What is the best position to sleep with slipped disc?

Answer 1

There is no single best position to use for sleeping with a slipped or herniated disc and the Back pain that it causes. Perhaps the best answer to give is that someone with back ache caused by a herniated disc should find the position that causes the least amount of pain and greatest comfort, and stay in that position as long as it remains comfortable. If and when a comfortable position that reduces back pain starts to feel uncomfortable, then slowly and carefully search for a new posture that once again eases the pain of the slipped disc.

Some tips for finding that ideal position that reduces low back tension and pain so you can sleep:

• Lie down on the most firm surface you can tolerate - sometimes placing a small sheet of plywood under the mattress is enough; sometimes lying on the floor with a few layers of blanket will do the trick; sometimes lying on a carpeted floor will feel much better to the back
• Move slowly to find a comfortable position because when the back is injured it can be painful and dangerous to move too quickly
• Avoid sleeping face down, since this will cause a twist in the back to develop that can aggravate a slipped or herniated disc
• Lie face up or on either side, with arms and legs held in whatever position is comfortable
• Tiny movement or bending of hips or knees can change the tension in the low back and reduce disc pressure, so experiment by making very small changes in how the hips and legs are positioned for greatest relief
• Use an ice pack on the low back while you are lying down to reduce swelling of the injured disc
• Lie face up, with one or both knees bent and feet flat on the bed to reduce low back tension
• Lie face up, with one or two pillows placed below the calf muscles so that the knees are bent slightly while the knees and hips are bent slightly to reduce low back tension
• Place a thin pillow or a folded towel under one hip and then the other to determine if supporting and raising the pelvis slightly can reduce low back tension
• Experiment freely to alter your sleeping posture in as many ways as your imagination allows until you find a more comfortable position