Back pain was destroying my life. I could barely function. The simple chore of getting dressed took on new misery because my range of motion was so limited. At 35, I felt that I was far too young to be holding on to furniture when getting dressed. Attempting to bed over would leave me yelping in pain and grabbing for something before I fell. Trying to reach my toes sent shooting pains around my back and down into my legs. The pain would even travel up into my neck, making it difficult to look around me.
I visited a chiropractor based on a friend’s suggestion. I live outside of Seattle, but Dr. Baker in Kirkland was so highly recommended I thought I might give him a try. I had no idea what to expect. I certainly wasn’t expecting a lesson on how to sleep while keeping my back in proper alignment. Yet it turns out that was exactly what I needed.
I had been sleeping on my side, legs stretched out below me. Dr. Baker explained that the position was forcing my back into an unnatural bend, and my chronic back pain was the end result. He taught me how to lie down so I would maintain proper spinal alignment. He showed me the importance of keeping one leg slightly raised by using a pillow. While it may feel good to sleep on my side with my legs stretched down to the foot of the bed, it’s not worth the pain that always comes later.
After the treatments at PrimeSpine and changing my sleeping positions, I am pleased to say that my back pain is completely gone. I can get myself dressed without feeling like I’m 80 years old. I can sit comfortably without shooting pain traveling down my back. I can turn and look at my children without feeling as if I’ve been stabbed in the neck. It’s still amazing to me that I can thank the amazing changes in my life to learning how to sleep the right way.
