Fibro and bad posture sleeping habits

maybe the 8th time is a charm??

I have scoliosis, cyphosis, spinal stenosis, 2 disc compressions and an anomoly they picked up on a scan that shows the bottom two vertabrae in my back never developed completely.  As a kid, all I heard was 'stand up straight'.  I would love to.  Soon, I will be kissing my knees from a standing position.  I have been given a devise by a chiro that criss crossed around my neck and back designed to force my muscles to reconfigure.  While wearing it, I looked like the Hunch Back of Notre Dame, plus it rubbed my skin raw.  Then a Harrison Rod was suggested.  I don't think so, after seeing a video of the surgery and this poor woman's recovery.  Being allergic to morphine, demoral and most narcotic pain killers I don't intend to spend the next five years screaming.

I sleep in the fetal position.  When I wake up there are two  pancake sized red marks on my inner knees and of course they are numb.  The pillow I put between them is on the floor.  I can't sleep on my back or stomach as my back tingles immediately.

I don't just sit with my legs crossed, I snake them around each other.  Last week my hairdresser told me to unravel my legs or I would look like Billy Idol.   My left leg is actually 'fatter' than my right from this horrible habit.

While standing at the sink, or are in any prolonged upright position, I clench my butt cheeks, hike my shoulders into my neck and ball my toes up into the end of my shoes.  No wonder my feet tingle.

I have scattered post it notes all over the house...'stand up straight, uncross your legs, unclench that fat butt of yours'.  I have asked my husband to tell me when he sees me doing these things.  After twenty years, he is just used to my posture.

At 62 years old, not 61, I have got to get a grip on this.  Fibro is bad enough without me doing things I can prevent.  Any suggestions, tapes...shock treatment...something??

donna

Mamanan...No one every suggested PT for me.  First of all, I don't have any health insurance as we lost coverage when we moved from VA to NY.  The only explanation I got for my 'standing posture' was that I have Meniere's Disease which affects balance and maybe I do these things with my feet, shoulders and back to compensate.  Makes sense but I don't know if that's it.  Believe me, if I ever win the lottery a PT is the first place I will go.

I have noticed when my fibro is bad, my shoulders are up around my ears. I have to constantly remember to push them down and straighten my back out. So I do think that it effects our posture.

Good thread,

Hugs, Karen

Donna,

I would like to suggest pool exercises. If you cannot walk into the pool, they have a special chair that places you in the water (brrr).

I am glad that you are not wearing a contraption that would inflict pain. It sounds brutal.


The arthritis foundation offers classes on all types of exercise, aquatic, tai chi and at home ones. Go to their web site. They have cd's and information about where you can take the class. Many pools offer scholarships which make it easier to attend.

After trying all three options, I think water exercise is the best for me. It helps loosen stiff muscles and easily improves my range of motion.

take care, donnaeil

Thanks guys, for your helpful and sensible suggestions.  I am sitting here at the computer right now with my shoulders back and my legs uncrossed.  It's torture and my back tingles but I know I have to make a conscious effort to undo the damage.

By the way, I forgot to mention in my initital post that I tried 'Rolfing'.  When I lived in VA Beach, which is probably the New Age Center of the World, Rolfing is quite common along with other alternative body manipulation techniques.  All I can say is "HOLY CRAP"!  She dug, then twisted her elbows into my muscles for over an hour(supposedly to stretch the fascia and break up lactic acid crystals) and I swear I saw Elvis.  I was supposed to have ten of these treatments and I lasted through three.  She takes naked pictures of you before the treatment, then after each treatment so you can see the difference in your height, posture etc. The only difference I could see was the horror on my face.  I looked like the Crypt Keeper.

I wouldn't suggest this to anyone with fibro, as alluring as I have made it sound.