I've always been a tummy / side sleeper, with one arm trapped under my body and the other arm under my pillow, and my legs curled up. Sounds very uncomfortable... but it's the only way I can get to sleep. I generally wake up in the same position.

But for the last few months I've been having neck and shoulder pain, which is getting worse and worse (despite physio). And this morning I woke up and realised my shoulders were hunched up around my neck... and it suddenly occurred to me that my sleeping position might help - e.g. sleeping on my back.

Does anyone have any tips on how best to achieve this? In terms of stopping myself turning back over in the night...

And advice welcomed!

Try a U-shaped pillow? (Nackenkissen in German, not sure what they call it down your end).

Failing that, speak to the people in a specialist bed shop* - they can often help with pillows and things. If it gets really bad, you might need to sleep in a neck brace for a few weeks. That worked a treat for me when I had similar problems a few years ago.

*not Ikea.

On back without a pillow. On side with one of those special pillows to support neck. Keep up the physio and core strength exercises. Proper posture during day is also fundamental.

Having to wait for my shoulder surgery, I found out that the way I sleep gives me much more pain. A way I found out to help me with it is to attach my upper arm on my body at night so I don't lift it up above my head while sleeping.

I also curl my wrist when sleeping so I now wear a wrist brace to stop the habit. It seems to work so far.

totally a wrist curler myself... but my age is showing an my body doesn't like it in the morning.

Nil - just out of interest - what is your arm attached to during the day??

Can't be attached to her mouth, because she's already got her foot in that.
Just a joke, Nil!
I bought one of those horribly expensive Elsa pillows a few months ago and, fortunately for my bank-balance, it seems to have been worth the money and I have less pain in my shoulders. I've still got the same 'pain in the neck' - but that's my dearly-beloved o.h.

I've an Elsa too. I sleep wonderfully with it - however, whatever you do, don't give it a little shove to get it into a better position under your head without putting on a baseball glove first. In the middle of one night on October, I forgot the baseball glove and tore the tendon at the top joint of a finger. Not a good idea. Six weeks splinted and it has still not healed completely. It looks like I may have a bent finger for the rest of my life and anyway, the splint plays havoc with my spelling!

Ouch! (too short apparently - so ouch, ouch!)

My shoulders are better now I've got a Tempura style topper and a good quality V shaped pillow.

When I was young I had a terrible car crash and several months in traction - had no choice but to sleep on my back, but wouldn't recommend it (:

Actually it didn't hurt at all - not even when I did it. I only realised something was 'really' wrong the following morning when I couldn't straighten the top joint. I can hardly make a big fuss about it, it's not even my right hand.

Having had an operation on your stomach does help.... I still find it difficult to get to sleep on my back but agree that with a good pillow it is easier

try hypnosis. It works on a lot of people although you may need more than one session. Also some hypnotists are better than others.