How should I sleep with knee pain?

If you sleep on your side

Place a firm pillow between your knees and ankles. This stops the upper knee rotating and pressing on the lower one, which is a common trigger for inner knee pain, bursitis and meniscus symptoms. If one knee hurts, lying with the painful knee on top, supported on the pillow, is often more comfortable than lying on it.

If you sleep on your back

A thin pillow or rolled towel under the knees can take tension off the back of the knee and the lower back. Avoid a thick pillow that keeps the knee well bent for hours, as this can make the knee stiff and harder to straighten in the morning, especially after knee surgery or with arthritis.

If the knee is swollen, raising the whole leg slightly on a pillow under the calf, with the knee straight, can help the swelling settle overnight.

Other things that help

• A medium-firm mattress that keeps hips and knees level
• Loose bedding so your feet are not trapped when you turn
• A comfortable room temperature; some people with arthritis feel stiffer in a cold, air-conditioned room
• Gentle knee bends and straightening before bed
• Pain relief recommended by your doctor or pharmacist, timed to last through the night
• A regular sleep routine, which also reduces how strongly pain is felt

When to have the knee assessed

If changing position and pillows do not help, or knee pain is disturbing your sleep on most nights for a few weeks, it is worth an examination. Seek urgent care if night pain is constant and comes with fever, weight loss or a hot, swollen knee.

At Aman Hospital in Doha, Dr. Gelber looks for the cause of night pain and advises on treatment that helps you sleep, rather than just coping with it.