# Sidesleepers--can you train yourself to sleep on your back? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518 "2022-04-08T13:56:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/1 "2022-04-08T13:56:18Z")
I’ve been a side-sleeper all my life, but at 54 with 2 arthritic shoulders that seems to be ceasing to be an option. I can lay on either side for about 20 minutes before it gets pretty uncomfortable. Last night I dozed on my back for 6 hours–not exactly restful. Anybody taught themselves to change sleep positions, and if so, how? I guess eventually I’ll get so tired it will just happen (or I’ll have a psychotic break, per MIB). If/when I get surgery it will become absolutely mandatory, of course. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/2 "2022-04-08T14:13:30Z")
I was a side sleeper for years. Then we kinda figured out I had mild sleep apnea and I needed to sleep on my back on a wedge. It took about a month or so to get used to it, and now I can’t sleep any other way. It helped that it’s kinda impossible to get comfortable on your side on a wedge - your upper body is bent at an uncomfortable angle. Not sure how it would work without a wedge. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/3 "2022-04-08T14:22:06Z")
I have a touch of GERD and we bought a slanty bed frame and the malady is under control. However, if I try to sleep on my back that chronic muscle in my lower right kidney quadrant will spasm like there’s no tomorrow – MRIs are a blast. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/4 "2022-04-08T14:22:09Z")
Yes. I was always a side sleeper, but around a decade ago I had shoulder and back injuries that required sleeping on my back. I got used to it. Now I’m mostly fine and I can and do sleep both ways. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/5 "2022-04-08T14:32:27Z")
I have a hard time sleeping flat on my back. However, I can sleep flat on my front, so I at least still have that option. If I have to sleep on my back, I usually end up with my legs all contorted or the comforter bunched up under my back on one side so at least I sorta feel like I’m on my side. Have you tried a recliner? I have no idea if it helps for arthritic shoulders, but it’s almost a requirement for sleeping the first few nights after shoulder surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/6 "2022-04-08T14:36:17Z")
I do need to find a recliner. I’m going to have some sort of surgery soon (up to and including replacement of one shoulder), so a recliner needs to be purchased. Of course, that’s a real joy right now. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/7 "2022-04-08T18:58:16Z")
Imhave a bent septum, and no, I’ve never had a busted nose. I can only sleep on my right side. During the night, I do roll onto my back or onto my left side, but I don’t stay in a different position for very long. I’m rather fond of breathing, so I sleep mostly on my right side. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/8 "2022-04-08T19:04:38Z")
I don’t want to so, no, I couldn’t. As soon as I fell asleep, I would turn on my side. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/9 "2022-04-08T19:11:55Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > Anybody taught themselves to change sleep positions, and if so, how? I’m typically a side sleeper, but I broke my leg, which forced me to sleep on my back so I could put a pillow under my knee. I got used to it, but I do not recommend this method. As soon as the brace came off, I went back to side sleeping. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/10 "2022-04-08T19:54:01Z")
I typically sleep on my side(s). I could readily sleep on my back, but I try not to, as it makes my snoring worse. Have never had trouble sleeping on my back when medically needed - such as after ankle surgery. Is front sleeping an option? I regularly review records in which people sleep in recliners - most often due to apnea/respiratory issues. Sometimes b/c they lack mobility to climb stairs to the bedrooms. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/11 "2022-04-08T22:19:58Z")
I was always a side sleeper, until at the age of 67 I had open-heart surgery. I then slept on my back for several weeks. Now, I can sleep in any position (except, sleeping on my stomach gives me a back ache). ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/12 "2022-04-08T22:29:45Z")
I had two frozen shoulders about ten years ago, and tried to sleep on my back. I couldn’t. I had to pile up pillows into a pile that, when I laid on my side on it, let my shoulder hang into a gap. It was the only way I could sleep. After the shoulders healed up, I saw this “[Medcline](https://www.amazon.com/stores/MedCline/page/973842C7-F5D3-40F3-B3E5-5E8E638265E8?store_ref=SB_A05803431HQS8PLSWBTHP&ref_=sbv_search_btf)” special side sleeping device for people with sore shoulders. I wish I had one of these ten years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/13 "2022-04-08T22:30:35Z")
There was a contraption that kept popping up on my FB feed. It was for side sleepers and shoulder pain. It was like a harness you stick your arm through and it suspends the shoulder so there’s no weight on it. That thing sounds perfect for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/14 "2022-04-08T23:01:01Z")
Thanks!!! Might have to give that a try. Looks like it could deal with a lot of issues. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/15 "2022-04-08T23:05:46Z")
A long time ago I broke a collarbone and quickly learned to sleep on my back for the duration. After it healed I went back to flopping around. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/16 "2022-04-08T23:12:43Z")
I don’t know if I could sleep on my back if I had to try it long enough, but I’ve never achieved anything beyond a sort of half-conscious grogginess that I won’t dignify with the word sleep. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/17 "2022-04-09T02:10:14Z")
That looks pretty comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/18 "2022-04-09T02:40:34Z")
I don’t think I could sleep on my back on a bet. I do give it a good, solid try every now and then, mostly because it’s genuinely perplexing to me why it doesn’t lend itself to dozing off, but after staring at the ceiling for however long I always wind up giving up. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/19 "2022-04-10T16:42:53Z")
Used to be a side sleeper. Then I broke a rib. With a broken rib, you sleep sitting up, at least for the first 8 or 10 weeks. But for the next month or two after that, it’s lots more comfortable to sleep on one’s back. And I never went back to side sleeping. Not that I recommend breaking a rib to change your sleeping position. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidesleepers-can-you-train-yourself-to-sleep-on-your-back/962518/20 "2022-04-10T21:47:30Z")
I trained myself to sleep on my back as a late teenager.