. I just got an adjustable base for the first time (age 52) with a new mattress so I'm going to see how well it works. I understand with a new mattress though, you want to break it in a little in a flat position first before going to zero gravity, so I'll wait about a week for that.
All GREAT information as usual. I am a back sleeper with back pain so I will try a side position to help. Thanks 4 sharing and Happy Holidays! Cheers ! 😎😎
i sleep on my back 90% the rest on my left side but back is the best. i use a 2 inch high pillow shortest i could find. used to sleep with no pillow but had some issues. taller pillows give me neck pain. also need my legs flat or i get serious leg pain.
Another option is to elevate the head of the bed by putting something under the bed posts at the head of the bed. The entire body is straight line, with the head up, and gravity can do it's thing. Especially helpful with the digestive system, no matter what your sleep position is. I have been doing this for years. Elevate gradually over time, if needed.
I sleep on my back because it's best for my hips. I have an adjustable bed so my upper body and my legs are lifted comfortably. I do like to sleep on my side but after a short while the leg, and knee, on top become uncomfortable, even with a pillow between my knees. I had gone to a spine health seminar put on by AARP and they said that stomach sleeping is the worst for the spine because it puts it causes an improper alignment and can harm the discs.
Difficult NOT to sleep on my back with my CPAP mask, as I sleep with my mouth open. I can't sleep on my side because I have old shoulder reconstruction and hip replacement with bilaterally torn hamstrings.
I *can't* open my mouth when I'm using my CPAP. If I try, the pressure differential forces air out of my mouth and makes it hard to inhale. But then, I only have a nose mask. Does your CPAP mask cover both your nose and mouth?
I’m 72 and have slept with a wedge for GERD for quite a few years now. I always sleep on my back. Also, sleeping on my back I don’t have the facial wrinkles that can happen when your face is smashed into the pillow while sleeping on your side. I have a few lower spinal discs that aren’t the best, but have no issues with back pain. I also use a contoured pillow on top of the wedge so my neck is aligned.
I am in my late 50's & can quite comfortably 'quick nap' on my back. However, should I try to 'properly' sleep on my back or my right side... I tend to suffer with recurring bad dreams or nightmares. I also find it more difficult to breathe through my nose in my right facing position.
I’m sleep on prone position because of gerd with a wedge or hob elevated. I used to be a side sleeper or on my abdomen but bad back, herniated disk & osteoporosis has changed that. I try to sleep on my sides with pillow between my legs but wake up with cramps,so I go back to prone position.. thanks for your advice.
I virtually always slept on my side but have a compressed disc in my neck. I wear a collar at night and either sleep propped up with pillows or on my back with a very low pillow. These positions seem to cause me less of a problem with my neck. I also find that sleeping propped up causes me less nasal congestion and helps my breathing.
Or take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a tablespoon of olive oil mixed with water in the morning to help with balancing the acid problem. Also, I sleep in a recliner due to multiple problems and this seems to be best for me. I have four bad cervical vertebrae damaged by shrapnel, stenosis and a permanently dislocated shoulder and I sleep quite well this way.
Your video's are so helpful to me. I have a sore lower back, shoulder impingement, gerd and mild sleep apnea. Unfortunately I'm a very restless sleeper and if I sleep on my side often wake up with my support pillows out of place resulting in severe shoulder pain. Is it OK to sleep with a leg wedge and the wedge to raise your upper body?
I have DDD and scoliosis, arthritis in the hips, something to do with facet joints, vertebrae etc. But I also have fibromyalgia, so thrash around most of the night, in all different positions except sleeping on my tummy which is very painful. My pillow is memory foam with a large and a amall rounded side. When I flip to my side, I flip the pillow to the large side
i like to sleep on my side but my back hurts so much when i do , if i lay on my back it's the only real comfort i have on my back with my head elevated.
As an asthmatic, I do sleep on my back as side sleeping makes breathing difficult. Elevated head also helps with breathing, so I think there are different best ways to sleep. Side sleeping is very difficult for me.
After two operations in one week, with an open wound that had to heal at its own, I could only sleep on my back for half a year. Everything back to normal, I couldn’t get used to go sleep on my side again.
Yea i’m goin through that now after 2 surgeries for spinal stenosis from the cervical down to the Thoracic i had no choice but to sleep on my back…now i can’t sleep any other way………
When I was a child, I fell off a horse at least 20 hands high onto the hard dirt of an arena. That same night I fell out of the top bunk onto a hardwood floor. My ppl said shake it off and if it hurt that meant I was okay. Yrs later, I've always felt that that day was the catalyst to my lower back pain. Since having children, I noticed it was excruciatingly painful to sleep on my stomach for my lower back. I mostly sleep on my back, which doesn't hurt to do. This past yr, I've noticed that sleeping on my side pushes my shoulders forward causing pain and the sides of my legs hurt. I'll be 55 next mo and am now learning about stretches that a woman my age can easily do to help prevent stiffness and keep my body in motion. I am so thankful for technology and UA-cam and all the healthcare professionals, like you. THANK YOU.
Just turned 64. I normally sleep pretty well (mostly on my back) but one problem I've got is that my sinuses fill up with gunge overnight and it can take a good 10 to 20 minutes of sneezing etc. in the morning to drain them down and start breathing through my nose instead of my mouth. Happens every day. Any tips about how to reduce that problem would be welcomed.
What about putting a small pillow under your neck when back sleeping (to keep the tongue up)? IMO, no matter what your age, change positions! Support for your various joints with blankets or pillows as needed. Every time I slept in one position over the decades, I ended up with a problem. With my sleep number bed, back sleeping is great for me now, but that doesn't mean I stay that way all the time. I try not eat right before bed, as that can ruin sleep more than anything.
Guys, I love your channel, the content is great. I also am a film making professional (for decades), and would like to strongly encourage you to pickup a couple "wireless go" (r0de company) or similar wireless mic setup. The audio and appearance of these mics you are using are far from ideal, sounding like the audio was recorded in the early 70's 😉
I just turned 52 and was suffering from GERD for a while.. sleeping on my back was okay, but it would be really bad when I slept on my right side. It was much better when sleeping on my left side for some reason. But fast-forward 6 months... I started taking 2,500 MG of Betaine HCL with dinner (because it seems I was having GERD for not having ENOUGH stomach acid...) I was cured without having to sleep differently anymore.
I always start sleeping on my left side, I always wake up on my back, always. It’s so comfortable until I started having osteoporosis in my spine and would wake up in a world of hurt. I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease. I don’t snore or have apnea. I take 2 arthritis acetaminophen the last thing I do before getting in bed, I now wake up with pain that is manageable.
I sleep on my "right" side or kind of like partly right side towards the front side, so my heart somewhat "dangles" creating less stress.... You see, your heart does NOT "dangle" laying on your "left" side causing your weight to press on it creating more strain on your heart... I believe the same for laying on your stomach & back.... So go sleep in your "right" side for a healthier heart.
I don’t have a choice but to sleep on my back because my neck and back is so bad. Though I can’t sleep flat I have to raise my head up probably 30 or 40° and use a neck pedal underneath my neck. Which works really well and I sleep really well. Sleeping on my sides I will wake up with my neck, kink to one side or the other and have to take a muscle relax and Something for pain. So when I sleep, I sleep essentially with my back about 3/4 of the way up as if I’m sitting up. I just pile a bunch of pillows and then a few pillows that are tilted up to the others and then the neck pillow underneath. Which seems to work well for me.
I have problems with vertigo and was told to sleep on my back. I've always been a side sleeper but it seems to trigger vertigo. I was also told to sleep on several pillows to elevate my head. I tried the wedge pillow but found myself constantly sliding down, waking up all scrunched up. I'm confused about what is best.
I got a foam mattress & adjustable bed frame and it has relieved my pain from cervical stenosis, sciatica and eliminated my acid reflux. If you can afford it get the best bed you can it will be worth it.😊
I used to sleep on my left dide, as its hood for draining fluid from the body. After having a terrible frozen left shoulder,, then my right one went frozen but not so bad, i could no longer sleep on my side, suffering also with copd, i find that sleeping sitting up in bed, i get a better and full nights sleep most nights.
![How To FIX Blood Flow & Circulation! [Heart, Arteries, Legs & Feet]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HwcfPwxrL-A/mqdefault.jpg)
How To Stop Shoulder Pain in Bed (Sleeping Postures)- ua-cam.com/video/MOqMq-sT900/v-deo.html
Do you have links to where I can purchase either or both of those wedges? Purchasing them from Amazon is a crap shoot because sellers shrink wrap them to ship and then they never really regain their complete shape. Maybe you can provide the name of a store where I can find them. Thanks
😂
Would you recommend using a Buckwheat Pillow to sleep on for your head?
Watch sleeping on the side I dislocated my shoulder years ago from it. I try to sleep on my back but I hate it and to afraid to sleep on my shoulders any more.
But Bob and Brad said , in the video three worse ways to sleep, not to sleep on my side. And I think it's two worst ways to sleep, Bob and Brad.
If you ever stop to thing about the amount of pain and suffering you have alleviated around this world, you (Bob, Brad, and Mike) have done SO MUCH to help people. THANK YOU!
Exactly! May God bless them
So true.
Truly, they all the best. Hope others will be helped. They are generous and not selfish to share.
Amen to what Bradley said! Y'all have been blessings to my life. Happy new year, y'all!
I like to sleep on my side, however, I often wake up with a ' dead hand ', from lying on it and stopping the circulation.
Any advice gratefully received.
I use ACE brand Night wrist sleep support.
I change positions all night. But sleeping on my side causes numbness and tingling in the hands, especially on my right side. Can you do a video on what to do for side sleepers to avoid the numbness/tingling?
I have that problem too. My problem with my right side. I have to shift positions throughout the night or my shoulder and arm will hurt and feel numb.
search their other videos
Sleeping on my back is worst for me because my cats will jump on my bladder!
Yes!
I remember that 😏
One of mine cracked my sternum jumping on me from my headboard. Thing hurt for months
Must have been heavy like my cat
Tell your doctor that you sleep with cats and he'll have your head examined. Best advice I can give.
For me, on my back there's also a problem with sinus drainage.
Use 2 pillows under your head
Elevate the head of the bed as I l posted above.
I’m on the sunny side of 80 and I’ve been sleeping on my back with a pillow under my legs for years. When I feel like changing positions, I use my legs to “pull” the pillow up between my legs to support my hips while sleeping on my side. Easy peasy and very comfortable. I have done very strenuous work with livestock up until about three years ago. Now I’m up on ladders, painting walls, doing weed eating with a fairly heavy weed wacker. All sorts of heavy work. I’m not huge, 5’1”, female, 6 kids, NO back problems. Simple techniques to safeguard your back and get a good nights sleep work wonders. Listen to these guys, they’re the best.
I do the same with the pillow and sleep positioning
You sound like a great neighbor. Best to you. 🙏
I experience much improved sleep on my back, since I moved my Tempur travel mattress onto the floor during Covid. My back is much stronger. Core is better aligned. Less sciatica. No more hip twinges and getting up & down from the floor has made my legs muscles like steel. I will never go back to side-sleeping.
Coming from a family of reflux and GERD, we have blocks of wood 4 inch to 6 inch tall to elevate the head of the bed. The beds are sturdy and the matress doesn't arch the back like the wedge can. We mainly keep the wedges for travel.
I had my gall bladder removed 6 years ago and now have diverticulitis . Gas builds up and sometimes a severe attack happens . I take Tums or Pepto to help break up the gas . I change sleep positions many times but it helps to lay flat on my back , legs straight out and head slightly elevated on a firm pillow which helps move the gas out the back door. I still have some neck pain in the morning as I have some arthritis in the neck . So I have to use a combo of your advise . I'm 81 , very active , eat well , 5ft.7 inches and 140 lbs.Thanks for all the advice, time for the sand man . Cheers !
I've been sleeping in a recliner for years now. It's great for your back, because it actually let's your back relax, something a bed doesn't usually do.
Also, laying to flat can make it harder for you to breathe, and cause sleep apnea, especially if your overweight, you have to push up that weight sitting on your chest every time you breathe.
If you sleep on your back, put your back in a upward angle. 20 to 30 degrees, wedge pillow would be great. This will remove the tension in your chest, making it easier to breathe. This also can add a bit of support for your back, allowing it to relax.
Sleeping in a recliner, I recommend a neck travel pillow to support your neck, you don't want to be laying your head on your shoulder, this can cause a stiff neck, because you're putting tension on your muscles all night. I actually stack 2 neck pillows on top of each other, to help prevent my head from bending to far, it really does help.
I use to have incredible back pain from sleeping in bed, but after sleeping in a recliner away from home for a couple days straight, I got up, and felt like I had a new back. It was incredible, no pain! After that I've been sleeping in a recliner ever since. Back pain hasn't been a problem, unless I stress my back too much doing something, but usually laying in the recliner for a little while straights me out again, and my back feels fine again.
You have to find a recliner that fully supports your back, or your aren't going to be able to sleep in it that well. I'm using a Theater recliner. They are usually the best you can get, at least from my experience.
I got myself an adjustable bed. Bed investment I’ve ever made.
I will have to try it because I can't sleep on my stomach, side or back because they all cause my back to really hurt bad, I have sleep apnea too. Thanks.
@@aprilstephens5425 The problem with most beds is they don't really support your back, so your back is basically tense all night. You know how your neck starts to hurt if you sit at a desk too long. It's like your holding your arms out straight and eventually it starts to hurt and you have to lower your arms. Well, that's what your back is really doing all night.
A recliner, or a bed that can bend similar to a recliner can actually let your back relax, so when you go to get up, your back is refreshed, and ready to work, instead of yelling at you, saying what the hell do you want NOW! ;)
Also, sleeping with your chest at a angle, takes stress off your chest, and makes it easier for you to breathe, and if your overweight, losing some of that weight will help as well.
I've lost 135 pounds, but before I did that, sleeping was tough, because I would stop breathing, and wake up, over and over again all night. I was lucky to get 3 hours of sleep. I don't have that problem anymore luckily, but I still need to sleep with my chest at a angle.
Once your really understand what your back needs, you'll be in good shape. The way I see it is, if you lay on your back properly, that the recliner sort of puts your disks back in place, so over time, you back gets better and better. It may never be perfect again, but it gets pretty close. My back use to lock up, and I couldn't move, but not since I slept a couple of nights in a recliner, and woke up feeling like I had a new back. :) My back hasn't locked up since.
So find a good recliner that fully supports your back, or find a good bed that bends into shape for you, and actually allows your back to relax, and it may just change your life. :)
Here's hoping for good fortune in that regard.
Imo sleeping on your back can cause nightmares/ sleep paralysis for some reason.
@@joea.9969 I never have nightmares, or sleep paralysis. Most of my dreams are adventures.
I sleep on my back with my legs elevated at night to help reduce edema from building up and swelling in my feet and ankles, sometimes the calves up to the knee. When I wake up, my feet and ankles look normal. Thanks Gravity! That wedged pillow for the legs looks great.
Thanks for sharing!
I've been a back sleeper for as long as I can remember (I'm 72). A couple times a year I would turn to one side or the other for variety, but my hips would start aching and my knees were uncomfortable. My late husband used to tell me that I snore terribly, and sometimes would stop breathing and then gasp for air (I sleep soundly and was not aware). My personal solution (especially now that I'm a widow): I sleep in a "U" configuration! My head and torso elevated on a 12" wedge on a soft pillow (vertically placed pillow since the wedge is too firm by itself); my legs elevated on another wedge with a soft vertical pillow on top to eliminate frequent daily edema and poor leg circulation; in between those wedges I have a soft pillow for my butt. I sleep soundly and always on my back this way because it's so comfortable.
@@fiendishthingy1630I’m 74 and also a back sleeper. I love sleeping on my back, and feel fine waking up in the morning. However, snoring, stopping breathing and gasping for air are classic symptoms of sleep apnea. You may want to check with a doctor because untreated sleep apnea can be devastating to one’s health. Best wishes.
I sleep flat on my back without a pillow. When tired, I barely move. Works great for hip or back issues.
Not if you have lower back degeneration! If I sleep / lay flat on my back - in 10 minutes - my lower back is killing me!! My back doc said (and I found he is right!) - I need to sleep on my back with my knees up (leg pillow) and my back up (wedge pillow).
Ugh id have neck pain
@@i_love_rescue_animals I always wondered why massage therapists have the under the knee pillow. I always have them move it. Flat is better for me. But I'm very healthy back wise. My neck has issues.
For those of us with asthma back sleeping with some head elevation seems to help breathing using a wedge. Flat or side sleeping makes breathing difficult; head elevation seems to help.
Asthma trick put two upper bed legs on risers. Lowers gerd nicely. Helps a little with nasal drainage if you stay well hydrated.😊
@@barbarah5742you rock! Thx for the tip. I tried the wedge but I always slide off of it by the morning LOL
Thank you for your videos. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia and have had numerous joint replacements and painful, swollen joints (name the joint and it probably hurts me). I also have GERD so begin the night on my back with a wedge pillow and a few other pillows. As I get more and more tired I turn on my right side. I can only fall asleep if I'm on my right side. Regardless, I always wake up due to pain after a few hours and start the process all over again. I wish I could get a good night's sleep. I'm always tired.
In most cases left side sleeping is better for reducing GERD than sleeping on the right side due to the way the digestive system is arranged in the body. Sleep apnea is a big reason why many people have GERD so it's worth getting checked out. My GERD completely disappeared once I got my apnea under control (using an APAP machine). Apnea can also cause a host of other problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, memory issues and strokes, so please don't ignore it! CPAP machines are quiet little things these days, not the big noisy monsters they used to be so don't worry, you won't sound like Darth Vador if you need one 🤣
Iv tried so many times
I wake up feeling like I'm being suffocated. It's the worst. I also take it off in my sleep without even knowing
For some reason when I sleep on my left I continually have burping and reflux and when I turn to my right I’m fine ???
I used a cpap one night and returned it. My mouth dropped open and the air came rushing out and scared me and my cat. The next time I tried it I was suffocating. Not for me!! Still looking for an answer that's comfortable. 😮😮
@@ange3489 I guess there's a reason, perhaps on your right side your esophageal sphincter closes, I don't know, I'm not a doctor 😆
@@Savannah-ed4rv a chin strap, a full face mask or mouth taping can help with the open mouth thing. The suffocating feeling is almost always down to wrong pressure settings. Your sleep doctor/technician should be able to solve that problem. You can also learn to keep your mouth closed when you sleep, it doesn't sound possible but it can be done. For me, when I weighed up the dangers of untreated sleep apnea, I decided that I would persevere with the treatment no matter what. A few months later and I sleep better than ever.
With sleep apnea, sleeping on a wedge on my back with my CPAP is the best for my breathing and getting a good night’s sleep. Sleeping on my side always ends up breaking my mask seal and leads to breathing struggles at night.
Raising the head of my bed six inches allowed me to sleep on my back without apnea and gerd symptoms. I had both problems when laying on a flat bed.
Since being diagnosed with scoliosis and stenosis and pinched arm nerves I have been sleeping on my back, I’m still in pain all night but back sleeping is the most comfortable for me
I used to sleep exclusively on my back. I got older as we all do and started sleeping on my side. The only problem with that as I end up with shoulder pain periodically or at least my arm falling asleep.
Adusting your pillow hasn't helped?
I found that sleeping on my back with a single feather pillow and another one behind it at the bed head, curled around the top of my head slightly, was extremely good for getting to sleep comfortably …. although I mostly sleep on my side nowadays!.
@@Mandellhouse Love the feather pillow idea but can't use them for all night.
@houndmother2398 Also wonder if it is on both sides or only one? One side seems to be my best but when my arm or shoulder start acting up I switch sides until that side starts in. It is exhausting getting a good night sleep!!
Old senior, I have to have 3 pillows to prop up, then turn to side, & sometimes arm is asleep left one under
@@rosevan7845 I gotta do that.
Over 70 adds a whole new dimention to finding sleeping comfort. Never was a back sleeper but right side works for me. Also use two shredded foam pillows to form a V so my head is elevated taking pressure off my shoulder. This also helps me from turning over.
Have a Happy New Year Bob and Brad and your family and staff ❤❤
And to yours too!
Two shredded foam pillows forming a V? I'm having a hard time picturing that but I'm interested. Can you provide more information? Thanks
I use a small bolster under my neck to keep my spine in the right position.
These two guys have helped me improve my sleeping habits a lot. I never heard of a leg or back wedge [ I purchased both and they work great} before discovering their videos. Their other recommendations are super helpful also. Keep it up guys!
I've loved your channel since before the pandemic. I receive help from every clip I watch. So, thank you, Bob and Brad. I pray for Bob's recovery to full health & a miraculous return to the channel. However, I think the young fellow, Mike, has really been keeping the ship afloat for a long time, now. He's clear, has great ideas & you couldn't ask for a better third partner. I hope his hard work and value to the channel will be reflected in the name, sometime. Bob & Brad & Mike has a great ring, and it also seems only right to give Mike proper credit. Thanks again, best to dear Bob & be well. ☺
Thank you!!
Hi. How's Bob doing. Pls convey my best wishes to him. Bob and Brad, I have benefited immensely from your videos. Still continuing to benefit as when any help I require. First video with Mike. Hi Mike. Welcome and Thank you. Once again Thank you Brad. Thank you Bob
I’m 52 and have painful arthritis in my hips and the only position I can sleep,in comfortably is on my back with a relatively low-profile pillow. But these tips are worth keeping in mind as I get older.
At over 70, I slept on my side all my life until four months ago. A broken femur forced me to sleep on my back. Never in my wildest dreams would I have chosen this sleep position willingly, but surprised to find it quite comfortable. And as you point out, I use a low enough pillow height.
There you go!
I hope you’re all better!
@@lydialangfordjoiner765 Thank you! Not all better, but getting there!
Me too...These guys don't know what they are talking about.
Recliners are wonderful to sleep on. I had recent open heart surgery, 2 broken arms & long time gerd plus a touch of sleep apnea. If you cannot afford a bed that you can elevate, a recliner has always given me my best sleep. I can sleep 11 hours uninterrupted in a recliner that is in the halfway back position.
Thank you for this! I've been trying for ages to sleep on my back, because I believed it was better for me. Now I can finally give in to being a side sleeper. Yay! Also, noticed that I have sleep apnoea when I sleep on my back (sometimes), so happy to give that up.
Happy to help!
Thankyou guys
I've a twinge in my low back right now
Godbless all of you
Hope this helps!
@@BobandBrad thankyou and yes!(: it's helping
Thanks Bob and Brad! Knew all this mostly, but the wedge pillows are a game changer. There are specific exercises for spinal stenosis on UA-cam also. I keep it under control with these. Wasn’t even diagnosed with it til 69.
Also a BIG proponent of controlled, 2x/week spinal decompression treatments at the CHIRO…..
I have severe arthritis that lead to both knees and both hips being replaced, I also took a fall in a store, thanks to a wrinkled mat at the door, that resulted in a broken femur that was fixed with a rod. I miss side sleeping, but now the hands and arms are getting bad arthritis. Sleeping on my back is the only way I can sleep at all. I do have a bed and a recliner that elevates legs and/or upper body as needed.
I prefer side sleeping but when awake am naturally on my back again; it's also easier to breathe when congested when on my back. Will explore leg and head wedges as suggested -- thanks guys!
Thanks! I’m in the age group that this video is directed at. I have been finding side-sleeping to be best for me. I keep my knees together and pulled up (~fetal) and avid having my chest at 90° to the bed - I lean forward so the front of my chest is 80° or so to the bed and my back is 100° or so to the bed (or vice versa). I adjust my pillow so my head rests without drooping or being raised up. 👍🏻
Great!
This is what I do
I was a stomach and side sleeper all my life until I had a disc and stenosis problem.At that point, I could only sleep on my back - sometimes with an ice pack, sometimes on my soft sofa instead of in bed. It was very hard to get used to sleeping on my back, but I did, which helped me through a different health issue that sowed up just as my back was getting better.
I did experiment with pillows ... I always use a very flat head pillow, so was good there.
Now, 2 years later, I can sleep in my old stomach-side position. Feels very good!
I sleep great on my back, no pillow. Super comfortable and I don't move around. I don't have any of these health problems you mention.
Id like to add that to help more with posture you can put a small towel roll under elbows when lying on your back to tilt the humeral head/ shoulder area back towards the bed for a section of the night
I had a left tibial plateau fracture, and I used to be a left side-lying person, but that gets uncomfortable with the plate in my leg. I also have spinal stenosis. My favorite place now is in a fairly firm recliner with separate back and leg adjustments, and even with that, I get 1/2 of the way on my left side. I use a C-shaped travel pillow, but I use it on the side or front of my neck instead of in back. That keeps my head from falling sideways, and it will also go under my chin and keep my mouth closed.😂
Back sleeping with legs raised and nearly featherless pillow, so my neck remains in line with spine, is the best for me.
Left shoulder damaged in accident, so cannot sleep on left side, right side is OK if I have a pillow between my legs.
When I sleep on my side it feels like my lower arm is pinching off my blood flow and I can feel my heart beat and wonder if my blood pressure is getting elevated. I usually sleep on my stomach but then I have to turm my head to one side or the other. I have to move around some to find a position where I don't have any neck pain. I don't sleep very well, usually 4-5 hours a night, but I am relaxed while laying in bed. Once I wake up (usually to pee) it's hard to fall back to sleep. If I do sleep on my back I son't use any pillow and use a washcloth to cover my eyes. I can relax this way but I can't fall asleep. It's sort of like meditation. Last night was really bad, I did not sleep even a single minute. I'm assuming I will sleep better tonight because of that.
Back sleeping helps me avoid gerd and facilitates my breathing. I do get my shoulders onto the pillow and use a knee pillow. I end up rolling to the sides because these newer mattresses made of foam act as insulators and my back gets too hot. Then I use a third pillow to stick under my head to level it out.
I started sleeping in a recliner just before I had rotator cuff surgery. The first morning I got up with NO LOW BACK PAIN. Now, any time I even try to sleep on a bed, within minutes, I am seized up with back spasms. So I continue years later sleeping in a recliner. Also, I have GERD and I the last 4 years of using a recliner, I have only had 2 episodes.
I slept on a recliner chair for many years due to the pain from Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Eventually I bought an adjustable bed. I love it!
A recliner would KILL me: my breathing is impeded upon my back due to sinus and tracheal angles…
I was going to suggest a proper Hospital Bed myself, but Deborah beat me to it.
So, I'll just comment to bump the Al Gore Rhythm, as more people need to see this.
A couple of years ago, I started using nasal strips to keep my nasal passages open while I sleep. They have been a godsend! It has helped my sinuses, snoring, and dry throat that I used to deal with. I just turned 50. I start out on my back every night and then move to my side. This video gives me some things to watch for. Thanks!
I suffer with GERD and using two pillows one horizontally and the other vertically to raise my head and chest resolve the issue. If sleeping on my side, either side, I have bolted upright when the acid is breathed into my lungs, which is painful and takes hours to resolve. As far as back pain, again on my back I use a pillow on its end to raise my knees to resolve the pain whilst sleeping with a heating pad on my lower back. I do at times sleep on my side, but only my right side because the pain is on my left side. I also used TENS for my knee and hip pain. I have to get up several times during the night for bathroom relief. LOVE YOUR INFORMATIVE VIDEOS! GOD BLESS!! Do another video with that pharmacist about gabapentin and other pain meds PLEASE.
Thanks for watching, we will add it to our to-do list!
Sleeping on the Right* side will put pressure on the valve at the esophagus and if you're vulnerable to GERD, this will make it happen - if you sleep on the left this is not an issue. *unless you are one of the few people with the organs mirrored...
Came here to say this.Thanks.
Interesting. That explains why I’ve had it more often since my shoulder surgery
Thanks for sharing
I am 53 have sleep apnea, use a CPAP, acid reflux, hip arthritis, lower back arthritis and very bad arthritis in both knees. I used to be a side sleeper for most of my life, had a lot of back, hip, knee, shoulder pain and numbness in my arms. About 2 years ago I got a memory foam mattress which helped, started sleeping on my back, then got a wedge pillow for my upper body with a pillow under my shoulders and neck. I also use pillows under my legs putting me in a recumbent position. I feel significantly less pain and stiffness in the morning. This has improved my comfort and overall sleep tremendously and my reflux is almost nonexistent. Now I am trying to find a blow up wedge pillow for traveling.
Thanks for all the great content guys! I was choking in my sleep about 2-3 times per week. I literally thought I was going to die. I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux. Doctor wanted to give me prescription. I researched it on You Tube and found that I could use the wedge like you showed. My problem was fixed immediately with no drugs. I sleep on my side and was getting hip pain because the curvature of my body put extra pressure on that point. I solved that with a full length wedge that goes under the mattress. No pressure points, hip pain went away after a couple weeks.
Sounds really scary 😱. Glad you weren’t hurt 😞
@@PraveenSrJ01 Indeed. TY.
About 6 months ago I started sleeping in a hammock. The elevation of the legs really helps my varicose veins. I had varicose ulcers which are now closed. I don't have back issues but I have heard hammocks are good for backs and it's the same position you are describing with better support.
I get terrible back pain if I sleep flat on my back. I'd like to sleep on my stomach once in a while as I did in my younger years, but then my neck hurts badly. I don't know if it's because of my head being turned or if it's my pillow. I give up on finding the perfect pillow. I bought an adjustable bed frame and now sleep on my back with my head and feet raised. It really helps my back but not my neck. Those frames are not made for short people. Where it bends is not where I bend comfortably. 😞
So I drop off on my side but end up on my back how do I prevent that as I move about, and suffer from acid reflux but can’t sleep on my left side (which is better) as my nostrils close up and have to mouth breathe
My lower back is messed up every morning I get up. I can barely bend or really anything else , and have to sit with a heating pad on my lower back for 30 minutes, then I’m good to go. Anyone have any ideas as to why my lower back is painful like this? I’m a side sleeper and back sleeper. My mattress is fairly firm and I have a 2 inch memory foam topper on top of that, which doesn’t seem to be helping. I am 60 years old and in good health.
essentrics movement videos on PBS help a lot with that
I'm over 80 and in good health and have had lower back pain (sciatica) for over 3 decades. My solution? Ignore the pain, get moving, and be thankful that I'm not in a pine box six feet under. And get rid of that soft foam, which is likely a contributor to your lower back pain. And don't sleep on your back if you can avoid it. Try this. If you have a carpeted floor, throw some blankets down (no foam) and sleep on the floor a few nights and see if the firmer surface helps your back. It definitely helps mine. And work up to walking 30 to 60 minutes a day. Walking seems to move all those vertebra around and get the lubrication between them working better.
When you sleep on your back on a softer surface, the middle part of your backbone tends to sink downward into the foam and put pressure on the wrong side of the vertebra. This can cause shifting and thinning of the gelatinous substance, called the nucleus pulposus, in the intervertebral disks that provide cushioning between the vertebra. I find that bending my back backwards for a few minutes in the morning generally reduces or eliminates the pain.
Here are a couple videos you can check out!
ua-cam.com/video/pqM3hCLIpIQ/v-deo.htmlsi=Z_f2u4NroNNq2bzS
ua-cam.com/video/WQHIBf-C-2w/v-deo.htmlsi=FISTvuJWTBANzXv3
Due to scoliosis and other back issues, I couldn't sleep flat on my back. Not without paying the price the next morning. I've had either an adjustable or hospital bed since 1998 and have been sleeping exclusively on my back since then. Before that, I had to prop up with pillows, but they don't stay in place. Once I got an adjustable bed, my sleep problems were over.
I have the wedge for GERD but during sleep I slide down it and end up sleeping at the bottom of it!
Oh no!
Same here. And also with head of bed raised. Gravity happens.
I have always been a side sleeper but I’m trying to reduce facial wrinkles so I’ve been sleeping on my back for the last month. Now I don’t know in which position to sleep based on this video. 🙁
Bev, yes -- side sleeping is bad for your face! I was sleeping on my left side and noticed the left side of my face was way more wrinkled than the right. So I put a folded pillow under my knees. I'm old, tho!!
Try the Origins line of anti-aging serum, you will look 5 years younger in 2 weeks! Women were constantly telling me I wasn't old enough to retire, when I was 60!!
I invested in a silk pillowcase (on sale). It really worked, no more morning face lines and wrinkles. It feels nice and cool on my face too.
There's a pillow called Sleep & Glow pillow. It's an anti aging pillow with a cut out so your face doesn't get smooshed while side sleeping. It's also supposed to be helpful for for aligning the cervical spine. I haven't bought it yet because it's expensive, but I've been in a lot pain with my neck and I definitely don't want to cause wrinkles, so I'm considering getting one. Amazon has some dupes which are cheaper so I may look into that as well.
Squats and dead lifts to failure along with ginseng help to produce more growth hormone which is the youth hormone which takes years of your look.
i've been sleeping on my back for a few years now. i use a half-moon pillow under my knees and no pillow under my head. i use to use a small round pillow under my neck but i believe it aggravated my shoulder. side sleeping hurts my shoulders.
Thank you for this video. I have sleep problems and appreciate your information. ❤
Glad to help!
Well, do to circulation issues in my legs, can only sleep on back. Have done so for many years. No issues. Now adjustable bed I can rause / lower feet and / or head.
I'm 68 and and snore with sleep apnea. I used to have GIRD as well. I don't have any low back issues, but I do have an issue with pain in my greater trocanter region, maybe from a tight piriformis muscle? At any rate, I sleep in a gravity chair (an outdoor, super duper lawn chair that mimics a recliner) with just an inflatable travel neck pillow behind my neck, and I sleep wonderfully. I think I might add a pillow under my knees, at some point, just to see if it's even better.
Wow! My wife (57yrs) has been a flat back sleeper her whole life (one pillow). She just had spinal decompression surgery from stenosis on C3 she now has fusion plates from C1 to C7. She has been sleeping on her back with two pillows which seems to be the only comfortable position for her...Trust me we tried everything. We have a wedge but not the leg wedge so I'll order one ASAP. It's amazing no doctor has mentioned this to us.
I provided meals for an old fellow that lived to be 101 years old. He slept sitting up in his chair for the final two decades of his life maybe even longer. I could never understand how he could do that but he would not sleep in a bed.
My mother did the same in the last years of her life. She died in her chair.
My mother does the same thing. For her it's because she can get out of a chair more easily than a bed when she goes to the bathroom several times a night.
I cannot imagine sitting up to "sleep" with my spine. Ouch!
I lost a dear friend who was almost 90 years old, and yes, it was a surprise. I thought he'd live to be 100. He slept in a chair. I stopped by and never went into his apartment, as I knew he was a hoarder. He loved when I came by and picked him up in my Porsche and loved hauling ass down Sunset Strip. One day he called me to drive him to doctor appointment. He never returned home.
😅
Stomach sleeper all my life. I can not fall asleep on my back at all. I can doze off on my side, but I will never fall into that deep restorative sleep. I have to sleep on my stomach. I wish my bed had one of those massage table head cradles so I could sleep without having my neck turned to the side.
Thank you for your excellent info also Happy New Year boys!
Thanks for the video. For stomach sleeping, you want to elevate your body from the shoulders on down, so your head and neck are not twisted
For some of those with sleep apnea, sleeping on your back is pretty much the only way to make sure that a cpap mask will stay in place all night. If you roll onto your side, it can easily move the mask. Air will then leak from it and wake you up. If you tighten the mask headgear too much, you’ll feel like you slept with your head in a vice all night and it’s painful. Sometimes, sleeping on your back with your head elevated is the only way to get some semblance of sleep while attached to a cumbersome, annoying hose!
Try a different model of mask. Get one of those that comes down from the top of your head.
@@janeflip1 No exaggeration; I have tried just about every style of mask/headgear out there. Wearing any and all can’t compare to the great sleep that I get when I fall asleep on a recliner without cpap equipment on and I am unencumbered!
I used a cpap one night and took it back. Not for me especially since I've had sleep issues all my life 😢 Looking for alternatives constantly with no success.
@@marilynabate5300Try the new Bleep Eclipse Halos. No headgear at all.
@@Savannah-ed4rv just saw a video on congestive heart failure possibly due to sleep apnea. It’s no joke. Keep going back to try to resolve issues with cpap. My uncle did it and found one that works
Thank you for the leg wedge tip ! That's a game changer for me !
Very informative. I have always been a side sleeper but I have found over the past year or so that if I sleep on my right side which I have always favoured up until now that my ribs hurtsand the pain can last all day if I have slept on that side for too long. It feels like the cartilage of the 8th rib close to where it attaches to the sternum and when I push on that area it is quite painful, it is really quite weird. I do not remember having any damage done to my ribs and wonder if being pregnant in the past might have caused something that has gone unnoticed until my late 50s.
I had a mattress that lost its supportiveness over time, and I started getting rib pain because my torso was sinking into the mattress too much. While saving up to replace the mattress, I cut a piece of foam to place under my ribcage when sleeping. It did the trick! My new mattress is much firmer and I have never had that pain come back. Your problem might be totally different, but just wanted to share in case this helps you or someone else!
@@calico_mojo I did get a new, firmer mattress last year and it did help a lot. As I am on my own I can make use of most of the mattress and not sleep in just one spot as well a turn it twice a year. I am wondering if it is because I used to sleep almost in the recovery position, so slightly towards my stomach rather than on my side. I am at a complete loss and am glad I am not the only one to have had this problem.
Thank you!! Will definitely try these options❤
You're so welcome!
Hmmm, sleeping on the back is best for me, definitely helps my sinuses! I think it's good you share this info with us but so often the studies just do not have big enough populations of people to justify the recommendations broadly
Thank you so much Bob and Brad for this informative video. I am over 50 and a female and I am a side sleeper. Recently I’ve been having neck pain from sleeping the wrong way. Can you do a video on side sleepers
I had back surgery at age 31…since then (now 65) I STILL sleep only on my back with small roll under my knees. Once I got a sleep number it made it more comfortable to raise the head 30 degrees and using a pillow with the middle flattened out for neck support.
Another reason to sleep on your back is you don’t create those deep facial creases/wrinkles. 😉
Thank you B & B & Mike, you guys are the absolute best no doubt 😘😘😘
If you have an adjustable bed frame, I've been hearing that the zero-gravity position is best for back sleepers with both the head and feet elevated to relieve pressure around the back and hips. I just got an adjustable base for the first time (age 52) with a new mattress so I'm going to see how well it works. I understand with a new mattress though, you want to break it in a little in a flat position first before going to zero gravity, so I'll wait about a week for that.
All GREAT information as usual. I am a back sleeper with back pain so I will try a side position to help. Thanks 4 sharing and Happy Holidays! Cheers ! 😎😎
i sleep on my back 90% the rest on my left side but back is the best. i use a 2 inch high pillow shortest i could find. used to sleep with no pillow but had some issues. taller pillows give me neck pain. also need my legs flat or i get serious leg pain.
Another option is to elevate the head of the bed by putting something under the bed posts at the head of the bed. The entire body is straight line, with the head up, and gravity can do it's thing. Especially helpful with the digestive system, no matter what your sleep position is. I have been doing this for years. Elevate gradually over time, if needed.
I sleep on my back because it's best for my hips. I have an adjustable bed so my upper body and my legs are lifted comfortably. I do like to sleep on my side but after a short while the leg, and knee, on top become uncomfortable, even with a pillow between my knees. I had gone to a spine health seminar put on by AARP and they said that stomach sleeping is the worst for the spine because it puts it causes an improper alignment and can harm the discs.
Difficult NOT to sleep on my back with my CPAP mask, as I sleep with my mouth open. I can't sleep on my side because I have old shoulder reconstruction and hip replacement with bilaterally torn hamstrings.
I *can't* open my mouth when I'm using my CPAP. If I try, the pressure differential forces air out of my mouth and makes it hard to inhale. But then, I only have a nose mask. Does your CPAP mask cover both your nose and mouth?
I’m 72 and have slept with a wedge for GERD for quite a few years now. I always sleep on my back. Also, sleeping on my back I don’t have the facial wrinkles that can happen when your face is smashed into the pillow while sleeping on your side. I have a few lower spinal discs that aren’t the best, but have no issues with back pain. I also use a contoured pillow on top of the wedge so my neck is aligned.
Contour pillows are great!
I am in my late 50's & can quite comfortably 'quick nap' on my back. However, should I try to 'properly' sleep on my back or my right side... I tend to suffer with recurring bad dreams or nightmares. I also find it more difficult to breathe through my nose in my right facing position.
I’m sleep on prone position because of gerd with a wedge or hob elevated. I used to be a side sleeper or on my abdomen but bad back, herniated disk & osteoporosis has changed that. I try to sleep on my sides with pillow between my legs but wake up with cramps,so I go back to prone position.. thanks for your advice.
I virtually always slept on my side but have a compressed disc in my neck. I wear a collar at night and either sleep propped up with pillows or on my back with a very low pillow. These positions seem to cause me less of a problem with my neck. I also find that sleeping propped up causes me less nasal congestion and helps my breathing.
Or take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a tablespoon of olive oil mixed with water in the morning to help with balancing the acid problem. Also, I sleep in a recliner due to multiple problems and this seems to be best for me. I have four bad cervical vertebrae damaged by shrapnel, stenosis and a permanently dislocated shoulder and I sleep quite well this way.
Your video's are so helpful to me. I have a sore lower back, shoulder impingement, gerd and mild sleep apnea. Unfortunately I'm a very restless sleeper and if I sleep on my side often wake up with my support pillows out of place resulting in severe shoulder pain. Is it OK to sleep with a leg wedge and the wedge to raise your upper body?
THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE GUYS
I have DDD and scoliosis, arthritis in the hips, something to do with facet joints, vertebrae etc. But I also have fibromyalgia, so thrash around most of the night, in all different positions except sleeping on my tummy which is very painful.
My pillow is memory foam with a large and a amall rounded side. When I flip to my side, I flip the pillow to the large side
i like to sleep on my side but my back hurts so much when i do , if i lay on my back it's the only real comfort i have on my back with my head elevated.
Using a pillow or a bolster between your knees can help to support you back alignment to avoid pain.
Oh. My goodness. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
As an asthmatic, I do sleep on my back as side sleeping makes breathing difficult. Elevated head also helps with breathing, so I think there are different best ways to sleep. Side sleeping is very difficult for me.
After two operations in one week, with an open wound that had to heal at its own, I could only sleep on my back for half a year.
Everything back to normal, I couldn’t get used to go sleep on my side again.
Yea i’m goin through that now after 2 surgeries for spinal stenosis from the cervical down to the Thoracic i had no choice but to sleep on my back…now i can’t sleep any other way………
When I was a child, I fell off a horse at least 20 hands high onto the hard dirt of an arena. That same night I fell out of the top bunk onto a hardwood floor. My ppl said shake it off and if it hurt that meant I was okay. Yrs later, I've always felt that that day was the catalyst to my lower back pain. Since having children, I noticed it was excruciatingly painful to sleep on my stomach for my lower back. I mostly sleep on my back, which doesn't hurt to do. This past yr, I've noticed that sleeping on my side pushes my shoulders forward causing pain and the sides of my legs hurt. I'll be 55 next mo and am now learning about stretches that a woman my age can easily do to help prevent stiffness and keep my body in motion. I am so thankful for technology and UA-cam and all the healthcare professionals, like you. THANK YOU.
You are so welcome, we are very happy we could help!
Just turned 64. I normally sleep pretty well (mostly on my back) but one problem I've got is that my sinuses fill up with gunge overnight and it can take a good 10 to 20 minutes of sneezing etc. in the morning to drain them down and start breathing through my nose instead of my mouth. Happens every day. Any tips about how to reduce that problem would be welcomed.
Mucinex taken before bed works for me!
What about putting a small pillow under your neck when back sleeping (to keep the tongue up)?
IMO, no matter what your age, change positions! Support for your various joints with blankets or pillows as needed. Every time I slept in one position over the decades, I ended up with a problem. With my sleep number bed, back sleeping is great for me now, but that doesn't mean I stay that way all the time. I try not eat right before bed, as that can ruin sleep more than anything.
Nicely done. You two mesh well and Mike is really solid 😊😊😊
Guys, I love your channel, the content is great. I also am a film making professional (for decades), and would like to strongly encourage you to pickup a couple "wireless go" (r0de company) or similar wireless mic setup. The audio and appearance of these mics you are using are far from ideal, sounding like the audio was recorded in the early 70's 😉
I just turned 52 and was suffering from GERD for a while.. sleeping on my back was okay, but it would be really bad when I slept on my right side. It was much better when sleeping on my left side for some reason. But fast-forward 6 months... I started taking 2,500 MG of Betaine HCL with dinner (because it seems I was having GERD for not having ENOUGH stomach acid...) I was cured without having to sleep differently anymore.
I always start sleeping on my left side, I always wake up on my back, always. It’s so comfortable until I started having osteoporosis in my spine and would wake up in a world of hurt. I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease. I don’t snore or have apnea. I take 2 arthritis acetaminophen the last thing I do before getting in bed, I now wake up with pain that is manageable.
I sleep on my "right" side or kind of like partly right side towards the front side, so my heart somewhat "dangles" creating less stress.... You see, your heart does NOT "dangle" laying on your "left" side causing your weight to press on it creating more strain on your heart... I believe the same for laying on your stomach & back.... So go sleep in your "right" side for a healthier heart.
I don’t have a choice but to sleep on my back because my neck and back is so bad. Though I can’t sleep flat I have to raise my head up probably 30 or 40° and use a neck pedal underneath my neck. Which works really well and I sleep really well. Sleeping on my sides I will wake up with my neck, kink to one side or the other and have to take a muscle relax and Something for pain. So when I sleep, I sleep essentially with my back about 3/4 of the way up as if I’m sitting up. I just pile a bunch of pillows and then a few pillows that are tilted up to the others and then the neck pillow underneath.
Which seems to work well for me.
I have problems with vertigo and was told to sleep on my back. I've always been a side sleeper but it seems to trigger vertigo. I was also told to sleep on several pillows to elevate my head. I tried the wedge pillow but found myself constantly sliding down, waking up all scrunched up. I'm confused about what is best.
I got a foam mattress & adjustable bed frame and it has relieved my pain from cervical stenosis, sciatica and eliminated my acid reflux. If you can afford it get the best bed you can it will be worth it.😊
I cannot sleep on my side or sciatica flares up. Thank you for the alternatives.
I used to sleep on my left dide, as its hood for draining fluid from the body. After having a terrible frozen left shoulder,, then my right one went frozen but not so bad, i could no longer sleep on my side, suffering also with copd, i find that sleeping sitting up in bed, i get a better and full nights sleep most nights.
Thank you for sharing!