hi, just curious how do you avoid sleeping on your back, I find sleeping on either side just aggravates my neck, shoulders and ultimately increased arm and hand numbness.

Until towelhorse replies -
I was remembering that many use a lot of extra pillows to hold and support the body in various sleeping positions.

And a good supportive neck shape pillow really helps too.
I had good luck with the generic memory foam ones - some come in small, med & large for what size fits best for you.

Yes, pillows
I must have 12 pillows on my bed from med - feather

2 doc's have told me to lay flat on a TEMPURPEDIC pillow so the neck nerves do not tighten
And NEVER lay on the sides of the compression

My issues is when in pain my muscles tighten
My hands wake up in fists so I have learned to listen to hypnotherapy tapes, slather herbal rub, relax before sleeping and focus on hands calm and open (sometimes I put them inside my pjs on my tummy as not to tighten).

NO TV WHICH BENDS THE NECK

i'm the same as olecyn. docs and PTs and TOS neurologist have told me to sleep on my back ONLY. when i sleep on my side both arms get very numb. i had such a hard time implementing this--it wasn't until i got a wedge of sorts to put under my legs that i was able to stay on my back through the night. i also put a small roll vertically between the shoulder blades and this helps keep my chest open and my spine in correct posture. i have worked it all out with the PT. And a tempurpedic traditional pillow (with the big curve) under my neck. It's important to get the right size tempurpedic pillow.

am curious to learn if towelhorse has a diff solution for his particular issues.

Pillows under the knees in order for you low back to convert and rest the muscles.

I can't wait til I can have a full night's sleep...pain free! A year now and I hate it! I have tried so many different pillows and nothing works. Laying on my back works but I can't sleep that way. I'm a side sleeper and usually my right side which happens to be my TOS side. I roll over on it and they go crazy with numbness in my hand and pain in the neck! I lay on my left side and use one of those cervical pillows for my right arm. I found it works real well for an arm holder. I put my arm in it and prop it up on another pillow. I'm good until I go moving in my sleep. It's soooo frustrating!

when sleeping on your back you can try this as an alternative to using a pillow under each arm. i tie a soft scarf around my forearms so that arms don't roll out. and it's hard for me to keep my arms on the pillows all night long. i think i might sleep better in a gravity-free environment!