Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Correct Sleep Pose
• Part 2 of 3: Use Appropriate Supportive Products
• Part 3 of 3: Improve Sleep

Scoliosis is a medical condition that causes an unnatural curvature of the spine.If you have scoliosis, you need to take extra care of how you sleep, as improper sleeping posture can aggravate your symptoms. In addition, with the help of certain methods, it is possible to improve sleep in scoliosis.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Correct Sleep Pose

1. 1 Sleep on your back. For those with scoliosis, it is best to sleep on your back on a flat surface. This neutral posture does not cause unnecessary tension and unnatural curvature of the spine.
   • This pose is especially good for lateral curvature of the spine.
2. 2 Don't sleep on your stomach. With scoliosis, sleeping on the stomach has a very bad effect on the condition of the spine. This is due to the fact that in this position, the middle and lower parts of the spine are straightened, and the neck is turned to the side.
3. 3 Try not to sleep on your side. While not as bad as sleeping on your stomach, lying on your side is also not very good for people with scoliosis. This position can put undue pressure on the pelvis, neck, and shoulders.
4. 4 Learn to sleep in a new position. If you are not used to sleeping on your back, chances are you will feel uncomfortable at first. It is possible that in a dream you will instinctively try to take a different position - in this case, you will probably need some tricks that will help break the old habit.
   • One way is to create additional pillows around you to keep you from rolling onto your side.
   • You can also use duct tape to attach raw peas (or something similar) to your sides. As a result, you will be uncomfortable sleeping on your side, and you will roll over onto your back again.

Part 2 of 3: Use Appropriate Supportive Products

1. 1 Get a good mattress. For scoliosis, it is imperative to have a comfortable supportive mattress. For most people, a medium to high firm mattress works best, as long as you feel comfortable.
   • Memory foam mattresses are not suitable for those with scoliosis as they often provide less support than regular mattresses.
2. 2 Use supportive pillows. Many people with scoliosis have insufficient curvature of the spine in the neck and lower back. Try using a pillow under your neck and a bolster pillow under your lower back while you sleep so that your spine curves correctly.
   • It is better to use one pillow or roller rather than several. Sleeping on multiple pillows can be harmful.
3. 3 Follow your doctor's orders for the brace. If you are advised to wear a corset to correct the curvature of the spine, you must follow the doctor's instructions and wear the corset as long as necessary. Most patients are advised to wear a corset for at least 21 hours a day, in which case it is necessary to leave it on overnight.

Part 3 of 3: Improve Sleep

1. 1 Lead an active lifestyle. Being active throughout the day can help relieve back pain. In addition, an active lifestyle uses more energy, which helps to fall asleep in the evening.
   • Aerobic, stretching and strengthening core exercises are very beneficial for scoliosis.
   • Refrain from contact sports, as well as sports swimming, so as not to strain your back.
2. 2 Darken your bedroom well. Scoliosis can decrease the production of the sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin. Any light sources in the bedroom, be it a lamp, TV or something similar, interfere with the release of melatonin, which is especially bad for those who already have low levels of this hormone. Completely shade your bedroom so that your body is producing enough melatonin.
   • Children with scoliosis often have higher levels of growth hormone. Increased levels of growth hormone usually contribute to a decrease in melatonin levels.
3. 3 If you are getting used to a corset, be patient. When you are advised to wear a corset for scoliosis, at first you may feel that it is impossible to sleep in it normally.Fortunately, most patients quickly get used to it, and the corset will most likely stop bothering you in 1–2 weeks.
   • If, after several weeks, you continue to experience discomfort during sleep, consult your doctor and determine if there is any way to improve the corset.
4. 4 Deal with pain. Some scoliosis sufferers experience no pain, while others complain of severe pain. If you wake up with pain at night, talk to your doctor about how best to deal with the problem. There are many ways to treat scoliosis pain, and the specific method you choose depends on the severity of your condition.
   • For mild pain, you can take an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen. For more severe pain, your doctor may prescribe other medications for you.
   • In addition, your doctor may recommend injections into the spine, although they only provide temporary relief.
   • It is possible that physical therapy or chiropractic manipulation will help relieve pain over the long term.
   • If other methods fail to relieve pain, your doctor may recommend surgery. Most often, for scoliosis, such operations are performed as decompression of the spine, in which the disc or bone compressing the nerve is removed, or spinal fusion, that is, fusion of adjacent vertebrae, which improves the shape of the spine.