Migraine

So I went to the Chiari Institute in NY this past week for a consult for my Chiari malformation. As part of the consult you meet with a nurse, a neurologist, and a neurosurgeon. During my consult with the neurologist he asked how I sleep. When I told him I sleep on my stomach he said that is the worst way to sleep. He said that when you sleep on your stomach you are cranking your neck to one side or the other which causes neck problems and can trigger migraines! He said when people get migraines he always asks them how they sleep and when they say on their stomach he says if you stop sleeping on your stomach there is a good chance you can eliminate at least some of your migraines!

Now when you only sleep on your stomach it is nearly impossible to stop but he thinks it can make a big difference in your headaches--especially when you suffer from multiple types of headaches. He suggested buying a body pillow to hug on your side to keep from going on your stomach and having your spouse nudge you if they find you on your stomach (hehe). He was great!

Just thought I'd mention it to those stomach sleepers out there. It's worth a shot right!?!

Amy

Yes!

I learned a long time ago (because of back problems) that stomach sleeping is a big no no.

I sleep on my back or side - which side sleeping is not all that great either, but it's better then the stomach I guess.

Wow I have never heard of this before. I tend to sleep on my stomach, although since I need a new bed it has been on my side lately because stomach sleeping cramps my neck in this bed. I haven't noticed any difference in my migraines, but I hadn't thought to look at this aspect either.
Thank you for posting this,
Jen

Yes, I also thought it was very interesting as I have seen numerous doctors/neurologists and no one has mentioned this but it makes complete sense! He said for some if they can completely stay off their stomach that it will almost eliminate all headaches!
Amy

I'm totally a side sleeper!

How did your appointment go?

I don't know about that - as you know, migraines are neurological - so sleeping or should I say proper sleep may help prevent triggering a migraine attack, I don't think it can completely eliminate them, since that would mean sleep would be a "cure".

I think it could definatly help - and most definatly cut down the frequency if you trigger off no sleep or poor sleep patterns, but don't count on sleeping on your back to completly eliminate migraines from your life, because that just won't happen. Sorry.

It would be nice if it did though! Think of all the money we would save!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by stampinamyb:
Yes, I also thought it was very interesting as I have seen numerous doctors/neurologists and no one has mentioned this but it makes complete sense! He said for some if they can completely stay off their stomach that it will almost eliminate all headaches!
Amy

It would be great if we could count on it! I know I can't because I have too many other issues. He was talking about the people who's migraines are being triggered because of muscle spasms in their neck, then they are cranking their neck to the side when they sleep--if they can eliminate that they could possibly make a huge difference!

Nancy - my appointment was wonderful! The neurosurgeon is a brilliant doctor (which is why so many go there). I found out I have three issues going on, moderate Chiari, tethered cord, and the worst is a connective tissue disorder. I've always been very flexible and double jointed but never realized it was a bad thing! Well my neck is basically sunken down on my shoulders causing all of my problems. It's like my neck is broken. He wants to be conservative for 6 months and see how things go and go from there. I have to do things like wear a cervical collar while I'm driving since my neck is basically bobbling around in the car (my brother calls me a bobblehead now). This explains why everything I do gives me a migraine. I have to wear this contraption while I'm watching tv in the evening that goes around my neck and pumps up to support and stretch my neck, traction, I have to wear these tights around my legs, waste to bring the blood up, and he wanted me to take diamox to reduce the pressure but I am allergic to sulfa so I can't take that (bummer). So we'll see how all of these things go and keep him updated on what works/doesn't and if I think it helps or not. Everything completely makes sense so now we'll just see.
Thanks for asking.

Amy

Hmm... I can see how sleeping on your stomach and getting your neck kinked up might trigger a migraine for some. For me, I've always had vertigo issues, which are the worst when I lay down on my back and close my eyes. Inevitably I get dizzy within about 30 seconds. (My neuro thought this was very strange and says he's never heard of it.) It wasn't until college that I could even occasionally sleep on my back, so I've always been a side or stomach sleeper (usually side).

The nights when my vertigo is really bad I have to sleep on my stomach to have any hope at all of sleeping. Normally I can stack my pillows so that my head doesn't turn too far to the side and cramp up my neck. Either that or I stack up my large pile of pillows until I'm basically sitting up (sideways though). Not exactly ideal but you do what you have to...

I'm a side sleeper -- almost always my right side. I'm waking up with the beginnings of pain at the base of my skull, though. I'm going to get a new pillow before I try to learn to sleep on my back.

Sleeping on your back is a horrible thing for sleep apnea. Between my DH's diagnosis and his sleep study 4 months later, we tried to keep him sleeping on his side instead of his back. Now that he has his CPAP, he can sleep on his back and not snore.

Gretchen in Mississippi

Glad to hear your appointment went well!!!

And just think - those stockings they have you wearing - they can double to help prevent vericos veins!! LOL - I've had my fair share of those monsters from years of retail.

quote:

Originally posted by stampinamyb:
It would be great if we could count on it! I know I can't because I have too many other issues. He was talking about the people who's migraines are being triggered because of muscle spasms in their neck, then they are cranking their neck to the side when they sleep--if they can eliminate that they could possibly make a huge difference!

Nancy - my appointment was wonderful! The neurosurgeon is a brilliant doctor (which is why so many go there). I found out I have three issues going on, moderate Chiari, tethered cord, and the worst is a connective tissue disorder. I've always been very flexible and double jointed but never realized it was a bad thing! Well my neck is basically sunken down on my shoulders causing all of my problems. It's like my neck is broken. He wants to be conservative for 6 months and see how things go and go from there. I have to do things like wear a cervical collar while I'm driving since my neck is basically bobbling around in the car (my brother calls me a bobblehead now). This explains why everything I do gives me a migraine. I have to wear this contraption while I'm watching tv in the evening that goes around my neck and pumps up to support and stretch my neck, traction, I have to wear these tights around my legs, waste to bring the blood up, and he wanted me to take diamox to reduce the pressure but I am allergic to sulfa so I can't take that (bummer). So we'll see how all of these things go and keep him updated on what works/doesn't and if I think it helps or not. Everything completely makes sense so now we'll just see.
Thanks for asking.

Amy

When I was a kid I slept on my stomach a lot. Not anymore. I can't stand the pressure it puts on my neck and shoulders. If I tried it now, I'd probably spasm up and get a huge headache from the tension, which would morph into a migraine. Plus, it's hard to sleep on your stomach on a waterbed, I've found. It stretches all your assorted parts funny.

I also can't plop down on the sofa or the floor on my stomach, propped up on my elbows for more than a few minutes at a time. I'm mostly a back sleeper, but sometimes gravitate toward my left side by morning.

Amy - glad your appointment went well and good luck.


I'm a side sleeper too, sometimes the back but usually not. Sometimes if I sleep on a strange pillow my neck will hurt like crazy, so i always take my pillow with me now.

I had never heard that before either-- thanks for posting this.

I almost always sleep on my stomach and often wake up with headaches (non-migraine) and had never considered before that this could be a trigger, since sleeping patterns (sleeping too much or too little) is a very big trigger for me. I will try sleeping on my side, maybe it will help some...that would be nice, wouldn't it?

What an interesting thought/suggestion. I'm so glad you brought this up. I have always slept on my stomach or side, but mostly stomach. Now that I am currently having neck pain, I'm trying to sleep on my back. We'll see if it makes a difference, but I'm glad to try it anyway.

Kelly

Hi All,

This is a GREAT post. Thanks, Amy.

I have been a "stomach" sleeper all my life. And that's probably why my neck is all jacked up in my "older" age. I've been going to a physical therapist for almost a year now to help with my neck problems (which are a huge trigger for my migraines). The exercises she has given me help a great deal (as long as I actually DO them) HELLO? *giggle* She told me that sleeping on my stomach is horrible, which I've heard from so many other medical folks. Why does it have to be so hard to get out of this habit? I've tried and tried and MAN it's tough. But I keep on trying. I always start out on my back but I usually wake up several times a night. I wonder why that happens. I mean, it's not like it's uncomfortable. It's more like I just wake up out of a sound sleep to find I'm on my back (still). I just wish I could sleep the whole night through (of course, not drinking 20 oz. of water close to bedtime might help that too). Whenever I wake up in the morning and find that I'm on my stomach, I almost always have a bad headache, either right away or soon to follow (which often times turns into a migraine). So I know this to be true - FOR SURE!

I got a down pillow a few years ago hoping that it would mold my head enough so that I could sleep on my stomach. NOPE... didn't work. So then I used it to fluff up under the curve of my neck. Problem is.. it doesn't stay that way. My husband had hip surgery almost 2 months ago and these foam cut out pillows that they put under your head (instead of a pillow) in the hospital are great. They take all the pressure off of my neck (yes, I stole his). Problem is.... they are kind of hard. But hey, sometimes you've just got to sacrifice. I've even found that I can sometimes get away with being on my stomach for just a little bit (bad habits can be SO hard to break) while using this pillow. I know... I know... I need to just STAY away from my stomach. I'm trying, though. I really am.

Has anyone found a miracle pillow yet? If so, please tell us about it.

Blessings,

~Sandi~