This will be a short post. I've been having a lot of lower back pain lately... mostly at night... in bed. I do have Interstitial Cystitis and know that it can cause this to some extent. But it's strange that I have it really bad some nights, others not so much.
I've taken to sleeping on my side with a pillow between my knees and that does help. Just wondering if anyone else out there has this and has 'any thoughts on the subject'. I've accepted this as part of my older years inconveniences, but just wonder sometimes if many others have this problem.
Years ago, I had a complete hysterectomy (at 34) due to endometriosis... and I have wondered if maybe this condition is in some way a precursor of Interstitial Cystitis. I googled this and it did say that perhaps there was a connection. On one site they dubbed these 2 "the evil twins" and said that these are often found in women with chronic pelvic pain.
Anyway, just checking out there in that great cosmic galaxy if anyone else has this and what might work or not work. I know what foods it might help to avoid and that hot baths do help relax my back muscles, but if anyone wants to share further hints, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks for reading...
(also a warm cat on your lap or laying on your back helps too!)
Not sure we have the same problem but I was plagued for years. Just turning over at night in bed was teeth gritting brutal and I was very stiff and sore in the AM. I figured I might need a new mattress but realized I only slept on part of the mattress. Rotating the mattress helped but only briefly. I did the pillow between my legs but it restricted me too much. I got a body pillow but couldn't make it work. Then I put the body pillow at the head of my bed instead of two standard pillows and tried moving towards the middle of the bed more where the most support was. With the long pillow, moving was easy. That gave me some relief but I would end up in my usual position. Then I tried sleeping on a diagonal. This had my back supported by parts of the bed that had not been mushed. All I can say is that I have not had pain one since sleeping catercorner. Hey, it can't hurt and hopefully it will give you some relief. Of course you would have to kick your partner out:)) A new bed might be a better idea. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Patti... I could try the sleeping cattycorner and see. Our mattress is old (maybe 30 years old) and we have thought of getting a new one. However, my side doesn't really sag much. DH's side has a huge indenture (230 lbs vs 127), but it doesn't seem to bother his back?? But thanks for the response. Worth a try!
DeleteI don't suffer from chronic back pain, but I can no longer sleep without a pillow between my knees. I need a certain thickness of pillow for it to work, because if it's too soft, I get back pain. I don't have a soft bed, either; I need more support. Hope you find something that works for you.
ReplyDeleteThe pillow between my knees does help. I am continuing to do this. Our bed is not soft, it's a pretty firm mattress with a pillow top... but it is old.
DeleteHave you tried a heating pad? I know heat tends to "loosen" up spasms or tight muscles. Also, have you ever used a good massage therapist? He/she could work wonders during a session and also give you exercises to do at home. ANYTHING that keeps us awake at night is just the pits!
ReplyDeleteI don't use a heating pad as such, but I do microwave my bed buddy (tube filled with rice) and it helps. Have had massages in past (maybe 2), but never a message therapist.
DeleteI wish I could add something; I cannot. My back pain is top to bottom, crushed discs, vertebrae, scoliosis, other stuff. Some times I have visualized my entire spine encased in gelatin and send on a rocket to outer space, or sunk five fathoms down. Visualization is good.
ReplyDeleteYour back troubles are much more serious than mine, Joanne... and you cope well. I do agree that visualization is good and I will take it over pills any day as long as I can.
Deleteexercises is the key, if you can strengthen the muscles a little it will help; i don't have what you have but have had sciatic nerve damage which somehow got wrenched back into place when i had my fall in january, now i have aches up higher, no doubt from the fall too. posture is another thing too, be sure to check your poster at least monthly. i tend to get lazy & start slouching (sitting at pc doesn't help either!) & have to correct my posture; all i do is stand flat up against a wall for a few minutes. if it gets too bad be sure to go see your Dr.
ReplyDeletethanx for sharing
Yes, exercise is good. My back (and stomach) muscles are probably non-existent. I do do yoga stretches when it gets really bad... and that helps for a while. And we do walk - although not as much lately. And yes, I do slouch on the sofa at night... usually leaning to my right side... probably a bad habit.
Deleteoh my goodness, you don't deserve this, I notice I don't pee as easily as I used to but nothing related to my back (that I know of), but I do notice constipation can be a contributor to back pain especially with the necessity of gluten free, so be cognizant of that contributor; I must have vegetables and roughage to keep a level condition and minimize back pain, everything in our body is inter- related so keeping good habits in every area really does help. I once had an appointment with a back surgeon who said that every action we do with back problems should be geared to minimize back pain, ie, even the simplest things like the surgeon told me to stand straight up when brushing my teeth don't bend at all, every little action affects our back, don't sit, stand, especially standing, for long periods of time, less than 20 minutes is tops for me; I wish you continuing recovery and wellness
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. I do tend to lean to one side... especially on the sofa at night watching TV. I did notice the pitstops during the night are less (maybe 2 or 3 instead of 4-5) when I sleep on my side and use the pillow between my legs. Maybe it takes the pressure off the bladder?
DeleteOh boy, do I ever empathize. I have the double whammy of progressive muscle weakness from a neuromuscular disease and joints (hips, knees, shoulders, vertebrae, ribs, wrists, fingers) which pop right out of place from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. As a result, I have scoliosis and three permanently dislocated ribs as well as other unstable joints. I have to sleep on my right side, so I roll a bath towel up and slide it up under my rib cage in the back to keep my ribs from flattening out, a small pillow between my knees keeps my lower back aligned and my hip joints from sliding out of place, and another towel rolled and tucked in front keeps me from rolling forward. Last summer we bought twin electric adjustable bed frames, $200 from Walmart, then you have to buy a mattress. I've found that has been an incredible help. Husband usually sleeps flat, but I put my head and feet up and that sort of cradles me and relieves a lot of the pressure on my spine and joints. Another trick I was told by my support group was to sleep in a "mummy-style *sleeping bag*, one of the expensive ones which has a "silk" interior, because once you're zipped in all the supports stay in place and it's very easy to adjust your position, where it's exhausting to fight the friction of cotton sheets. In the morning I just roll it up and put it behind my pillows. I hope you find some relief, it's exhausting to be in pain all the time. Gentle hugs from Canada. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! You definitely have more problems than me... and I think you must be younger too. I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was about 9, but it wasn't bad... wore something in my right shoe and a brace on my back for a while. Don't do either anymore. We've thought about a new mattress or adjustable beds, but haven't followed through. I do use a lot of pillows and find that when I get them kind of cocooned around me, I do sleep better.
DeleteDear Rian, you got some excellent advice here. In March 2017 I had a serious back operation--4 vertebrae and discs operated on at one time. The pain had been horrific. Since then, I've just had the pain of arthritis in my lumbar area. The two things the surgeon suggested for that were to walk regularly and to do a yoga DVD for seniors. (It's all done while I'm seated.) Both of those things--walking and doing the stretching of seated yoga--help me immensely. Peace.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Dee, that walking and stretching yoga are good for our aged backs. And I'm sure that arthritis could possibly be part of my prob... but it's one I can live with.
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