I'm a Side Sleeper with Bad Knees
I have had neck problems and back problems for years, and thirty years ago a physical therapist told me that when I sleep, I should keep a pillow under my knees if I'm on my back or between my knees if I sleep on my side. I am also supposed to hug a smaller than normal size pillow. It has not been easy to find pillows that will help me sleep without pain. I'm sharing the results of my search with you to save you time if you also need a knee pillow.
I've always been a
side sleeper. The main reason for that was that I have post-nasal
drip that makes me cough during the night, and when I cough lying on
my back, it hurts my ribs. (Getting old isn't much fun.) This year my
knees have developed problems. I could not seem to find one of any of
the numerous pillows around the house that was the right shape or
thickness to fit well between my knees to keep my knees and hips
properly aligned. I finally decided to get a pillow made for the job.
&
Finding the Best Knee Pillow
I searched several
knee pillows on Amazon and decided on this one – the Cushy Cloud Memory Foam Knee Pillow. It arrived almost instantly – the very
next day – although I had ordered only the standard free shipping.
I was very happy about this, since my right knee, which had been my
good one, had suddenly gotten so bad I could hardly walk.
The inside of my
Cushy Cloud is all memory foam. The outside is a soft gray cover that
I can machine wash if necessary. It has a zipper closing to keep the
pillow snug inside. I love it. Although I can sleep on my back when I
want to since I got my new REM adjustable bed, I still often want to
sleep on my side. The pillow can be placed between my thighs or below
my knees to keep my spine properly aligned and my knees almost
pain-free. Heat helps, too. Now I crawl under my electric blanket for
the warmth and put the pillow in place. Within minutes the pain in my
knee has subsided so I can sleep.
 |
| Cushy Cloud Memory Foam Knee Pillow |
Almost by accident I
discovered something else. When I was using an ordinary pillow under
my knees while on my back, I would just switch its position to
between my legs when I turned to my side. Since I got the new bed,
though, I didn't need a pillow under my knees because the bed
adjusted. If I wanted to turn over, I had to take the pillow off the
table next to the bed and maneuver it under the covers to get it
between my knees, and I always had to struggle enough to do this to
wake myself up thoroughly or to set off a hot flash. I discovered
that if I kept the Cushy Cloud standing tall between my knees while
on my back, it was already there when I wanted to roll over, and it
kept my knees warmer in the meantime. If that left knee is really
hurting bad when I go to bed, I put it over the concave top of the
Cushy Cloud when I'm sleeping on my back and it gives me extra
support and warmth while elevating my knee a bit more. It seems to
help relieve the pain.
A Pillow to Hug
In case you're
wondering, my favorite pillow to hug is a camping / toddler / travel
pillow. I have shown one that's the same size but a better pillow
below. I have also included among the suggestions the pillow cases
that fit it. I'm going to break down and buy a couple myself. The
one that came with my pillow, bought decades ago, finally wore out,
and substituting a normal pillow case just doesn't work well. It's
easier to pick one up at Amazon than to scour the local stores in
search of one, even now that I know what I'm looking for. The ones I
recommend below will fit most camping, travel, or toddler pillows.
They definitely match the toddler pillow I recommend below.
Sometimes getting a
good night's sleep depends on having the right bed and the right
pillows on it. We bought out beds after spending a lot of time trying
them out in person, and that's the only way I'd buy a bed. The
pillows I've recommended can be successfully purchased online. If you
aren't satisfied with your Cushy Cloud knee pillow, you can send it back
for a refund. I'm keeping mine.
Cushy Cloud Memory Foam Knee Pillow - Orthopedic Contour Knee Spacer Best PillowsHypoallergenic TODDLER PILLOW - 13 x 19 - Made in the USA - Most Trusted since 2007 - Pediatrician Recommended - Kids LOVE IT - Allergy Free - 200 Soft Percale - Machine Washable (Ages 2 - 4)TODDLER PILLOWCASE Cover - Fits 13.5 X 19 to 14 X 20 Toddler or Travel Pillow - 100% Luxury Microfiber - Hand Made in the USA - 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEEChild/Toddler/Travel size 14x21 Junior Pillowcase 100% cotton Color: WHITE
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Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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