Sleep is supposed to be the quietest time of day. A relaxing way to recharge your energy for the next day. But there are things that can cause you so much pain that sleeping, if it is even possible, is very difficult. Find out how to sleep with a bulging disc and sciatica, and finally find some relief.
Whenever sleeping with sciatica or a bulging disc, the main goal is to maintain a straight posture without putting extra pressure on the disc. You may be wondering, what about sciatica? How do I make sure I don’t put more pressure on my sciatic nerve? Well, whenever you’re lying down, maintaining a straight posture ensures that you won’t put pressure on your sciatic nerve.
So how do you achieve good posture while sleeping? You are after all… asleep. The good news is that you have a couple of options. The bad news is that you’ll probably have to play around with them to find what works for you.
The first option, and probably the easiest, is to invest in a pillow specifically designed to support your neck and spine. While the idea of spending money isn’t always ideal, it’s an easy solution to an otherwise painful problem.
There are many options when it comes to pillows, memory foam, feathers, microbeads, maybe even pregnancy pillows. These are all good things for you to try. But if you do your research, you’ll likely find that the pillow that stands out from the rest in terms of sciatica relief and good posture is the buckwheat pillow. Filled with hulls, this pillow not only supports your neck, but also supports and cradles your head.
Another option that may or may not work depending on where the bulging disc is and how much it hurts is to sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees. The pillow will give your spine the extra support it needs and also take pressure off your back to help your disc. And while it may seem like a bit of fun to you, a pregnancy pillow can be another option if you’re a side sleeper.
When all else fails, you may want to try sleeping in a recliner surrounded by pillows. It’s not as comfortable as your bed, but it should help you stay in the same position at night.
