United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I had a search through the boards but couldn't find this topic covered elsewhere. One of the biggest problems I've had with my LOBPI is my sleeping position. I generally go to sleep on my left side but I have to sleep with my elbow at an angle up towards the pillow so the inside of my arm is in contact with the bed. Over the years I have tried sleeping with the outside of my arm in contact with the bed but this has been too painful. I am finding that I am unconsciously twisting my shoulder round underneath me and this is so uncomfortable it's waking me up. I feel that a diagram would be helpful at this point

I wondered what you have found comfortable. Advice gratefully received.

I tottally get it. first the down side! with a fracture elbow and scapula and erbs, put me in a splite in 1956 at 4 or 5. please work out later,the position that you use to sleep with erbs! use it ok?

Padi Master Diver Tom

I can answer this question better, when I was little I put a big stuff animal under my erbs arm and sleep like that. I latter put a medium size pillow under my arm and surprized that in the morning it was still there. i think I do it because it changes the angle of my shoulder of erbs. It seems to take the preasure off the shoulder I guess??

Padi Master Diver Tom

For over three years now I have slept in the exact same position, flat on my back, head on one pillow left arm on another. For the first couple of months I couldn't even tolerate a wrinkle in the sheet under my shoulder.
It is surprising that nobody has brought this up yet???

When I was younger I thought that I should try and sleep with my arm tucked under me. It was so painful that I didn't sleep at all so I just kept it at the angle that it seemed to be the most comfortable. Maybe I should have tried sleeping on my back more but as I like to sleep on my side that didn't really work for me. If you are used to sleeping on your side it must be even more uncomfortable sleeping on your back and extremely painful if you can't tolerate a wrinkle because of your injury. I sometimes wonder just how far the medical profession has come in understanding nerve pain...

swhite,

It's not the same for OBPI and TBPI in the pain area. Most of us with OBPI do not get that same acute pain associated with TBPI, so that is most likely why none of us have mentioned it.

Marieke 33, LOBPI

I tend to sleep on top of my arm, then i wake up with a stiff hand thats usually all tingly. my hand and fingers usually swell up a bit, and it goes away as i move my fingers more. when i had to wear a brace at night, i used to stick my arm out, but sleep on the shoulder, it would still get tingly though.
~Mel