For years, I woke up every single morning with a dull, throbbing ache in my knees and lower back. Being a dedicated side sleeper, I didn’t realize how much strain I was putting on my joints by letting my legs stack directly on top of each other. It felt like my hips were being pulled out of alignment every night.
About a month ago, I finally bought a contoured memory foam leg pillow. It fits between my knees and stays in place with a soft strap. The difference in my morning stiffness has been absolutely incredible. I’m finally sleeping through the night without tossing and turning to find a comfortable position.
I’m curious to hear from others who deal with similar issues. Does anyone else find that side sleeping makes their joint pain worse? Have you tried different types of body pillows, or do you prefer using a specific mattress topper? I’d also love to know if anyone has found wedge pillows helpful for hip support!
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I started doing this last year and it was a total game changer for my lower back too.
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Does the strap ever bother you or get too tight? I’ve looked at those but I was worried about circulation if the strap was too snug.
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I use a full-length body pillow instead. It’s a bit bulky in the bed, but it supports my shoulder and my knees at the same time. My husband calls it ‘the wall’ but it’s the only way I can get any rest without my joints screaming at me by 3 AM.
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I found that a firm mattress topper made a bigger difference for my hips than the pillow did. If the mattress is too soft, you sink in and the alignment goes out the window regardless of what you put between your knees. Glad you found something that works though!
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To answer your question about the strap, I actually cut the strap off mine. It stays in place well enough just with the friction of my pajama pants. If you move around a lot it might fall out, but for me, it works fine without it.
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Thanks for the tip! I’m going to order one today and see if it helps my morning stiffness.
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I tried a wedge pillow for my hips but found it way too steep. It actually made my lower back hurt worse. I think the knee pillow is a much safer bet for most people starting out.
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The key for me was finding one that wasn’t too thick. If it’s too thick, it pushes your top leg up too high and causes a different kind of ache in the hip socket. It took me three tries to find the right height, so don’t give up if the first one you buy feels awkward. Look for the ‘contoured’ ones specifically as they tend to be more ergonomic than a standard square pillow.
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So true about the alignment. It’s amazing how such a small change makes a massive impact on quality of life.
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