Sleeping position for hypermobile shoulders?

[papersnowdrop]

Hi everyone, new poster here!I'm on the joint hypermobility spectrum, and was wondering if anyone here had any tips on finding a position to sleep in that doesn't leave me trying to mitigate intense shoulder pain for the rest of the following day. I'm usually a side-sleeper, and find it difficult to sleep on my back due to a bulging disc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Gigiruth]

Hi papersnowdropCheck out the work of Glenn Withers.

APPI Pilates for Hypermobility.

APPI bespoke rehabilitation program for hypermobolity sufferers.

It is available on DVD.

It is not UK based but plays on my dvd player.

Not sleep position as such but general conditioning work that helps. This will impact sleep.

Check it is suitable for you with your health team

Hope it helps.

The exercises are so subtle you think it won't do anything but used regularly it does.

Take care

Gigi

[honeybug]

Hi papersnowdrop 😊🌿🌸🦋

I have severe hEDS now. When I was able to sleep in my bed I used 9 pillows to support all my joints. I found it very helpful for my side sleeping use a good head pillow. Whichever shoulder that’s against the mattress I used a very high pillow that my arm can lean upon to support it so it is not laying against the bed.

Also the arm that’s facing the ceiling I used a very firm pillow that I could nestle against the armpit that provides support for the whole joint as well as kept the other torso joints in position too. The key is to remember to repeat the same supported positions whenever you roll over on the opposite side.

Best wishes for success. Oh, I also used a lidocaine lotion when needed to help with very painful joint pain so I could get relief to fall asleep.

I pray this works for you too.

Love and prayers

EJ 😊🤗♥️🥰🙏🕊🌿🌸🦋

[OldTed60 in reply to honeybug]

Great advice EJ - I do same.

I have hEDS and several autoimmune diseases and also degenerative disc disease so a firm (not hard) mattress and a couple of memory foam and soft foam pillows are always needed to support my limbs and ensure neck is properly aligned with my spine.

[honeybug in reply to OldTed60]

Thanks OldTed60 😊

Sorry to hear you’ve got this too. I also have the firmest mattress available I also have a plethora of conditions many autoimmune diseases

I pray your hEDS never progresses like mine…I no longer can sleep in my bed Since 2014 I’ve slept in my wheeledchair which doesn’t work well for proper sleeping

You take care and best wishes for your future

Love and prayers,

EJ 🤗♥️🥰🙏🕊🌿🌸🦋

[OldTed60 in reply to honeybug]

Poor you that sounds horrible re sleeping in wheelchair 😳😢. Tbh with all this overlap, including the opposite to hEDS m, systemic sclerosis, I never know which is causing what. My main msk problems are with standing still, numb feet and pain in shoulders, neck and lumbar sacral. But much bigger for me is the paralysed gut. X

[honeybug in reply to OldTed60]

Oh my goodness Ted, so sorry you’re going through this. Comorbidities does make it difficult to pinpoint which condition is rearing its ugly head

How did your gut become paralyzed??

Gentle gentle hugs to you. x

[OldTed60 in reply to honeybug]

Thanks. My scleroderma only showed up in 2019 and still took until earlier this year to get diagnosed, despite being antibody positive. One of the hallmarks of my rare antibody is severe scleroderma GI involvement and this has happened over the past 3 years. I’ve lost nearly half my body weight unintentionally. So my MSK issues have tended to take a back seat in terms of my doctors focus. And the scleroderma expert rheumatologist also diagnosed me with hEDS.

My own NHS rheumatologist has referred me for genetic testing just to exclude one of the rarer subtypes. I’ve arranged a review with my neurologist now to discuss the spinal problems so that GI surgeons have the full picture where it comes to any emergency bowel or stomach surgery X

[honeybug]

Thanks so much for explaining. I’m so very sorry to hear about all of this.

I hope and pray that you will receive all of the necessary care and diagnostics needed to manage your complex conditions.

Sending you gentle hugs support and prayers.

EJ 🤗♥️🥰🙏🕊🌿🌸🦋