As you know many of us PD patients have trouble sleeping at night. We awaken frequently at night every few hours due to various reasons (difficulty moving and turning in bed, muscle cramping, frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate, etc.) I have been having an issue with numbness to the back of my head as I lay on my back sleeping which wakes me up frequently at night. I have had PD for 11 years and this problem has been getting progressively worse. I have tried various pillows none of whch have helped. My neurologist calls it occipital neuralgia or numbness. Has anyone else out there experienced it and have you discovered anything that helps remedy the condition?? Thanks for your help!!

have you tried sleeping on your side? or your stomach? What about a pillow like a donut where your lobe will not be under any pressure. You'd have to design it yourself. Possibly a piece of foam cut to fit your head and shoulder area. Memory foam??? Let us know if you solve your problem.

I don't have the numbness, but I sometimes get cervical migraines.
There are simple stretch exercises you can do several times a day to keep your dystonic neck muscles in shape. In my case it helped a lot to change pillows, my back hurts much less since I sleep on a Tempur pillow, which keeps my neck and back properly stretched while sleeping.

Also, and this is very important, keep your neck muscles warm, i.e. wear a scarf if you live in a cold climate, or polo shirts if you live in a warm one with air conditioning everywhere.

Take care
Teresa

Rosebud yes I have tried a donut shaped piilow as well as sleeping on my side but without success. And Teretxu, what kind of neck streching exercises do you do to keep the dystonic neck muscles in shape. Thanks again for your help!

I can't explain all the exercises in writing, but most are simple yoga postures. This web site has animated drawings that are very easy to follow. Most stress relieving yoga postures and stretch exercises will have a positive effect on your neck and back muscles.

http://www.hathayogalesson.com/index.htm

it happens sometimes several times a day, I just keep taking more methylcobalamine, sublingual and I try to find peace...

I also take calcium -magnesium -and vitamin D supplement and I eat organic
pistachios. -green kind -

one thing a neuro deprived personality -should try to be is peaceful,
but not just peaceful, divinely inspired peace, I pray and ask God to please
get me through this...

fear not...

fear is a bad thing to consentrate on - it grows more fear
what people think about makes more thoughts on that subject.