I have six or seven pillows on my bed (six in L.A., seven in Cathedral City) of varying sizes and firmness. The pillows I have in CC are softer, and I've decided that I like those better. I like to have a couple of large (i.e. wide) fairly firm pillows to prop me up when I want to sit up in bed, but they are not that comfortable when sleeping, which is why I have so many extras.

I also sleep on my side but do not have pillows between my knees.

My husband uses a smaller than a bed pillow rectangular pillow between his knees for his back.

I have what is now chronic hip pain in my right hip. From my experience there is no one solution but you can try any and all of them. I have used a pillow between my legs when laying sideways on my left side sometimes with a thick pillow keeping me from rolling onto my stomach which would cause my CPAP mask to either dig into my face or come off. I have used that thick pillow under my legs on those nights that I fall asleep on my back. I can sleep on my right side and actually do so those times that there is no pain.

Chemical solutions because I know that some of the OTC light pain pills can cause liver, kidney, and bleeding problems I use Aspercreme or a SalonPas patch. No idea why but it must be the small patches because the larger sized does nothing for me. A non-chemical help is a old fashioned fillable hot water bottle under the small of my back. I normally just leave the water in it and during the night my body warms the fluid inside. I think both it and the SalonPas patches work more as pressure points. An oddity was the last time I had a massage, just before the virus struck so have not been back, the person grabbed the buttock on that side, pulled it upward slightly and jiggled the tissue as the last thing that was done. Although my mind did a "What the H" the slight ache that had been there throughout the whole massage was gone.

What you do need to do is go to a doctor and have at least x-rays done of your back and hips to see if you have any problems with your spine and hips if the new mattress when it arrives does not help.

I use 3 pillows all flat type pillows. One under my head, one on each side. Nestled in...

Been sleeping with a pillow for my legs for many years now. I have a wonky lower back and hips too and sleep 99% on my side. I just use a bed pillow. I can't get comfortable without one. What I have now is a chopped memory foam kind that's fairly firm and doesn't pack down like fiberfill.

Thank you for the replies. It seemed like my back pain was when I'd lift something heavy or move furniture, I'd feel sore for a few days after. But now it seems like I'm sore more and more and can't think of what I might have done to strain it. So I dont know if it's age, just out of shape, or maybe even stress. I was thinking the same thing Maifleur, if the new mattress doesn't help I'll have to get in to the doctors office and get it checked out.

I prefer not use pain relievers as first choice...heat pad, hot bathes, tiger balm/ben gay etc. really help.

"But now it seems like I'm sore more and more and can't think of what I might have done to strain it."

That happened to me a lot and it took a while to figure it out, when moving too quickly to bend over, my back would wrench out but I wouldn't know it until i woke up the next morning.Gotta remind myself to move slower when bending over and stretching too hard reaching for something.

btw I use 2 pillows, both thin and light. One for the head and one to keep my knees from knocking together. Also inclined the bed slightly with 3" "boots" for acid reflux.

When you buy sheets, they sell the sheets in a drawstring bag or velcro bag...well...my husband puts a firm decorative pillow in one of these so it has a washable cover and props up his shoulder. When I ripped my knee years ago it had to be propped up or a pillow between my knees....same thing. When we watch TV in bed, I purchased European pillow forms from JCP, king sized pillows and down pillows......we each have three to put behind us.

I use 4 pillows. Two down pillows for the head of the bed and two flattish fiberfills. One for between the knees and the other to prop up my arm & the ever present book.

ETA: All normal sized bed pillows. Body pillows are generally too fat for what I find to be comfortable.

I think a new mattress will do wonders for you. Ive tried sleeping with a pillow between my knees but I roll over and thats the end of the pillow.

I sleep in a pillow fort every night due to my torn rotator cuff. I use a euro square topped by two regular pillows, one at my head and one under my shoulders. One of the pillows is memory foam. Then I have another softer pillow that i hug to keep my shoulders from rolling forward. Sleeping is a battle. I should say a pillow fight.

I'm a stomach sleeper and have two pillows for myself. I go to bed and curl up with one of the pillows and shove the other one up against the headboard. Then as I fall asleep, I push myself down towards the bottom of the bed (but not AT the bottom of the bed, just so my feet hang over LOL) then push my other pillow so my head is on the mattress and fall asleep. Then I wake up with a sore neck because my head has been twisted all night..... But I cannot fall asleep with a pillow under my head. Weird...

I use a travel pillow, between my knees. Hubby recently had knee replacement. I

found this at Dollar General, for him.

A couple of things might help. My DMIL was in fairly constant pain. Her kids replaced her old mattress (i had slept on it 25 years ago and it was sinking THEN!) and she felt better. she also has spinal stenosis, but at least a supportive mattress helped.

My cousin discovered she has scoliosis, and is in frequent pain that travels to her hips, so you might look into that.

I’m not in pain, but i have sleepless nights. When DH gets up, usually between 4 and 5, I steal his pillow and roll over onto it. Kind of like sleeping across DH, but not as toasty (he’s a hot sleeper). And then i sleep a good solid couple of hours.

I am a side sleeper. I have a big fat very firm down pillow for my head, and a memory foam body pillow that I use to support my side. Best thing I ever purchased.

Helps with my back and my hips.

I like the memory foam, because it stays firm and hasn't gone flat in 3 years. The regular foam ones lose their from within 3 or 4 months.

Hope you get some relief!

For years I’ve slept on my side with either a body pillow or now with a king pillow between my knees to align my ”top” hip.

”When you buy sheets, they sell the sheets in a drawstring bag or velcro bag...well...my husband puts a firm decorative pillow in one of these so it has a washable cover and props up his shoulder.”

nicole he is a genius! I’ve used those bags for travel to segregate stuff, but they may now be re-deployed!