It’s often hard to determine the source of a patient’s back pain. Little changes, such as the positions you assume while sleeping and lying down, can affect a world of change in terms of the pain that you’re experiencing. Consider how the following positions can either mitigate or worsen your chronic back and/or neck pain:

On Your Side

If you sleep on your side and draw your legs up slightly towards your chest, you can quickly take extra strain off of your back. Put a pillow between your legs, or consider purchasing a body pillow for this purpose.

On Your Back

If you prefer to sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees to help maintain the natural curvature of your lower back. You can also try a small rolled towel placed under the small of your back for extra support.

On Your Stomach

Sleeping on your stomach can be a bit hard on your back. If you find this position comfortable and can’t sleep any other way, you can reduce the strain that this position puts on your back by placing a pillow under your pelvis and lower abdomen. If it doesn’t hurt your back, place a pillow underneath your head.

Back and neck pain can make it tough to get a good night’s sleep. Keep these helpful tips in mind so that you can come up with a solution for easing strain on your back at night.