What type of bed and furniture helps your chronic pain?

Hello everyone,
My introduction to pain is similar to the story found in Irritating back pain by Sydney Black. The chiropractor explained that even though he found some scoliosis and stage 2 arthritis in the lower back he thinks the main reason for the most recent pain and spasms are due to a disc.This new ongoing lower back pain causes the act of bending or reaching to look more and more like a thing of the past and makes something as simple as getting into or out of a vehicle seem almost impossible and that's not even mentioning how it makes you dread going for a ride. Sitting and standing is suddenly done very carefully and attempting to get up or lay down on a bed can cause terrible spasms. This very unpleasant experiance brings me to a very abrupt understanding that my house is not furnished for someone suffering with chronic pain. Seeking this sudden much needed knowledge is what brings me to ask such a question about bed types and furniture for pain? Please know that any advice on the topic is greatly appriciated. I wish you all continue to stay safe and well as we end with a joke and a quote..
joke : How do you get over a fear of elevators ?
answer: just take some steps to avoid them !

quote : "Even if things don't unfold the way you expected, don't be disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end."

Hello straydog,
As always, it's good to have you cross my path again. LOL !
To answer your questions, I'll tell you exactly what I told the chiropractor. I don't know what happened! I don't
believe it's seizure enduced and I don't think I've done anything to stranius lately so the only thing left is a gradual onset.

On the first day of the week I found myself experiancing an intense lower back pain as I started to reach for the alarm in the morning. Although it hurt to continue to lay on the bed the pain I experianced attempting to turn off the alarm or get up was so much worse that I became afraid that if I was harming my back by moving,
It was mid week before my first visit to the chiropractor and I was fairly hopeful and walked away feeling a little better. The second visit I was a little down and feeling bad again. The third visit I was depressed hurting and having spasms again.

That night I wound up calling a 24hr.nurse hotline for advice because of an intense episode of spasms that managed to leave me wailing in pain and take my breath away all at th same time.
(that's one of those things that doesn't make any sence or seem possible until you experiance it yourself.)
I have since spent my nights sleeping in a chair because I'm afraid to try laying down again.

Over the weekend I have come to a couple of conclusions.
Firstly, even if this pain winds up going away I still have arthritisis and scoliosis lurking in the shadows so I better do myself a favor and treat it as if it were only going to get worse with time. Secondly, I think It's time to tell my primary doctor about this sudden new neverending pain in my back. (there's something you never want to hear yourself say!) Thirdly, Having thought about it makes me think its probably due to a gradual onset. I think there may have been a few red flags over the years but I just did'nt relize what they were.

I hav'nt tried much other than pain medication and cooling packs because I was hoping this was just going to be one of those freak things but I'm begining to fear It's something more.

I want to thank you for all the information and tips on the OTC items and products I really would'nt have known where to begin and what I'm doing is'nt working at all. I always enjoyed doing my parents yardwork as well as the pool in the summer but I always have a tougher time remembering to get my steps in and stretching in the winter because my house is so small and I can have such a hard time getting out if the city buses close due to snow.

I also wanted to thank you for the good bed and furniture information that I asked for as well as the sleeping tip for side sleepers they will be kept handy and possibly even used.

I also apriciate the good shoe information. How could I forget about the shoes? But I did ! It was'nt till I was reading it that I remembered seeing the chiropractor looking at my heels and wondering what he was looking at. You answered my question for me he was looking at my poor quality shoes, LOL!

Thank you once again for taking the time to wonder by it's always apriciated. Stay safe and take care I hope you don't mind if I say goodbye by leaving you with a joke and a quote.

a joke; Why did the baker become a theif?
answer: Because he kneaded the dough

a quote:The strongest people make time to help others,even if their struggling with their own personal problems.

Hi. I have 2 herniated discs in the lumbar/sacral spine location...no spasms though. I, too, need a different mattress so I'll be checking the replies to your post. I'm 4ft 11in tall and most furniture doesn't 'fit' me at all. My legs hanging while I'm sitting in most chairs can cause me back and knee pain like most wouldn't believe! I spend a lot of time in my home office and have an adjustable height chair, so my feet are on the floor with my thighs parallel to it, which helps me not slouch. I got rid of my recliner because my alignment while seated in it was horrible! Now, I have 2 straight backed chairs and an ottoman to help me keep a better position. I also don't sit on my couch...too painful (and the dogs have taken it over).

I keep a variety of pillows on my bed, to help me with sleep positions. Right now, I have a knock off memory foam mattress that has been a torture device since the second night! The first night on it was heavenly. Have to figure out why! I've asked my chiropractor what type he sleeps on. He said he'd prefer a Sleep Number type bed, but also has a memory foam one at the moment. I'm seriously considering an adjustable Sleep Number bed when I finally replace 'the rack'.

I'm a big proponent of changing shoes each day! I also suffer from hip bursitis and it's important for me to not wear the same shoes day after day. Summer is hardest for me because I always want my flip flops! I've found some very light weight sneakers that breathe!! No more sweaty, hot feet!

I hope you find the cause of your back issues and get some relief soon! Oh, and use a smaller purse! I have one with a long strap that I put over my head/shoulder so it hangs across and is more balanced than just hanging it from the shoulder or carrying it in the crook of my arm. I have mild scoliosis from carrying books, then groceries, then children...and keeping the purse more balanced helps it not get more pronounced.

Hello Pitmom, I'm sorry for not getting back sooner but it's still been very good hearing from you again!
My couch is now sitting empty for the same reason. I never thought about the adjustable height or straight back chairs but now the right chair has suddenly become very important.

If I continue side sleeping I'm going to have to invest in pillows again as well. I almost got a memory foam to try but bailed at the last minute. My chiropractor mentioned the sleep number bed as well. He said his reasoning was due to the fact that he believe's a back's needs may vary from night to night.

I don't want to because I love them but I'm gonna have to lose a lot of shoes. The more I recalled the more red flags I saw. This really should have been done ages ago.

This is the only thing I beat you to. HOWEVER! The only reason I've done it already was because of an earlier attack before the back. It was an attack of arthritis and tendonitis in my purse sholder that kept me from being able to use my arm for a good while. (come to think of it, it happened like the back. I just woke up and could barely move my arm without experiancing intense pain.)

I want to thank you again for the many tips and tricks as well as the much needed advice. It's greatly appriciated!
I wish you safe and well during these trying times and hope you find your spirits high. Thanks again!

P.S. I almost forgot to leave you with a joke and a quote.

Joke: What's a dog's favorite action movie?
Answer: Indiana Bones: Raiders of the lost Bark!

Quote: "It's too bad that our bodies wear out while our interests are just as strong as ever."

ps. My pain specialist/surgeon advised me that most
Pillows designed for pain, arthritis etc etc are in fact useless and a money grab. I have eaten up a few of them already. HT.
Just my thoughts.

If you get an adjustable bed, which I love, I suggest getting a trolley as a side table. I got an inexpensive one from Ikea. When the bed is in the sitting position, a standard bedside table is too far behind you to reach things, particularly with back pain. The trolley is easy to roll along for the vital cup of tea.