How to sleep with intercostal muscle strain?

When I had this last year, my doc specifically told me to avoid sleeping on the injured side because it compresses the ribs further. He suggested using a body pillow to support my back so I wouldn't accidentally roll over in my sleep. Keeping a slight incline with extra pillows also really helped reduce the sharp morning pain.

Aww, I had this during my college exams and it was so frustrating. What worked for me was huging a small plushie or a travel pillow tightly against my chest when I had to change positions. It gives some stability to the ribs so it doesn't hurt as bad when you move.

Yaar, sleeping with this is a complete nightmare, I have literally forgotten what an 8-hour sleep feels like. I end up building a literal fort of pillows around me just to stay in one spot. If I even try to turn, my ribs wake me up screaming.

Try taking a warm shower right before bed to help those chest muscles relax a bit. When you lie down, keep your head and upper back slightly elevated. If the pain gets sharp or you feel breathless, don't wait out the night, just get it checked by a doctor.

I completely understand how scary this feels, every deep breath or turn makes you feel like something is seriously wrong inside. Please don't panic, it is just the muscles being extremely sensitive right now. Try to sleep propped up on some soft pillows, it makes breathing feel much easier and less scary.