Most adults use a pillow while they sleep at night. By “pillow”, we mean a regular bed pillow, such as the one you put under your head. In the last decade or so, however, it has become increasingly popular for people to also use a body pillow to help them sleep. The reasons why people choose to use this extra type of pillow are numerous, but among the most common reasons for the rise in popularity are the pain relief they offer some people.
If you suffer from back pain, for instance, one type of body pillow or another might help you either get to sleep, or stay asleep. It all depends on the actual type of pain that you suffer from. If you have lower back pain such as that caused by a pinched nerve (such as that caused by a ruptured disc), then a pillow that is shaped like a wedge might offer some relief. The pillow can be used behind your upper back to elevate it slightly, but more people find relief by using this type of pillow behind their knees! Tucking this pillow under your knees as you lay flat on your back will cause your knees to be elevated. This position reduces the curve of your spine and relieves strain on those pinched nerves.
If your problem is snoring related, however, you might find greater relief from a different type of pillow: a CPAP pillow. This is a pillow that works in conjunction with a CPAP machine, and it is simply shaped in a special way so the CPAP mask you wear does not become tangled at night. This type of machine requires an overnight medical test to be performed (and a doctor’s prescription), but if the reason you aren’t getting quality sleep is because of snoring, it can really be a life changer!