Bad back - pillow advice
Discussion
I have long term lower back problems and also intermittant mild neck issues. I am currently quite lame and I have realised I do need to change some things.
I know I often wake up in pain in the night and I think my pillows are not helping. I currently sleep with 3 pillows - 2 feather and down ones under the head and one very old feather one over my head.
I discovered recently that you are supposed to replace pillows every 2 years or so. I am quite embarrassed as all of ours are in the 5-12 years old range except my old feather one which is probably as old as me.
I would like to understand what to look for in pillows - especially if you have back pain.
I know I often wake up in pain in the night and I think my pillows are not helping. I currently sleep with 3 pillows - 2 feather and down ones under the head and one very old feather one over my head.
I discovered recently that you are supposed to replace pillows every 2 years or so. I am quite embarrassed as all of ours are in the 5-12 years old range except my old feather one which is probably as old as me.
I would like to understand what to look for in pillows - especially if you have back pain.
Short answer, it varies massively. Helpful I know.
My OH prefers a firm pillow and a soft pillow on top, and around 500 other pillows around her, because she's mental. I like 2 soft pillows (fnarr). We both have long term lower back trouble, hers is worse and longer term through degenerative disc disease, mine is a few bust discs and an osseous bar from injury and work.
She finds it better if the pillows are higher, I end up in knots if I try that.
In terms of what pillows, she has a tempur one with a plush one on top (can't remember what brand). Mine are just whatever Costco had in at circa £40.
If you're buying new pillows and they're plush, I suspect you'll probably find 2 is enough as they won't have compressed and sagged with age (again, fnarrr).
My OH prefers a firm pillow and a soft pillow on top, and around 500 other pillows around her, because she's mental. I like 2 soft pillows (fnarr). We both have long term lower back trouble, hers is worse and longer term through degenerative disc disease, mine is a few bust discs and an osseous bar from injury and work.
She finds it better if the pillows are higher, I end up in knots if I try that.
In terms of what pillows, she has a tempur one with a plush one on top (can't remember what brand). Mine are just whatever Costco had in at circa £40.
If you're buying new pillows and they're plush, I suspect you'll probably find 2 is enough as they won't have compressed and sagged with age (again, fnarrr).
Go for a low and very soft pillow if you sleep flat on your face
Go for a more high profile and perhaps firm pillow if you sleep on your side or back.
I used to have 2 thin pillows but changed over to a latex pillow which is much nicer and offers support. It also retains its shape. I sleep on my side.
You could also consider a memory foam pillow - some of them have inbuilt sections to rest your neck on. They feel a lot firmer IMO.
Definitely worth going to the shops though.
My last latex pillow was about £34-40 and went 'flat' after 2-3 years. The same pillow now is about £55 due to a shortage of latex apparently.
Go for a more high profile and perhaps firm pillow if you sleep on your side or back.
I used to have 2 thin pillows but changed over to a latex pillow which is much nicer and offers support. It also retains its shape. I sleep on my side.
You could also consider a memory foam pillow - some of them have inbuilt sections to rest your neck on. They feel a lot firmer IMO.
Definitely worth going to the shops though.
My last latex pillow was about £34-40 and went 'flat' after 2-3 years. The same pillow now is about £55 due to a shortage of latex apparently.
That's a good point. In my case I admit to sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day 3 days a week. I have a fancy chair special screen, risers the works - had a full assessment done. That's not to say it was correct.
I guess I want to do anything I can to make life easier. About 3 and a half years ago, I suffered by third lot of serious lower back and pelvis pain and was on best rest on fentanyl (I was pregnant so they never did anything _ I should add that I fell down the stairs which exacerbated the issue). Since then it's never been right so I am going to see a doctor.
I guess I want to do anything I can to make life easier. About 3 and a half years ago, I suffered by third lot of serious lower back and pelvis pain and was on best rest on fentanyl (I was pregnant so they never did anything _ I should add that I fell down the stairs which exacerbated the issue). Since then it's never been right so I am going to see a doctor.
You toss and turn in bed all night. No one bad sleeping position is likely to be a direct cause. Nice pillows are about alleviating the problem, not fixing it. Until you fix it, you will always have problems... and they will always get worse...
Imbalanced muscles - shortened and tight muscles or lengthened and weak muscles - cause anything from pins and needles, sciatica, "numb bum", lower, middle and upper back pain, neck ache and headaches. Most are misdiagnosed (head aches as eye strain for e.g.).
You don't need a physio, you need someone who has seen this a million times over, like me.
http://www.mptp.info/corporate/fixdeskposture.html
Imbalanced muscles - shortened and tight muscles or lengthened and weak muscles - cause anything from pins and needles, sciatica, "numb bum", lower, middle and upper back pain, neck ache and headaches. Most are misdiagnosed (head aches as eye strain for e.g.).
You don't need a physio, you need someone who has seen this a million times over, like me.
http://www.mptp.info/corporate/fixdeskposture.html
mattikake said:
You toss and turn in bed all night. No one bad sleeping position is likely to be a direct cause. Nice pillows are about alleviating the problem, not fixing it. Until you fix it, you will always have problems... and they will always get worse...
Imbalanced muscles - shortened and tight muscles or lengthened and weak muscles - cause anything from pins and needles, sciatica, "numb bum", lower, middle and upper back pain, neck ache and headaches. Most are misdiagnosed (head aches as eye strain for e.g.).
You don't need a physio, you need someone who has seen this a million times over, like me.
http://www.mptp.info/corporate/fixdeskposture.html
My work pays someone like you to assess all of us. Pretty enlightened. Or more the fact they realised how much time people had off sick due to these issues. Imbalanced muscles - shortened and tight muscles or lengthened and weak muscles - cause anything from pins and needles, sciatica, "numb bum", lower, middle and upper back pain, neck ache and headaches. Most are misdiagnosed (head aches as eye strain for e.g.).
You don't need a physio, you need someone who has seen this a million times over, like me.
http://www.mptp.info/corporate/fixdeskposture.html
I was offered surgery on my lower back/pelvis some years ago but things improved. I spent two years not working and the problem was just as bad then as it is now.
I am looking forward to a new pillow - they getting replaced so why not replace them with something that might be more comfortable. I think I am going to buy a selection!
Pothole - it's a habit. A cocoon thing and of the course the OH snores.
Coco H said:
mattikake said:
You toss and turn in bed all night. No one bad sleeping position is likely to be a direct cause. Nice pillows are about alleviating the problem, not fixing it. Until you fix it, you will always have problems... and they will always get worse...
Imbalanced muscles - shortened and tight muscles or lengthened and weak muscles - cause anything from pins and needles, sciatica, "numb bum", lower, middle and upper back pain, neck ache and headaches. Most are misdiagnosed (head aches as eye strain for e.g.).
You don't need a physio, you need someone who has seen this a million times over, like me.
http://www.mptp.info/corporate/fixdeskposture.html
My work pays someone like you to assess all of us. Pretty enlightened. Or more the fact they realised how much time people had off sick due to these issues. Imbalanced muscles - shortened and tight muscles or lengthened and weak muscles - cause anything from pins and needles, sciatica, "numb bum", lower, middle and upper back pain, neck ache and headaches. Most are misdiagnosed (head aches as eye strain for e.g.).
You don't need a physio, you need someone who has seen this a million times over, like me.
http://www.mptp.info/corporate/fixdeskposture.html
I was offered surgery on my lower back/pelvis some years ago but things improved. I spent two years not working and the problem was just as bad then as it is now.
I am looking forward to a new pillow - they getting replaced so why not replace them with something that might be more comfortable. I think I am going to buy a selection!
Yeah the above is only the diagnosis part, the fixing part is a whole other article and plan.
So the person who does this at your work, do they work for your organisation or are the freelance/self-employed? Just curious, as I wouldn't mind doing this full-time. (I see myself conducting evening posture correction classes straight after work in their canteen.)
And if there is such a person at your work, how come they aren't fixing you right now? You sound like an extreme case if you've been off work for so long and been offered surgery. By the sounds of it, your posture as been so bad for so long, it's cause bone injury (does spondylosis sound familiar?).
So the person who does this at your work, do they work for your organisation or are the freelance/self-employed? Just curious, as I wouldn't mind doing this full-time. (I see myself conducting evening posture correction classes straight after work in their canteen.)
And if there is such a person at your work, how come they aren't fixing you right now? You sound like an extreme case if you've been off work for so long and been offered surgery. By the sounds of it, your posture as been so bad for so long, it's cause bone injury (does spondylosis sound familiar?).
I will find out for you. It starts of with an e-assessment and then someone comes to see you. Given we have thousands of employees I think it's done by a company.
I am not off work. The two years I had off were extended maternity leave. My problem relates to an old injury.
There's nothing wrong with my posture according to work, the physio etc though I think something has changed which has caused the old problem to resurface. Whatever has changed ( this time I tried to carry 2 25kg sacks of feed together and I've done something) probably does impact on posture. IIRC the orthopods thought the original issue was something structural.
I am not off work. The two years I had off were extended maternity leave. My problem relates to an old injury.
There's nothing wrong with my posture according to work, the physio etc though I think something has changed which has caused the old problem to resurface. Whatever has changed ( this time I tried to carry 2 25kg sacks of feed together and I've done something) probably does impact on posture. IIRC the orthopods thought the original issue was something structural.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff