So when able to sleep, I am a side sleeper hugging a body pillow. However, if I lay on my left side, my knee lays on the pillow (or bed) and hurts worse. Then if I roll over onto my right side I can settle my knee enough, but my upper thigh can't stand the pain/pressure being applied to it. This is within the last week now. I have to sit in my recliner with nothing touching my knee and now my upper thigh. The pain is from my hip down to my knee. It is uncomfortable for me to lay trying to sleep on my back or stomach. What do I do?

If my thigh is laying on something, my bed or recliner, it feels like someone is pushing something into it, sometimes something sharp. Do you think it's my muscle? I realize you aren't doctors, but people I trust with lots of knowledge, way more than I have.

Thanks.

I know how you feel. The rsd spread to places I slept so I had to adapt to sleeping different ways.

I don't know if this will work very well but it's worth a shot.

Okay, try laying on your bed sideways with your legs hanging off and prop your feet/shins up on a soft chair. Then your affected area doesn't have any pressure on it and you can sleep on your side more comfortably (I think).

I hope this helps

And with the sharp pain/pressure to your thigh, that is the hypersensitivity part of rsd. Some people feel the pain different ways, but that is the hypersensitivity which unfortunatly, is pretty normal with the rsd.

Hope things get better for ya soon

Nikki

It sounds like RSD to me- not necessarily muscles, but the nerve pain. At least that is what happens to me. I get sharp shooting and stabbing pain as well as burning, tingling and throbbing. RSD is weird~ Different on some days!

It is hard to find any position that is comfortable when you have RSD! I know how you feel. Sorry I don't have any good ideas for you.

Sending soft hugs!

Hi! I am also a side sleeper, and can't stand my knees or legs putting pressure on each other, so I sleep w/a leg contour pillow between my knees. It has helped me alot. I just got mine at Walgreen's.

It may not be the answer for you, but it has helped me... take care and hope you can get some relief.....

Christine,

I and many others have been where you are. What you are feeling is most likely nerve pain. When my RSD first geared up it was in my right leg and foot. Unfortunately, it spread quickly to the left leg and foot as well. It was difficult for me to lay down on either side because the pressure of one leg on the other hurt too much. Shoes would hurt my feet and any pressure on those lower extremities caused me pain. I always called it a deep tissue pain but it never actually felt like muscle pain - it was deeper than that. There was an electrical component to the pain as well; sometimes sharp stabbing pain and at others shooting pain.

Even now on bad days it hurts to put my feet on the floor. Try walking without putting your feet on the floor!

You should talk with you doctor (hopefully a neuro) about the pain and be specific about where and when. In my case it took time and treatment with several medications but the doctor finally found the correct meds to manage this "nerve pain." Now I can sleep on my side without a problem. The sensation caused by my legs and feet laying one on top of the other has not totally gone away, but it is nothing compared to before. As for walking, I get around as needed but my feet throb for hours after being up too long.

You should not have to settle for sitting up to sleep. There is help...

Best of luck in your search for a good night's sleep on your side!

EJ