My mother has always slept on her left side. Her hospice nurse says that most of her COPD patients are most comfortable sleeping on the their sides. However, now that she is sleeping more, 6-9 hours at night and at least one 2-4 hours long nap in the afternoon, and the fact that she is so skinny and has lost so much muscle mass she has been waking up with "dead arm". Last night I got her positioned more on her back with pillows but the pain from the pleural effusion was stronger. She didn't wake up with a cramping and tingling arm but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions.