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Post by Sasquatch on Nov 13, 2021 21:43:19 GMT -5
I think I touched on this before but just in case I feel obligated to say something. I have dealt with pretty bad back pain for years, with occasional severe flare-ups that were debilitating. At age 21 I blew out 3 discs lifting an enormous container of scrap glass ( team lift guys--it's NOT worth it ). At the time it was diagnosed as a "strain" and I ended up going back to work way to quickly. Years later I had an MRI and they found the damage. Long story short, It got really messed up. Add spinal stenosis and spondylosis into the mix over the years. So for most of the next 20+ years I would "aggravate" it and end up incapacitated for a time, anywhere from a couple of weeks to four months at one time. It kept me from sleeping well, and anything over five hours was asking for real trouble. (Turns out this was a big hint) FF to 2018. I had a nasty umbilical hernia repaired. They had to make a four inch incision and place a big square of mesh in between the muscle layers, and close it with staples. The recovery did not go well--a horror show of necrosis, drainage, giant swabs and packing material.
The important, back-related part of this is that I began sleeping on the couch because it was easier to roll in and out of, and I could get up or do whatever without disturbing the wife.
I began to notice that may back, which would normally be ready to explode at 4-5 hours of sleep on our extra firm mattress, was now just fine after six hours. I didn't know if it was the softer cushions or the angle I slept at, but something was different. This was confirmed the first night I tried the bed again. Four hours and right back to the same old stuff. I repeated this experiment several times with the same results, the last time nearly sending me to the ER. Not able to afford a new mattress at the time, we finally ordered a mattress pad, about one inch of this super-squishy "gel-infused" foam. It made an incredible difference; Now I can easily sleep on it all night. Bottom line, I haven't had an incapacitating episode since I quit sleeping on the hard mattress. Day-to-day issues with stiffness and pain have all mightily improved. Cured? no, but SO much better. Before it was constant trouble, often pretty miserable. I typed all this mess because if somebody out there was like me and was too dense to try a softer bed, maybe now you will. Such a simple thing made a big difference. I just assumed my back was screwed and what possible difference could a little softness make?  I wish somebody had told me 15 or 20 years ago; not one of the many doctors I've seen over the years suggested different sleeping arrangements. It might not help at all but I wanted to put it out there. It's worth a shot!
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Post by esshup on Nov 14, 2021 0:36:20 GMT -5
A few years ago my lower back would start to bother me. Couldn't figure out why. Then I bought a 4" memory foam mattress topper. Problem went away. Seems like the mattress was breaking down and was TOO soft.
IIRC you are supposed to flip or turn the mattress 180° every 6 months or so and a regular mattress is only supposed to last between 7 to 10 years. Mine is over 20.........
Going to get a new one asap.
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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 14, 2021 7:05:29 GMT -5
I've had back problems since I got wrapped around a tree backwards in an accident a teenager. It flares up from time to time. I've noticed my bed makes a huge difference in how it feels but it's the opposite as you. I need a firm bed. Once it starts breaking down I start waking up with pain. My last mattress started bothering me after 2 years. I put several pieces of plywood between it and the box springs to raise it up in the center of where my back goes. That made it better. I plan on getting a new one after Christmas
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Post by iceman10 on Nov 14, 2021 7:47:12 GMT -5
Best investment in my lifetime has been a sleep number bed !! Yep they are expensive but worth every cent! I hate to travel now because of not getting to sleep on it . My only regret is I didn’t buy it sooner 😊
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Post by parrothead on Nov 14, 2021 8:10:47 GMT -5
Back stuff is serious business. Had buddy years ago have surgery right here in Indianapolis by world known dr. He worked on all the Indy car drivers. Well he put screw in to far that it was sticking out other side. His fix oxy then he got hooked. Same dr paralyzed a local woman. His office was raided by FBI. Buddy contacted lawyer in Indy and that lawyer called double digit other lawyers and they all said he was untouchable
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Post by beermaker on Nov 14, 2021 10:31:44 GMT -5
My FIL had lower back pain for years. The chiropractor told him to stop carrying his wallet in the back pockets. Problem solved!
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Post by duff on Nov 14, 2021 11:23:18 GMT -5
I have had 2 back surgeries with multiple flare ups too. All advice is fine and dandy but what fixed me may not you and vice versa.
Glad you found a cure. Unfortunately I bet it is just for now but take every bit of that.
I was sure I was in for surgery #3 this year. PT cured my pain. I had mri and my static nerve was pinched. PT worked on what they thought my help and it was noticeable after 2 visits. I was sure it was only to satisfy the insurance. Do your stretching it pays.
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Post by jman46151 on Nov 14, 2021 22:15:16 GMT -5
I have had 2 back surgeries with multiple flare ups too. All advice is fine and dandy but what fixed me may not you and vice versa. Glad you found a cure. Unfortunately I bet it is just for now but take every bit of that. I was sure I was in for surgery #3 this year. PT cured my pain. I had mri and my static nerve was pinched. PT worked on what they thought my help and it was noticeable after 2 visits. I was sure it was only to satisfy the insurance. Do your stretching it pays. I need to get back into my stretches. Last year hunting season finally got to me bad enough to go to PT. Glad I did as it really helped but it always comes back if I don't keep up with stretching. |
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Post by greghopper on Nov 14, 2021 22:43:41 GMT -5
Whenever you think you have re-hurt or hurt your back use ICE not Heat to treat the area!
Trust me it works!
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Post by esshup on Nov 15, 2021 1:54:36 GMT -5
My FIL had lower back pain for years. The chiropractor told him to stop carrying his wallet in the back pockets. Problem solved! When I'm driving for any length of time the wallet goes in the center console. |
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Post by buckert on Nov 15, 2021 22:44:36 GMT -5
I am also a chronic back pain sufferer and everything mentioned by all you guys applies as far as I’m concerned. I did chiropractor for a few years. He said I have sciatica but I never felt like he was treating me just stringing me along for more appointments. I never chose the medical route because a) I can’t afford it b) not sure how much I trust that system c) don’t want anything to do with oxy or opioids.
Ice had always really helped me and I recently acquired a TENS unit to help keep my back muscles from locking up. Bio freeze also helps and I also started using back heating pads which double up for pain relief and are awesome for cold stand sits.
Over the last year or two things have being getting worse and when I have a flare up I’ll be down and immobilized for about 3 days. A big difference is that we got a pillow top mattress which may be too soft for my particular issue.
So I decided to try the third option which is avoiding the chiropractor and doctor and going directly to physical therapy. Been going for a little over a month and I am happy so far. I feel like I’m being provided the tools (stretches and guidance) to help make myself better. Since my last flare up which was a little over a month ago I’ve made two trips to the HNF,dragging a canoe miles at a time and hunting out of a tree saddle and although things are tight I’m still doing good. I think medical approach (specifically an MRI) could be useful in diagnosing my specific problem but for now I’m going with physical therapy and it appears to be working
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Post by jman46151 on Nov 16, 2021 11:17:22 GMT -5
I am also a chronic back pain sufferer and everything mentioned by all you guys applies as far as I’m concerned. I did chiropractor for a few years. He said I have sciatica but I never felt like he was treating me just stringing me along for more appointments. I never chose the medical route because a) I can’t afford it b) not sure how much I trust that system c) don’t want anything to do with oxy or opioids. Ice had always really helped me and I recently acquired a TENS unit to help keep my back muscles from locking up. Bio freeze also helps and I also started using back heating pads which double up for pain relief and are awesome for cold stand sits. Over the last year or two things have being getting worse and when I have a flare up I’ll be down and immobilized for about 3 days. A big difference is that we got a pillow top mattress which may be too soft for my particular issue. So I decided to try the third option which is avoiding the chiropractor and doctor and going directly to physical therapy. Been going for a little over a month and I am happy so far. I feel like I’m being provided the tools (stretches and guidance) to help make myself better. Since my last flare up which was a little over a month ago I’ve made two trips to the HNF,dragging a canoe miles at a time and hunting out of a tree saddle and although things are tight I’m still doing good. I think medical approach (specifically an MRI) could be useful in diagnosing my specific problem but for now I’m going with physical therapy and it appears to be working Physical therapy works for me. I did go to the doc though and get an Xray to confirm that there were no fractures first. |
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Post by medic22 on Nov 16, 2021 12:20:04 GMT -5
Yep. Back around 2013 I had really bad lower back pain. I had wrongly assumed that it was from sitting g in the cab of an ambulance for 12 hours a day or a lifting injury.
It was around this time my wife and I moved in together and we tossed my mattress and used hers.
On a whim we got a memory foam topper and almost instantly I began to feel better.
We've since bought a memory foam mattress and though I still have pain after long stretches at work, despite having a memory foam topper for the bed there, I'm mostly pain free.
I'm probably due to buy a new topper there as it's been 3 years with that one.
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Post by firstwd on Nov 16, 2021 14:50:51 GMT -5
Yep. Back around 2013 I had really bad lower back pain. I had wrongly assumed that it was from sitting g in the cab of an ambulance for 12 hours a day or a lifting injury. It was around this time my wife and I moved in together and we tossed my mattress and used hers. On a whim we got a memory foam topper and almost instantly I began to feel better. We've since bought a memory foam mattress and though I still have pain after long stretches at work, despite having a memory foam topper for the bed there, I'm mostly pain free. I'm probably due to buy a new topper there as it's been 3 years with that one. I'm just the opposite. I used my dad's RV several years ago for a park hunt and he had a memory foam bed. I couldn't walk when I got up |
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Post by Sasquatch on Nov 17, 2021 15:02:34 GMT -5
A few years ago my lower back would start to bother me. Couldn't figure out why. Then I bought a 4" memory foam mattress topper. Problem went away. Seems like the mattress was breaking down and was TOO soft. IIRC you are supposed to flip or turn the mattress 180° every 6 months or so and a regular mattress is only supposed to last between 7 to 10 years. Mine is over 20......... Going to get a new one asap. If memory serves, we got a super hard mattress in the first place because It was supposed to be better for a bad back. I think the takeaway here is that try adjusting the softness one way or another and see if it helps. The results can be miraculous. |
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I wish somebody had told me 15 or 20 years ago; not one of the many doctors I've seen over the years suggested different sleeping arrangements. It might not help at all but I wanted to put it out there. It's worth a shot!
