Any Tips For Back Locking Overnight?

[Eve]

Figured I see if anyone has any.

I get general stiffness with arthritis but lower back wise isn't in the arthritis zone though I have had SI joint problems before.

I've been trying different ways of sleeping to try and minimise pain to get comfortable to get to sleep like sleeping with a pillow between my legs to help with hip pain and have managed to get used to sleeping on my back so I'm not putting extra pressure on my shoulders etc...

I have alarms going off in stages for various reasons including being able to stretch and move a bit before I have to physically move out of bed which is getting a bit more difficult.

It might be just lack of movement during the night but any tips very welcome :)

[bednobs]

have you tried a body pillow jenna? They are for people who are pregnant, but it's not obligatory :)

[Eve]

Ooh not heard of those! I've got a V pillow which is great...I shall go google :)

I'm yet to master the same kind of combat roll style exit (well, more like sliding slug!) off the bed as I manage off the sofa haha!

[Eve]

OMG...I so want one of these!!!

http://www.completecareshop.co.uk/disability-elderly-aid-large/1472/long_body_pillow.html?gclid=CNfB8ZzB6LQCFW7HtAodriQA3A

[lcg]

i bought a memory foam mattress topper and this helped greatly with pain during the night and on waking. however, i also feel stiff and sore in the morning and nowt else i've done has ever worked. i'll keep an eye out for any handy tips n here x

[Eve]

Aww thank you x I've got a memory foam topper though it's getting on a bit now though so could probably do with replacing it.

I so wish those big pillows were cheaper though am tempted to get a couple of these:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3768789.htm

x

[Canary42]

////OMG...I so want one of these!!! ////

Oooh, so do I - and the pillow looks quite nice too !

[bednobs]

i think you'd probably have trouble getting into that pillow jenna. I don't know if this will help you, but i always wear silky type pj's because it makes it easy to turn over in bed. I once also bought some cheap satiny sheets and duvet cover to make it extra easy, but couldn't move at all as i was frightened i would just slip out of bed! I also felt like a bit of a *** as the only colour i could get was red

[Eve]

True, it just looks sooooooo comfy!

I think the longer single ones will be better. Might get one to try tomorrow while on offer (will be an interesting bus journey home juggling that and my stick, hope it comes compact - will check first!).

I get the satiny thing, I have a duvet set it in (Primark have them in all sorts of colours) and pretty cheap if there is one near you? I get too hot in pyjamas. I get too hot generally though but had some rubbish nights sleep lately, waking up too hot or too cold.

Had to lay off the dihydracodeine due to "side effects" and been having a bit of a flare - my ESR and CRP had jumped up on last methotrexate bloods and since then have had to decrease dose for a week to have antibiotics for an abscess so it's gone a bit arghh. Hopefully will settle soon though - up to 20mg pw now. Took a day off today to have a long weekend to rest - so needed it.

Shall we split the cost Canary? You can have her and I'll have the pillow :)

[bednobs]

i wonder if your type of arthritis would be ameanale to the biologic drugs? Since i started the new one, my esr has been 1 or 2 and crp is less than 2

[Eve]

Wow! Are you feeling the benefit with it or is it more showing up in the bloods than physically?

Mine both went right down with starting on the methotrexate, they had stabilised for a few months at about 2/3 for CRP and 16-19 ESR which was a big indication to me something is helping somewhere.

The the last lot (a week ago Friday) had gone up to CRP 8 and ESR 30, still not high but annoying as things had seemed to be settling, hopefully just a blip!

I've not seen a huge difference, more energy has been great - I was getting to the point of almost crawling out of work and just being almost zombified.

My hands had been a lot better but have been flaring recently - had a bit of a day with them today. Hips have unstiffened a bit and I'm trying to cut down on using my stick at times, say round work, but I'm very conscious of it feeling like I'm not walking properly (like they are out of line if that makes sense?). My shoulders have been a pain in the ar*e, I've had to adapt at work to lower things to not have to reach for stuff above shoulder height as they are so painful. Have to try not to reach for things.

When I last saw my consultant she said it was very early for the methotrexate to be working much so I keep hoping it will have that amazing getting your life back effect so many people have mentioned :)

[bednobs]

i never had that affect from MTX, but when i started biologics, it was absolutely amazing. My esr has been 115 before and my crp has been over 300. Unfortunately, although he blood results are low, i have too much long term damage in my joints to feel all that much better. My hands are also totally rubbish and i have so much difficulty with everything. they are so deformed, it's never going to get any better except with surgery i reckon

[Eve]

Bloody hell, sounds awful :( I'm still very lucky in a lot of regards it hasn't progressed anywhere near that much. My eyes have joined in with the flare now and hands been crap today - don't think the cold is helping though.

I've been getting a bit of a sleep routine back which is helping though - had felt awful lately as felt so grumpy with it (even though people say I'm not). It often feels like it's more of an announcement when it's a good day sometimes :)

Been trying to release my shoulders a bit with some gentle exercise as hard to feel relaxed when they feel so stuff and painful. My OT taught me some good relaxation exercises but they ain't having it, hoping I can get swimming (or at least moving about in the water) and got my PARS referral through today for special classes.

[Scarlett]

What's a PARS referral, Jenna? Also when my back is bad, I use those stick on heat patches - thermacare are the only ones that help, but they stay hot all night and stop me from seizing up so much!