Sleep

[Fhyreworks]

Okay, I really need some help in this department. I haven't had a good night's sleep in around a year. It's not that I can't get to sleep (though I'll grant you I have a few nights like that now and then due to work-related stress) it's that I can't stay asleep, due to pain.

Ever since I've lost my "padding" on my hips I wake up in some serious pain. It doesn't matter which side I sleep on. My right is worse than my left, both in pain and that it often feels like I'm laying on a nerve and it sends weird tingles shooting out of my hip (if that makes any sense, LoL). I can't sleep on my back either since the small of my back starts hurting too. (Sleeping on my stomach has been impossible for years.) I used to sleep in the "tripod position" :lol: Mostly on the side, angled in towards the stomach with a knee propped up to form a tripod. Since my stomach is deflated this no longer works either.

I'm good for about 3 hours of sleep then I spend the rest of the night tossing and turning to relieve the pain. I know that can't be much fun for my husband either, though he says he usually sleeps through it.

Other than forking over the money for something like a Tempurpedic or Sleep Number bed (which is on my list but not really affordable at the moment) does anyone have any suggestions? I really am tired of being tired :(

Debbie

[Nancy LC]

I've had hip problems too. It was bursitis and it did subside eventually. I had a cortisone shot. I'm not sure it helped, it actually got worse right afterwards, but eventually it got better. I think for me getting my thyroid hormones and other hormones squared away took care of a lot of my joint issues. Also, I started taking Glucosamine. That might have helped too. It takes months and months for it to work though.

When it was real bad, I took ibuprofen for it. But I have cut way back on that, only take it for cramps now.

Check with your doctor, he/she might be able to do something to assist you with it!

Oh yes, every time I've had a pain issue and bought a new bed because of it, it didn't help the pain. I think it is just overhyped marketing.

[cs_carver]

Had one, sold it. Didn't like my test of a tempupedic; made me feel like I was drunk. But it might help your pain if it's pressure-based. test for yourself. But I can be pretty sure a Sleep Number won't help--it's too much like sleeping on a comfortable rock.

THat said--What is your pain management specialist telling you to do? Sounds like this is a much bigger problem than just the sleep.

[Fhyreworks]

Well, I don't have a "pain management specialist" or a doctor for that matter :lol: I can go to the VA clinic but about the best they are going to do is tell me I need to lose weight (and then try to put me on a "normal" diet, like they have before - duh :rolleyes: ). I'm 99.9% sure it is pressure-based since I don't have trouble any other times and it is somewhat better if I sleep on the couch (foam cushions). I have to admit sometimes I'm concerned I may be doing some sort of damage.

Debbie

[Nancy LC]

Hmmm... my doctor told me that hip bursitis often gets worse at night when you're sleeping on your side. It's worth a try. For me it hurt when I walked and especially after I had been driving around.

Another complaint I've heard about memory foam mattresses is that they retain heat. The bed I have now is a conventional bed with a memory foam padding on top. I don't really think the memory foam adds all that much, makes a huge indentation where I am lying and when you want to shift to a different spot, it takes a long time for the foam to go back.

[Fhyreworks]

I thought about getting a memory foam mattress pad, at least a 3 inch thick one (anything thinner and you might as well not have one. Much cheaper (even if you get a good one) than an entire mattress. I'm disappointed to hear that the sleep number bed wouldn't help, I tried one out several years ago and it felt really comfortable. Of course that was for only about 5 minutes, not all night :lol:

Debbie

[HollyAyott]

I used to get pains similar to thoes while sleeping and I got a body pillow and placed it between my knees while sleeping and it seemed to keep things more inlined, also I have a pillow for the small of my back when laying on my back and now I almost never get thoes pains.

[CindySue48]

How about a latex foam mattress? They're also fairly expensive, but well worth every penny (if you've got it :) )

I have one and wouldn't trade it for anything. I grew up on foam mattresses and hate inner spring! Overstock also has the latex pads to put on your existing bed. I think it's better than the memory foam, but have only slept on one of those once. :thup:

It is very important with foam that you get 100% latex foam. The non-latex is stiffer and isn't as good. Mine is 6" of solid latex foam and it's soooooo comfy! (I've had several people tell me I was nuts....until they tried the bed) You do need a good box spring with latex, since that's where you get all the support.

I also have problems with pressure points. With the inner spring mattress, I've woken up with big red circles on my hips and shoulders! I also have arthritis and cannot sleep on my back or stomach. I agree with Holly on the body pillow. You may need to use a couple of pillows to keep yourself in alignment. It should get better as you continue to loose. Recently I started having neck problems....and it turns out I had to go back to one pillow under my head! I guess the extra weight was making me higher so I needed the extra pillow....but now it's too high! yay! :lol:

[dreamnfae]

I sometimes have that problem, too, and we simply went to walmart and got an "egg crate" foam cover for our bed. It has helped me alot. Not very expensive, either. It is also used in nursing homes that I have worked for in the past with patients that are prone to pressure related sores.

[Jiggerz]

I still do the pillow between my knees sometimes if my back is sore...... that I learned to do when I was pregnant, my hips would hurt after an hours worth of sleep.

[nawchem]

I have gone to physical therapy, chiropractic and accupuncture for my back. They all helped but the main that helps my back is stretching, especially keeping my hamstrings loose. It sounds like you have sciatica- the shooting pain part. If you do a search on the net you will find things that you can do to help it. Sciatica is a nerve thing.

Have you had anyone check your alignment, or taken xrays? It is easy to throw out your back and get things out of whack. I hurt mine doing crunches - with a trainer. After being in pain for a year I found out I had ruptured a disk. My friend hurt her back gardening- never thought of that as a high risk activity.

[deb34]

:q:

regarding your statement:

Didn't like my test of a tempupedic; made me feel like I was drunk

how did this make you feel drunk? I'm really considering one of these mattresses because of the same issues as Debbie.

Does it feel like a waterbed?

Can you please clarify your experience :D

Thanks


Deb

[cs_carver]

When I started to turn over, it felt like there was a serious lag time between thinking the thought and getting results. Very slow motion.

YMMV. Would suggest a test, because I know people who have this mattress and they like it. They say it takes a week of sleep to get used to it. I was not interested in "getting used to" something that made me feel drunk.

I bought a Simmons BeautyRest--with the individual coils--in part because the guy at the Tempurpedic store said it was the next best thing, if I didn't like the Tempurpedic and I had already tested the Simmons and liked it. It was about $1000 for a Queen, and I have really liked it. MUCH better than the Sleep Number bed, BTW.

Again, YMMV.

The June 2005 Consumer Reports issue has an article about how to shop for a mattress. I didn't read it--bought mine earlier--but if you're shopping, you might want to look at it.

[Fhyreworks]

I know the sleep number and the temperpedic will let you "test drive" (LoL) their mattresses. I may do that :lol: The latex foam rubber may be the way to go, though. I ended up sleeping on the couch last night because I really needed a good night's sleep. The couch cushions are foam rubber and I have very minimal issues sleeping on them (other than my butt landing in the crack between the cushions ;) ).

Debbie

[Nancy LC]

Once in a hotel I thought the mattress was sensational. I looked at it, it was foam rubber. So I tried to recreate that at home with foam rubber I bought from a upholstery store and it was WAY too hard! So it's latex foam, eh?

[cs_carver]

Heads up--make sure you know of any costs. My mattress contract said it was returnable, but there was a significant fee attached--$150 or something, plus a delivery fee for any replacement.

not sure about the other places--just better to know ahead of time.

[CindySue48]

So it's latex foam, eh?
That's the key!

I grew up on foam rubber....then when I left home went to inner spring, then water. I had a very expensive water bed and top of the line inner spring....but I didn't get a really good night's sleep until I went back to foam rubber.

The stores will tell you the non-latex are just as good, but there is a definite stiffness to those that you don't see with latex. I use only latex pillows too! :)