Beds and Arthritis
Joe McReynolds
I've had JRA for almost four decades and am planning to purchase a new
bed fairly soon. I once heard that persons with arthritis or back pain
could benefit, especially through more restful sleep, from sleeping on
waterbed. I wonder if anyone else here could provide me with either
their personal experience with sleeping on waterbeds or steer me
toward some research findings concerning the advantages of waterbeds
versus non-waterbeds for those with chronic joint or back pain.
The only info I've been able to find is from salespersons who claim
that their type of bed (water or non-water) would help me to sleep
best , and I've been unable to find any hard info on this. One
saleperson, for example, claimed that waterbeds promoted back problems
and pain, which directly contradicts the experience of someone with
back trouble who I know. Another salesperson told me that those with
joint pain rush in droves to his place of business to buy his
waterbeds. I really need some info.
Thanks very much for any help anyone can provide with this.
Joe McReynolds
YODASARK
I had an Innerspace Waterbed for years and loved it. (So did my four
cats!)
However, one must remember that the heater must be on all the time and if
the electricity goes off or the heater goes out, one cannot sleep on the
bed. I didn't have RA when I had the waterbed but I do remember that it
was difficult to get out of the bed. For someone with RA or Arthritis, it
may be even more difficult.
If you do get a waterbed, made sure it is a floation bed. Many of the new
style water beds have just a thin quilted covering of water and are
nothing like the true waterbeds of old.
Lois Wilson
Diana Edens
jo...@sprintmail.com (Joe McReynolds) wrote:
>I've had JRA for almost four decades and am planning to purchase a new
>bed fairly soon. I once heard that persons with arthritis or back pain
>could benefit, especially through more restful sleep, from sleeping on
>waterbed. I wonder if anyone else here could provide me with either
>their personal experience with sleeping on waterbeds or steer me
>toward some research findings concerning the advantages of waterbeds
>versus non-waterbeds for those with chronic joint or back pain.
My sister in law has JRA and loves her waterbed. Especially after the
surgery on her knees. I have RA and since getting my waterbed my hip
pain has been almost noneixtant where before the waterbed I was waking
early AM and walking and sitting until I could take more medication
and go back to bed. My brother says his back is better when he sleeps
on his water bed. I have known other people who feel worse after
sleeping on waterbeds. I think there are a lot of factors, ie how
much wateryou put in, what kinds of problems cause your pain. The
best way might be to find a motel with a water bed and spend a night
or two and see how you do. I have the "soft-sided" waterbed, which
some think are imitation. But since I can not get out of a regular
waterbed without help and I live alone, I compromised. It may not be
as comfortable, but it allows me my independence. Good hunting. A
good nights sleep is definitely important.
Diana
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.xmission.com/~dedens/
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aase Marit Waage
Joe McReynolds <jo...@sprintmail.com> wrote:
> I've had JRA for almost four decades and am planning to purchase a new
> bed fairly soon. I once heard that persons with arthritis or back pain
> could benefit, especially through more restful sleep, from sleeping on
> waterbed. I wonder if anyone else here could provide me with either
> their personal experience with sleeping on waterbeds or steer me
> toward some research findings concerning the advantages of waterbeds
> versus non-waterbeds for those with chronic joint or back pain.
>
> The only info I've been able to find is from salespersons who claim
> that their type of bed (water or non-water) would help me to sleep
> best , and I've been unable to find any hard info on this. One
> saleperson, for example, claimed that waterbeds promoted back problems
> and pain, which directly contradicts the experience of someone with
> back trouble who I know. Another salesperson told me that those with
> joint pain rush in droves to his place of business to buy his
> waterbeds. I really need some info.
>
> Thanks very much for any help anyone can provide with this.
>
> Joe McReynolds
Hi, Joe!
I have psoriatic arthritis and hypermobile joints. I got my first
waterbed almost 10 yrs ago (full floatation). Some years later, I tried
using a "normal" bed for a few months, with an expensive mattress. I got
stiffer and stiffer in the mornings and I did not sleep very well. So, I
bought myself a new waterbed, this time with "sitting edges" made of
wood. I am really, really happy with it. The only thing that can be
problematic, is to get in and out of it, sometimes. I have found a
technique that works well for me though. A soft edge would have been
nice though, since I pretty much roll out of it. The next time I take
the water out of it, I will get somebody to make a new and higher base
for it, which will make it a lot easier to get in and out of. That can
easily be done by yourself or a handyman. If you buy a new one, I
recommend that you look at that issue at once, since most of them are
really low.
Whenever I am sleeping in another bed, I wake up numerous times with
pain. The pressure that the mattress cause on the joints, gives me
trouble. The waterbed makes me float in a good position and it relieves
pressure on the joints really well. I am also using a bodypillow for
when I sleep on my side and a Tempurpedic neck pillow.
If I some day should have to have another type of bed, I think the
Tempurpedic mattress would be the first thing I would look at. If I were
to get my dream-bed, it would be one of those new softside waterbeds
with channels that makes it less wavey. You can also get them with
separate compartments, so it is possible to have a normal mattress in
one side and watermattress in the other side, if you are two with
different wishes. These beds sounds wonderful. I know that a girl with
really bad joint problems, she's on a mailinglist I'm on, recently
bought one of these beds. She is so happy with it. If you'd like me to,
I could ask her where she got it and what it is called.
Wheather or not a waterbed is the right choice, is really individual I
think. For some of us they are definately choice no 1, for others they
are terrible...
--
Best regards, Visit my home page at:
Med vennlig hilsen, <URL:http://home.newmedia.no/flaker/>
Aase Marit :)))))) ("Aw-se-Mareet")
Aase Marit Waage
MagicMan <ma...@ebicom.net> wrote:
> I slept on a full floatation water bed for about 20 years and I liked
> it, however, I still would wake with morning backache sometimes.
> Another thing about conventional waterbeds is getting in and out of
> them. I moved to a very old house (built 1847) and was afraid to put
> that much weight up stairs, otherwise I would probably still have it.
>
> baffeled waterbeds would probably be better for you than full
> floatation. good luck on your search!
Hi, Magic!
Some years ago, when I moved into an old house, I had the same concern
as you. I had my sister, who's a building engineer, to look at the
floors. She said before she went to the basement to look at the ceiling
there, that she really didn't need to look because the old houses were
so much better built than the new ones. She looked anyway, and she told
me that I could easily put two of those waterbeds in that room... Was I
relieved? Oooooh, yes!!! I didn't know what I would do without my
waterbed... So, if you still would want to go back to your waterbed, why
don't you get somebody to check it out for you like I did?
Kati Norris
Joe McReynolds wrote:
>
> I've had JRA for almost four decades and am planning to purchase a new
> bed fairly soon. I once heard that persons with arthritis or back pain
> could benefit, especially through more restful sleep, from sleeping on
> waterbed. I wonder if anyone else here could provide me with either
> their personal experience with sleeping on waterbeds or steer me
> toward some research findings concerning the advantages of waterbeds
> versus non-waterbeds for those with chronic joint or back pain.
>
> The only info I've been able to find is from salespersons who claim
> that their type of bed (water or non-water) would help me to sleep
> best , and I've been unable to find any hard info on this. One
> saleperson, for example, claimed that waterbeds promoted back problems
> and pain, which directly contradicts the experience of someone with
> back trouble who I know. Another salesperson told me that those with
> joint pain rush in droves to his place of business to buy his
> waterbeds. I really need some info.
>
> Thanks very much for any help anyone can provide with this.
>
> Joe McReynolds
I can only provide my own experience. I developed OA about 2 years ago,
mostly in my hips. My husband had been wanting a waterbed for some time
now and we decided to get one. When I tried it out, I noticed that when
I lay on my side, my body weight didn't put so much pressure on my
aching hips as it did when I was on a regular bed. On the down side,
sometimes it's more difficult to get out of bed because it's like a
pregnant woman trying to rise from an overstuffed chair.
I recommend ignoring the salesmen, and trying out any bed several times
before you buy one.
Kati.
--
ka...@neosoft.com - Kathryn Norris - Houston, Texas USA
Anita M Wilcox
In article <33CDEE...@neosoft.com>, Kati Norris <ka...@neosoft.com> wrote:
>Joe McReynolds wrote:
>>
>> I've had JRA for almost four decades and am planning to purchase a new
>> bed fairly soon. I once heard that persons with arthritis or back pain
>> could benefit, especially through more restful sleep, from sleeping on
>> waterbed. I wonder if anyone else here could provide me with either
>> their personal experience with sleeping on waterbeds or steer me
>> toward some research findings concerning the advantages of waterbeds
>> versus non-waterbeds for those with chronic joint or back pain.
>
>I can only provide my own experience. I developed OA about 2 years ago,
>mostly in my hips. My husband had been wanting a waterbed for some time
>now and we decided to get one. When I tried it out, I noticed that when
>I lay on my side, my body weight didn't put so much pressure on my
>aching hips as it did when I was on a regular bed. On the down side,
>sometimes it's more difficult to get out of bed because it's like a
>pregnant woman trying to rise from an overstuffed chair.
>I recommend ignoring the salesmen, and trying out any bed several times
>before you buy one.
>Kati.
>--
I'll second that. I've been sleeping in a waterbed since 1986, shortly
after I got RA. It's fantastic! One thing you might look at is the
"soft-side" or "hybrid" waterbeds. When I first tried out a waterbed,
I found I couldn't get out of the standard type of water bed, since it
required you to sort of climb up and out. But, the soft-side beds look
just like regular beds, and are much easier to get in and out of. Plus,
you don't need special sheets for them. The one I have now (my second)
doesn't even need a heater, since it has several inches of foam rubber
on the top piece which sits on top of the water mattress. I haven't
had any back problems from it, but my RA also doesn't bother my back
much, so that could be an issue. My husband finds it bothers his
back more than a regular mattress. He likes the firm-as-a-brick type
of mattress :-) I have found that there is much less pressure on my
sore joints, since the mattress has more give to it. This is a
godsend on those days when both side of your body are sore, since you
don't have to contort yourself so much to find a comfortable position.
The best thing for you to do is try them out and see how they feel.
If you are concerned about the motion, there are many levels of
"baffling" available now, so you can choose how much motion you want
the bed to have. Good luck!
Anita
Rob Root
:
> >Joe McReynolds wrote:
> >>
> >> I've had JRA for almost four decades and am planning to purchase a new
> >> bed fairly soon. I once heard that persons with arthritis or back pain
> >> could benefit, especially through more restful sleep, from sleeping on
> >> waterbed. I wonder if anyone else here could provide me with either
> >> their personal experience with sleeping on waterbeds or steer me
> >> toward some research findings concerning the advantages of waterbeds
> >> versus non-waterbeds for those with chronic joint or back pain.
Just to add my voice to the rest --
I have RA and have had a soft-side heated waterbed many years. The
soft-sided ones are MUCH easier to get in and out of than the board-sided
ones.
Be sure to get one that is heated -- I found the heat makes a major
difference in both pain and stiffness of joints. My morning stiffness used
to last 6 hours or more; with the waterbed, it lasts less than 2 hours, and
is much less pronounced.
I didn't appreciate that it was the waterbed that made such a difference
(thinking perhaps the medications were the cause), until I traveled and
stayed in hotels with regular beds again...The first morning I'd be
noticably creakier, and each following morning would be worse. If I slept
in regular beds for a week. I could barely get out of bed, and would be
creaky and uncomfortable all day, and the inflammation in my joints would
be much worse.
A heated soft-side waterbed certainly isn't a cure-all, but it really does
help!
Aase Marit Waage
YODASARK <yoda...@aol.com> wrote:
> >>I recommend ignoring the salesmen, and trying out any bed several times
> before you buy one.
> Kati.<<
>
> Good advice, the only problem is that, with a waterbed, it takes at least
> a week to get used to it. Most people will not like a waterbed at first
> but once their bodies have adjusted to the motion, they can't remember how
> they ever slept without one.
>
> Lois Wilson
Hi,
I don't know how it is in the US, but here in Norway most waterbeds come
with a 30 day money back guarantee, so you can try it out properly to
see how it works for you. It would maybe be a good idea to check this
out with some stores...
I agree, it takes at least a week to get used to it. The first couple of
days I would even get nauseated/sea sick;-)... But, now I can't
understand how I should be able to live without my waterbed.
Lee Thompson-Herbert
In article <1997071522041490870@[194.52.244.163]>,
Aase Marit Waage <fla...@newmedia.no> wrote:
[...]
>If I some day should have to have another type of bed, I think the
>Tempurpedic mattress would be the first thing I would look at. If I were
>to get my dream-bed, it would be one of those new softside waterbeds
>with channels that makes it less wavey. You can also get them with
You can also put a heavy pad over a regular waterbed bladder to keep
down the waves. If the bladder has been "burped" correctly, and you
have surfactant in the water to keep it from forming bubbles, it's
_much_ calmer. The pad damps the waves some, and it gives you a
vapor pocket between you and the plastic bladder. It means you
don't sweat as much. With that setup, I've even managed to _share_
a waterbed and neither of us got bounced out during the night. ;}
Terry's bed is set high, so he can more or less roll into and out
of bed. He had the frame custom built, with a bunch of drawers
in it. Keeping the waterbed warm but not broiling means that
he can get up in the mornings. He has two crushed disks and
a lot of wear-and-tear damage to his shoulders, knees and ankles.
I liked the soft bed, but I found I had to be careful not to get
my hands pinned underneath me. They'd get numb before I'd wake up
and notice. On a normal bed, the pain would wake me up. I'm sure
if I slept in a waterbed all the time, I'd eventually learn to keep
my hands in safe positions. The real problem with a single bladder
waterbed is that it's easy to slide down the sides and get jammed
against the frame sides. I'm told by friends that it's not a problem
with the channel waterbeds.
I just want a bed that big enough for me to be able to share it
without ending up curled up in a tiny ball in one corner, clutching
my pillow lest he take that too. ;}
--
Lee M.Thompson-Herbert KD6WUR l...@crl.com
Member, Knights of Xenu (1995). Chaos Monger and Jill of All Trades.
"There are some people who will argue whether the flames are blue
or green, when the real question is that their arse is on fire."
Aase Marit Waage
Lee Thompson-Herbert <l...@crl5.crl.com> wrote:
> You can also put a heavy pad over a regular waterbed bladder to keep
> down the waves. If the bladder has been "burped" correctly, and you
> have surfactant in the water to keep it from forming bubbles, it's
> _much_ calmer. The pad damps the waves some, and it gives you a
> vapor pocket between you and the plastic bladder. It means you
> don't sweat as much. With that setup, I've even managed to _share_
> a waterbed and neither of us got bounced out during the night. ;}
I know. I actually have two pads on mine, I would not be able to sleep
on a waterbed without pads. It would also cause the heater to be on
constantly here, living in a cold climate with the window open all year
round... I have tried the heavy top mattresses, but that took the
comfort I like away (gave me lots of pressure pain, the mattress was
thrown out quickly!), so that was no solution for me. I have found that
the best thing to do for me, is to use pretty much water in the
mattress, and get all the bubbles out (well, easier said than done
sometimes when you've just filled it, right?). I refill the mattress
yearly with surfactant. Well, I wouldn't want all the waves to go away,
I kind of like them... Calming....
>
> Terry's bed is set high, so he can more or less roll into and out
> of bed. He had the frame custom built, with a bunch of drawers
> in it. Keeping the waterbed warm but not broiling means that
> he can get up in the mornings. He has two crushed disks and
> a lot of wear-and-tear damage to his shoulders, knees and ankles.
I have planned to get a new base frame built, slightly higher, the next
time I find an opportunity to empty the bed. I won't change the whole
frame, just the base of it. Putting drawers in it never struck my
mind... Thanks for this great idea!!!! I mean there is lots of space
inside the base... I could always use some extra storage space... Well,
this is a good idea for whoever is out looking for a new bed now... I
mean, a handyman/-woman could easily make a new base frame. If it wasn't
for my bad wrists/shoulders, I would have no difficulty of making one
myself. I would have to think a bit about the drawers though... Hmmmm...
How are they done? You would need something extra in the middle and the
other sides since you take away the support of two of the sides... Or,
aren`t the drawers covering the whole sides? Hmmmm... Wouldn't want it
to collapse when I take the drawer out, right? Are the drawers on
wheels? Hmmmm... My sister is an engineer, this could be something she
could calculate for me :-)...
>
> I liked the soft bed, but I found I had to be careful not to get
> my hands pinned underneath me. They'd get numb before I'd wake up
> and notice.
Hmmm... I have never tried them, only heard about them. From what you
describe, I am sure that I would find it way to hard to sleep on...
> On a normal bed, the pain would wake me up. I'm sure
> if I slept in a waterbed all the time, I'd eventually learn to keep
> my hands in safe positions. The real problem with a single bladder
> waterbed is that it's easy to slide down the sides and get jammed
> against the frame sides. I'm told by friends that it's not a problem
> with the channel waterbeds.
I have found that this is no problem if the bed is big enough on single
bladder beds either. I don't think a queen size waterbed is made for two
people to sleep in for more than a few nights. For two people you simply
need a king size one... Then this won't be much of a problem if one of
the people aren't rather violent in sleep though ;-)... Bang, you're
stuck;-)...
>
> I just want a bed that big enough for me to be able to share it
> without ending up curled up in a tiny ball in one corner, clutching
> my pillow lest he take that too. ;}
he-he... I know what you mean....
Thanks for the tips!!!!! I will certainly stick with my one bladder
one!!! I could use a new base frame though (with drawers) and maybe I
should change the "sitting edges" on mine with some wider, padded
ones... I could do that, easily!!! :-) WOW... That could be a good idea
for others too... Put 20 cm padded (foam with a wooden inside) edges
on... I already have wooden ones, but replacing them wouldn't be tricky
at all...
Aase Marit Waage
ELISW <el...@aol.com> wrote:
> You might want to try an air matress, too. The one I have has two
> "zones", both of which are adjustable so that my partner and I can both
> have the firmness we want. It goes onto a platform so I can have it high
> enough to get in and out of easily.
>
> Liz W., NYC
Hi, Liz!
You got me curious... Could you tell more about it? The only air
mattresses I have seen here, are camping ones and the ones for people
who are in the bed more or less all the time. That is the sort with a
motor which pumps in up around you to support. These are more or less
available for severly handicapped people, people who normally need to be
turned by others etc., and they are extremely expensive... They are put
on top of a regular mattress.
I guess that what you are talking about is a different thing. Is this
something that could be used as a top mattress when we are staying in
hotels etc, or is it only regular air mattresses?
Joan
In article <33ca3683...@nntp.a001.sprintmail.com>,
jo...@sprintmail.com says...
>
>I've had JRA for almost four decades and am planning to purchase a new
>bed fairly soon. I once heard that persons with arthritis or back pain
>could benefit, especially through more restful sleep, from sleeping on
>waterbed. I wonder if anyone else here could provide me with either
>their personal experience with sleeping on waterbeds or steer me
>toward some research findings concerning the advantages of waterbeds
>versus non-waterbeds for those with chronic joint or back pain.
>
>that their type of bed (water or non-water) would help me to sleep
>best , and I've been unable to find any hard info on this. One
>saleperson, for example, claimed that waterbeds promoted back problems
>and pain, which directly contradicts the experience of someone with
>back trouble who I know. Another salesperson told me that those with
>joint pain rush in droves to his place of business to buy his
>waterbeds. I really need some info.
>
>Thanks very much for any help anyone can provide with this.
>
>Joe McReynolds
trial and return basis. This is a really good scheme as it often takes
people a few weeks to get used to a waterbed. I have RA and found a
waterbed excellent. I had a softsided one which is much easier to get
out of. Getting out is a knack and for me involves rolling and coming
up to a sitting position as I roll. The pain is much less at night in a
waterbed for me and the morning stiffness is much lessened. The amount
of water in the bladder is critical and too little can definately cause
back pain, so if you find your back hurts try adding a little more
water. I found the super-waveless to be the one for me, the ultra
waveless was too firm. Hope this may help, Good Nights!! Joan.
Debra Norton
Joe McReynolds wrote:
>
> I've had JRA for almost four decades and am planning to purchase a new
> bed fairly soon. I once heard that persons with arthritis or back pain
> could benefit, especially through more restful sleep, from sleeping on
> waterbed. I wonder if anyone else here could provide me with either
> their personal experience with sleeping on waterbeds or steer me
> toward some research findings concerning the advantages of waterbeds
> versus non-waterbeds for those with chronic joint or back pain.
>
> The only info I've been able to find is from salespersons who claim
> that their type of bed (water or non-water) would help me to sleep
> best , and I've been unable to find any hard info on this. One
> saleperson, for example, claimed that waterbeds promoted back problems
> and pain, which directly contradicts the experience of someone with
> back trouble who I know. Another salesperson told me that those with
> joint pain rush in droves to his place of business to buy his
> waterbeds. I really need some info.
>
> Thanks very much for any help anyone can provide with this.
>
> Joe McReynolds
mattress that has two waterbags which not only prevents the waves when
my husband moves but each bag can be filled with the amount of water
that seems right for us. The bags have baffles too so there isn't too
much water movement. There is thick firm foam around the edges of the
mattress which makes getting out of bed almost as easy as a regular
mattress. Another nice feature is that the mattress does not use an
electric heater. Instead there are reversible,insulated pads that fit
on top of the water bags. One side is thermal and holds in body heat,
the other side is cooler. That way I can have my side warm, and my
husband can keep his side cooler as he prefers. Deb
Tony & Lori Varela
Hi Joe,
I have had RA for about 21 yrs. I slept on a waterbed (hybrid type, so
I could get out of it) for about 12 yrs of it. Now I sleep on a
conventional bed for the following reasons:
1) I travel about 4 times of year for business and 3 times a year for
pleasure and when a person is use to a waterbed, it is h*ll to get use
to a conventional bed while traveling.
2) My husband weighs 220 lbs and I weigh 97 lbs..well he would get in,
the water would all go to my side and I felt I was sleeping on a hill
and would fall off at any time. Also, even tho it was a hybrid whenever
he would move (remember he weighs 220 lbs) I would get the wave!!!
hehehehehe
3) My husband was having bad back pains, and after being in WASH DC for
a week on a conventional bed his back pains went away.
So we bought a hard! conventional bed. The trick for us was to get a
mattress pad that was heated and I turn it on about 20 minutes before I
jump in....oh heaven on the aching joints!!! So far it has worked and I
seem to sleep better. We have been sleeping on it for about 5 yrs. We
are thinking about getting a king, since he says I hog the bed (all my
97 lbs. hahahaah). So my advise is what ever bed you get, get the
biggest and best you can afford.
Hope this helps,
Lori V.
21 yrs RA
Bob Walters
Tony & Lori Varela <tav...@halcyon.com> wrote in article
<33D51B...@halcyon.com>...
> Hi Joe,
>
> I have had RA for about 21 yrs. I slept on a waterbed (hybrid type, so
> I could get out of it) for about 12 yrs of it. Now I sleep on a
> conventional bed for the following reasons:
(snip)
> So we bought a hard! conventional bed. The trick for us was to get a
> mattress pad that was heated and I turn it on about 20 minutes before I
> jump in....oh heaven on the aching joints!!! So far it has worked and I
> seem to sleep better. We have been sleeping on it for about 5 yrs. We
> are thinking about getting a king, since he says I hog the bed (all my
> 97 lbs. hahahaah). So my advise is what ever bed you get, get the
> biggest and best you can afford.
Hi,
My wife and I also opted for a conventional bed for much the same reasons.
We chose one that had the maximum firmness in the mattress itself but also
had an attached pad or "pillow top" on both sides. This made it easier to
lie on and also raises the height of the bed by 2-4 inches making it easier
for me to get up from it. We have had this bed for six years now and love
it. The children love it as well and take every chance to sleep in it. We
will have to get them the same type when their beds are due for
replacement.
Bob
P.S. I also find that my much smaller wife tends to hog the bed all of the
time :-).
CADown
In article <33D51B...@halcyon.com>, Tony & Lori Varela
<tav...@halcyon.com> writes:
>So we bought a hard! conventional bed. The trick for us was to get a
>mattress pad that was heated and I turn it on about 20 minutes before I
>jump in....oh heaven on the aching joints!!! So far it has worked and I
>seem to sleep better. We have been sleeping on it for about 5 yrs. We
>are thinking about getting a king, since he says I hog the bed (all my
>97 lbs. hahahaah). So my advise is what ever bed you get, get the
>biggest and best you can afford.
>
>
Lori, I never heard of a heated mattress pad. What a wonderful idea! I,
too, had to give up the waterbed. It was just getting too difficult to
change postions while sleeping. My husband is 6' 7" tall and weighs 250
lbs., so sleeping was an adventure anyway. All he would have to do is roll
over and I'd be hanging onto an end table from this high, narrow strip of
bed. I always felt that if he were to cough, I'd bounce onto the floor.
Needless to say, a conventional bed is working better, though I dearly
miss the warmth of the waterbed on my rusty bones. It's not an issue
right now in Florida, since it will be in the 90's until October, but I'll
shop for a heated pad in the meantime. Thanks for the tip.
Carol
Human beings are flawed individuals...the cosmic bakers took us out a little too early. That's why we're as crazy as we are.
Jimmy Buffett
Victoria Lee
Tony & Lori Varela wrote:
>
> Hi Joe,
>
> I have had RA for about 21 yrs. I slept on a waterbed (hybrid type, so
> I could get out of it) for about 12 yrs of it. Now I sleep on a
> conventional bed for the following reasons:
>
> pleasure and when a person is use to a waterbed, it is h*ll to get use
> to a conventional bed while traveling.
>
> 2) My husband weighs 220 lbs and I weigh 97 lbs..well he would get in,
> the water would all go to my side and I felt I was sleeping on a hill
> and would fall off at any time. Also, even tho it was a hybrid whenever
> he would move (remember he weighs 220 lbs) I would get the wave!!!
> hehehehehe
>
> 3) My husband was having bad back pains, and after being in WASH DC for
> a week on a conventional bed his back pains went away.
>
> mattress pad that was heated and I turn it on about 20 minutes before I
> jump in....oh heaven on the aching joints!!! So far it has worked and I
> seem to sleep better. We have been sleeping on it for about 5 yrs. We
> are thinking about getting a king, since he says I hog the bed (all my
> 97 lbs. hahahaah). So my advise is what ever bed you get, get the
> biggest and best you can afford.
Lori
I suspect that you hit on one of the reasons that water beds help so
much - heat. This winter I got sick and started chilling. I put on my
sweats and went to bed (I also have a water bed). The next morning I
was still sick but my joints weren't near as sore. From then on I'd
wear my sweats to bed and socks (my ankles are big problems) and I wake
up better.
Sounds like your mattress pad did the same thing the water bed does.
BTW - Is it a full length pad and if so where did you get it?
--
Victoria Lee - beautiful central Indiana - Practice random acts of
kindness and senseless beauty.
MBrown1003
I have a waterbed that was -- when I bought it (about 13 years ago) --
considered motionless. It has circular baffles in it. It is in an oak
frame that goes all around; the base has 6 drawers in it, adding almost as
much storage space as the matching bureau!
I have ALWAYS found that this is the most comfortable bed I've ever slept
in. With my recent outbreak of psoriatic arthritis, I'm even happier with
it. There are still many mornings when I find that I've slept in one
position -- comfortably -- all night. On a conventional mattress, I rip
the sheets out, and twist the blankets. The challenge, as others point
out, is getting into and out of the thing! I've found that kneeling on
the edge and then stepping out isn't too bad...it's as much pain on my
hips as rising from a low sofa or chair.
Nikkal
Victoria Lee wrote:
> I suspect that you hit on one of the reasons that water beds help so
> much - heat. This winter I got sick and started chilling. I put on
> my sweats and went to bed (I also have a water bed). The next morning
>I was still sick but my joints weren't near as sore. From then on I'd
> wear my sweats to bed and socks (my ankles are big problems) and I
>
> Sounds like your mattress pad did the same thing the water bed does.
That's why I LOVE my futon! It maintains just the perfect amount of
heat for me, without getting too hot in the summer, like waterbeds do...
in fact, if I sleep on a waterbed I'm likely to be in worse
pain...hotels are often the same...love that futon!!!
HEINIKEL
Yes, I would go for the waterbed, we have regular beds at our cottage and
I toss and turn all night with pain in my hip. I love vacation but one
thing I can't wait to get back to is my waterbed at home.
David J. Burdelski
In article <33DDA0...@donteventhinkaboutjunkmail.de>,
Nikkal <nik...@donteventhinkaboutjunkmail.de> wrote:
>
>That's why I LOVE my futon! It maintains just the perfect amount of
>heat for me, without getting too hot in the summer, like waterbeds do...
>
>in fact, if I sleep on a waterbed I'm likely to be in worse
>pain...hotels are often the same...love that futon!!!
I second that. I've used both cotton-only and (currently) cotton-poly
batting and find that the temp (and, more importantly for me) the
firmness/support works wonders on my hip OA.
When I stay over at the girlfriend's, though, her Sealy-Postur-pedic just
makes me ache. A solution that works for me, when faced with being away
from my futon, is the use of a body pillow.
Dave
Joe McReynolds
In alt.support.arthritis on Fri, 18 Jul 1997 16:57:58 +0100,
fla...@newmedia.no (Aase Marit Waage) wrote:
>YODASARK <yoda...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> >>I recommend ignoring the salesmen, and trying out any bed several times
>> before you buy one.
>> Kati.<<
>>
>> Good advice, the only problem is that, with a waterbed, it takes at least
>> a week to get used to it. Most people will not like a waterbed at first
>> but once their bodies have adjusted to the motion, they can't remember how
>> they ever slept without one.
>>
>> Lois Wilson
>
>Hi,
>
>I don't know how it is in the US, but here in Norway most waterbeds come
>with a 30 day money back guarantee, so you can try it out properly to
>see how it works for you. It would maybe be a good idea to check this
>out with some stores...
>
>I agree, it takes at least a week to get used to it. The first couple of
>days I would even get nauseated/sea sick;-)... But, now I can't
>understand how I should be able to live without my waterbed.
>
>--
>Best regards, Visit my home page at:
>Med vennlig hilsen, <URL:http://home.newmedia.no/flaker/>
>Aase Marit :)))))) ("Aw-se-Mareet")
The waterbed we recently purchased here in the US also has a 30-day
trial period, after which it can be returned for a full refund if
we're not satisfied. With the way I'm sleeping since we got the bed,
though, it's pretty much a cinch that we'll keep this wonderful bed
for a long time to come. :-)
Thanks again to all those here for sharing their experiences with
sleeping on waterbeds. Sure does make my rickety old bones a lot more
comfortable at night. :-)
Joe
Lee Thompson-Herbert
In article <5rqid9$a...@dfw-ixnews4.ix.netcom.com>,
David J. Burdelski <da...@burma.ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>I second that. I've used both cotton-only and (currently) cotton-poly
>batting and find that the temp (and, more importantly for me) the
>firmness/support works wonders on my hip OA.
Huh. And when I sleep on a futon, my hip hurts so bad I often cannot
walk the next day. In fact, most times I _try_ to sleep on a futon,
I don't do a whole lot of sleeping.
Just goes to show that what works for one doesn't work for all.
Dachudson
Do waterbeds smell rubbery when you get them home? I am chemical sensitive
and need a new bed - can't handle all the chemicals they use on regular
ones. Thought I might try waterbed but concerned about vinyl/rubber smell
being strong - any ideas?
Harvey R.Stone
Hi Dachudson, I have RA and I love my waterbed. It takes some getting
used to,
like getting in and out or getting temp right for the time of year. If
you
get the motionless kind and wipe down the bed after you fill it and let
dry, I
dont remmember any smell and dont have one now. Its like anything
else-you get
what you pay for, so buy the better heater and pad that goes between
sheets and
bedding.
Harv
Joe McReynolds
In alt.support.arthritis on 1 Aug 1997 12:49:39 GMT, dach...@aol.com
(Dachudson) wrote:
>Do waterbeds smell rubbery when you get them home? I am chemical sensitive
>and need a new bed - can't handle all the chemicals they use on regular
>ones. Thought I might try waterbed but concerned about vinyl/rubber smell
>being strong - any ideas?
The waterbed we bought does not smell rubbery at all to me. However,
on top of the bladders, we have a quilted pad, then a mattress cover,
and finally a fitted sheet. Our waterbed came with a 30-day try-out
period, after which we can return it for full refund if not satisfied,
though we are certainly more than happy with our purchase thus far.
Joe
Irene
Dachudson wrote:
>
> Dave, where did you buy your all cotton futon? Do you know if it is fire
> retardant treated? Do normal sheets fit it? Thanks for sharing!
Dear Dachudson(?),
My brother, who has no physical difficulties, has been sleeping on
all-cotton futons for years. Regarding it fire-retardancy, I do not
know. I do know, though, that regular sheets *do fit* and he has had
his custom made in New York according to *his* specs (merely for
comfort). The Village Voice advertises custom built futons that will be
made to your specifications and delivered to your door. A couple of
things to keep in mind: (1) cotton batts, so the futon needs to be
turned and shifted even more frequently than a regular mattress so, if
you've any upper-body limitations and no one to turn the futon, this
should be a consideration and (2) be mindful about the base of the
futon, i.e., a solid base would probably be easier on your body than a
slatted one and a standard base (typically lower than a regular bed
height) may be more difficult to "get out of" than a raised base. I
have slept on a custom-made frame and futon at my brother's home (he had
it made for me and for my comfort) and it is very easy, comfortable
sleeping. "My" futon at his place is extra thick (about 12" deep) and
on a solid base (he had drawers installed for *his* convenience) at
about 16-18". I am relatively tall so these specs may not be
appropriate for you, but the above may be food for thought. I hope so.
Best of luck. Irene.
Dachudson
yvette
Dachudson wrote:
>
> Do waterbeds smell rubbery when you get them home? I am chemical sensitive
> and need a new bed - can't handle all the chemicals they use on regular
> ones. Thought I might try waterbed but concerned about vinyl/rubber smell
> being strong - any ideas?
Hi!
I've been following this thread with great interest too. I've found a
resource to share with you . American Waterbed Wholesalers
1-800-233-7191. I don't work for them, just ordered my first waterbed
from them.
They were very helpful over the phone AND they offer a 30 day in home
trial which I couldn't find from any of the local dealers. Their prices
are comparable to what retail stores charge- not really wholesale.
I am chemically sensitive also but didn't notice any smell when I was
trying them out in stores. The soft sided beds come with covers on them
amd some with pillow tops just like innerspring mattresses. This may
mask the rubber smell for you . The tops are made of many different
combinations of materials-maybe you can find one that suits you. Good
luck. We can all use a better night's sleep!
Yvette
Aase Marit Waage
Dachudson <dach...@aol.com> wrote:
> Do waterbeds smell rubbery when you get them home? I am chemical sensitive
> and need a new bed - can't handle all the chemicals they use on regular
> ones. Thought I might try waterbed but concerned about vinyl/rubber smell
> being strong - any ideas?
Hi,
I can't remember any smell at all from the one I've got now or the one I
had earlier...
john marold
>> HELP, IM 38, HAVE RA AND HAVE HAD SPINAL FUSION WITH HARINGTON ROD TO
>> CORRECT CURVATURE FOR 18 YRS NOW. I ALSO HAVE DEGENERATIVE ARTH OF THE
>> SPINE. I AM IN CONSTANT PAIN. TAKING DIFFERENT NSAID'S MINERALS ETC WIHT
>> NO RELIEF. I SLEEP IN A RECLINER THATS 10 YRS OLD NOW READY TO FALL APART.
>> DOE'S ANYONE KNOW IF INSURANCE WILL COVER FOR A NEW RECLINER SO I CAN
>> SLEEP? TRIED WTAERBED, CONV. MATTRESS, THE COUCH, THE FLOOR, YOU NAME IT.
>> A RECLINER SEEMS TO BE THE ONY COMFORTABLE THING. ANY IDEAS...THANKS MARY
>> ANN.....
I have been sleeping in an Air Bed for four or more years. This supports me
where I need it and I can make it as soft or as hard as I need to on a moments
notice. It is made by select comfort. I think they advertise in Readers
Digest. I know they have an 800 #. I found it through a lady that has been
sleeping in one for over 15 years. My has dual controls so my husband can
sleep in a hammock if he likes and I can be as firm as I want. Also, I have
found that I can't feel him move at night, which is great when I am having an
especially painful time. The old bed would jiggle and the pain would wake me.
Now, I sleep thru and only wake myself. I love the thing and wouldn't sleep
on anything else now. I understand you can get a replacement mattress from
Select Comfort for those beds sold that act like hospital beds.
over and out, Caroline
da...@flocare.com
In article <5t5hui$m82$2...@decius.ultra.net>,
I just discovered this thread. I work for FloCare Flotation which sells
air and water mattresses. I would like to add a link pointing our site
visitors to this thread so they could read about other peoples
experiences with air and water support. I am new to use-net groups.
Would this be out of line?
Regarding heated mattress pads, one of our suppliers has just gotten UL
approval on a heated pillow-top with that new "Swedish" memory foam. It
is full length with dual temperature controls. It will be available on
our air beds and as a add-on pillow-top for traditional beds.
Dave Turner
http://www.flocare.com
-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet
AM
<da...@flocare.com> wrote:
> Regarding heated mattress pads, one of our suppliers has just gotten UL
> approval on a heated pillow-top with that new "Swedish" memory foam.
He-he... Actually the "Swedish" foam is from the US... NASA developed
it, but Tempur-pedic started producing it...
What I really wanted to post about, was pillow-tops. I never really
understood what a pillow-top is... Could anyone explain?
--
Best regards, Visit my homepage:
Med vennlig hilsen, <URL:http://home.newmedia.no/flaker/>
_Aase Marit_ :)))))))