Episode 33 - Sleep and Back Pain

In episode 33, Dr. Dudum addresses the critical connection between sleep and lower back pain, providing practical advice on improving sleep quality to aid in recovery. He highlights that 80% of the population experiences lower back pain, with 60% of those individuals suffering from sleep disturbances. Sleep is essential for regulating cortisol and producing growth hormone, both crucial for healing. Dr. Dudum emphasizes the importance of selecting the right mattress, recommending medium to medium-firm options and testing different beds before investing in a new one.  For sleeping positions, he advises sleeping on your back with pillows under your knees to reduce lumbar curvature or on your side in the fetal position with a pillow between your knees for proper alignment. What is the best pillow for sleeping? He endorses Pillowwise for their customizable pillows tailored to individual needs based on sleep position and body measurements. This pillow has been a real game changer for his patients dealing with neck pain, bulging discs, herniated discs and migraines.  Additionally, Dr. Dudum suggests several strategies to enhance sleep quality, such as using CBD or relaxation gummies, taking magnesium glycinate supplements, and reducing screen time before bed. These methods help calm the nervous system, reduce pain, and improve sleep, thereby accelerating the healing process. He underscores the importance of sleep in decreasing stress responses and promoting tissue repair through increased human growth hormone production. The Back at it with Dr. Decompression is presented by Dr. JD Dudum. Dr. Dudum operates one of the largest Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression clinics in the country. Watch this podcast stream to learn clinical pearls, take home tips and so much more from Dr. Dudum's 15 years of clinical experience working with back pain patients. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-at-it-with-dr-decompression/id1704753367