Bed

sammy15
sammy15 Member Posts: 19
edited 18. Sep 2010, 18:06 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi Everyone ,sorry i have not been on in such a long time.

I have a question .....
Since last Janaury i have slept on my sofa because at first i could hardly move let alone climb the stairs to bed due to my RA,even now i find it painfully to climb the stairs and it takes me quite a while, luckly enought my bathroom is down stairs.
On several occasions i have tried to sleep in my bed with the most recent being 3 nights ago and within 2 hours i am in so much pain i am in tears and very stiff.
But when i sleep on my sofa i don`t suffer like that ,now the problem i do have is i sleep on a 2 seater sofa and i am 5`8 and its been 18mts now and i know its not doing my back or any other part of my body any good.
someone said i should see my OT about getting a bed like they have in hospitals where you can raise the head part of the bed.

does anyone else suffer like me ,or anyone got any ideas on what i can do.

Comments

  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sammy,

    I don't know if OT can give you a bed but it might be worth asking their advice. I don't think you have the right bed just now though if it gets that uncomfortable.

    There is this thing that you get used to what you sleep in and any change can cause discomfort and pain. Sammy 5'8 on a 2 seater can't be good for you so I think its a good idea to talk to ot and see what they can help with/ Good luck and I hope you get a good night sleep tonight. Cris x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,087
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sammy

    I think you have just 'got used' to that sofabed, but no way is it good for you. Your bed is unfamiliar and as others say - a topper or new mattress might solve the problem.

    I find any new bed - no matter how good - does my back in for a few nights and you may need to stick with it?

    I think you need to see the OT about maybe a stairlift or something so you can get upstairs! It isnt nice only using half the house is it? See what she thinks (or he!) and then you can decide and probably advise about the bed situation too.

    Do let us now how you get on though?

    Love

    Toni xx
  • maggiemoo
    maggiemoo Member Posts: 16
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, Sammy,I looked ata temura mattress, way too expensive, so we bought a half and half one. Springs on the bottom and foam on top, really helped my pains in bed.Easier on the old joints.MM
  • cebeem
    cebeem Bots Posts: 472
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sammy
    You really sound sore and in need of a good nights comfortable rest!
    I have seen things like a giant triangle of foam used to raise the head end of the bed! Not sure if that would be enough for you (maybe could use 2), but worth checking with OT /Physio to see if they can point you in the right direction.
    Good Luck
    *CB*
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sammy, do you only go upstairs when you attempt to sleep in the bed? It might seem to be a uncomfortable place to sleep because you have just climbed the stairs and that sets off your joints. (I quickly learnt doing physio too close to bedtime, was not a good plan, as it meant I could not relax my muscles and it adversely affected my sleep.)

    How do you sleep on the sofa? Curled up? With your legs draped over the arm? Semi propped up? This might shed some light on how to adapt your bed for the time being to make it more comfortable.

    You have been offered some really good advice, definitely get an OT assessment asap.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • carol101
    carol101 Member Posts: 584
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I totally agree with everyone else. I have OA of the spine. We needed a new bed anyway (since my dog had dug a hole in the matress!) and we got a matress with a built in memory foam topper, I didn't want full memory foam as i had heard they get very warm and i'm always too warm in bed anyway. Everyone said how good memory form was so we though it might ve the thing to have with my back. When we first got it i thought we had made a big mistake. I was waking up many times during the night and i woke with so much pain that i could not get from a laying possition to sitting without getting my hubby to pull me up.

    We have now had the bed for around a year and i would not change it for the world............and i can get out of bed on my own :)

    carol x