For as long as I can remember I have battled with chronic back pain as a result of scoliosis (a sideways curvature in the spine). Until recently, it was a fight I felt I was losing. The pain was disrupting my day to day activities, as well as preventing me from getting a good night’s sleep. I struggled to fall asleep, and when I finally dozed off, I found myself constantly waking up from the pain. I was a familiar face to chiropractors, doctors, and specialists of all kinds. None of their recommendations gave me any long term relief and so I was back to square one again, searching for a new fix.
Earlier this year, I was introduced to a wool body pillow. Sleeping with one has been a game changer. Not only has it improved my sleep quality, but it has also effectively relieved my ongoing back pain. Who would have thought that between all of the healing therapies, my body pillow would have the most positive, consistent effect on my pain levels.
So what is a body pillow all about?
A body pillow fits between the knees, runs the length of the torso and is cradled between the arms, supporting the entire body to keep us correctly aligned. Most people sleep on their side, either predominantly or at some point during the night. Without a body pillow, when we fall asleep or turn onto our side during the night, our hips fall forward, causing our spine to twist and our shoulders to collapse. The result is a very uncomfortable position that completely throws off our alignment.
Whether you’re seeking relief from pain such as I was or just finding yourself tossing and turning all night, a body pillow can provide you with the extra support you need to get a good night of rest. Let’s go over a few other advantages of sleeping with a body pillow:
- Prevents the upper body from collapsing and twisting as gravity pulls it down.
- Distributes weight evenly to improve blood circulation.
- Relieves muscular tension which helps you get to sleep faster.
- Improves positioning and reduces pressure on the lower back, spine, shoulders and hips.
- Allows the spine to fully relax, minimizing the need to shift positions to find comfort.
- Can help to ease snoring by keeping you from turning onto your back.
Since the spine supports our body all day, giving it relief at night is very important. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, are recovering from an injury or surgery, or just want to improve the quality of your sleep, a body pillow is a reliable and affordable sleep aid. Since I did not qualify for surgery (the degree of my curvature was not considered serious enough to operate), I am grateful to have been able to find a simple yet powerful tool to help me manage my pain. It would have been wonderful to know about it sooner...but I am sure glad I know now.
Shop Resthouse’s eco-fabulous body pillows here: https://resthouse.ca/collections/body-pillows
