Happy New Year to everyone and sincere wishes for some quality pain free time in 2014.

[petalnumber2]

I've been missing for a while again, because my shoulders and upper spine have been so painful and sitting at my lap top just aggravated it more. But, I have been following some of your stories, poems etc. I had a steroid injection in the worst shoulder on Christmas eve which made me a bit more comfortable, but I have to be careful not to lift or carry anything weighty. Lying in bed seems to make things worse, but I've found laying flat on my back the best position although I'm a curl up in the foetus position kind of a gal (old woman) :-(, so I find it really difficult to get off to sleep. Any advice would be very much appreciated from you lovely people. Love June xx

[allanah]

I find lying on top of a duvet helps, it makes it more comfortable xx

[Trulyfedup]

Hi, sorry to hear you are in a bad way. I know how horrible it is not to be able to sleep comfortably in bed....I can't bear going to sleep on my back, I curl up too. That hurts sometimes so I stuff pillows in different positions depending upon where my pain is but it's awful isn't it? I do feel for you. I hope you find respite soon. Maryx

[petalnumber2 in reply to Trulyfedup]

Thank you for your understanding, it's really upsetting not to be able to get comfortable in bed, and then lack of sleep leads to more problems. I'm going to try the extra cushions and pillows which oldtimer has suggested, perhaps it will help you too. All the best to you. June xx

[oldtimer]

I like to sleep on my side too. I have a pillow for my head that can support my neck but extend it at the same time so that it doesn't curl up forward - oh, dear that doesn't really explain it, but it helps to stop my shoulders going forward. And I use a neck pillow, or a thin pillow if it's not too hot, under my armpit to slightly lift my arm away from my body and reduce the pull on my upper shoulder - and another pillow to rest my forearm on to support it.

I have found it helpful to have lots of pillows that I can arrange around my body to keep it as straight as possible, as curling up makes my shoulder pain worse.

[petalnumber2 in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you for some good advice. I understand everything you have said. Of course it makes sense to support parts of the body with pillows, why on earth I didn't think about that I don't know, but I'll definitely gather a few soft cushions and pillows around me before I go to bed tonight. It is the pull on the upper shoulder which keeps me awake and has me constantly shifting position to get comfortable.

At least I'm getting a bit better at sleeping on my back. Thanks again and take care. June xx