I'm still working my way through The Carpal Tunnel HelpBook (what can I say, it's not exactly a best-selling thriller), and there's a section on sleeping in the "Posture Do's and Don'ts" chapter.
According to the author Dr. Scott M. Fried, "Certain sleeping positions can exacerbate the symptoms of repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel problems, fibromyalgia joint pain, and thoracic outlet syndrome" (p 61). (Kudos to Dragon NaturallySpeaking for actually recognizing my pronunciation of fibromyalgia... I was sure I was going to have to spell that one.)
Apparently sleeping on your stomach is really bad, from your nerves' point of view. You're not supposed to lie on the side where you're experiencing symptoms either. Any strain on the nerves while your sleeping won't allow the healing process to begin. Any obviously awkward positions should be avoided.
Fried goes on to recommend sleeping on your back with no more than one pillow under your head, keeping your arms at your side, possibly with a pillow under each shoulder and arm.
Thinking about all that will probably keep me from sleeping altogether. It's something to keep in mind, though. I do have a tendency to sleep in positions that would put to shame those chalk outlines (you know the ones, legs askew, arms bent the wrong way) on the cop shows.
You can only start in one position that seems right, but once you fall asleep, who knows what direction your going to go.
Posted by: Ajlouny | June 15, 2009 at 08:26 PM