Just looking to see what everyone has found is best for their HMS pain as far as mattresses go. I have heard a lot of great things about Gel Foam mattresses for joint pain. What have you found works for you? I've heard that the foam ones can get make you feel hot. I think sleep number would be worth a try though. It would be nice to have something that would adjust based on your needs. Slept around my mates in her moms Orthopaedic bed and had the best and fastest on-setting sleep in my life.Determined to get one at some point!Right now I just lie one pillows from my hips upwards, I have around 7 on my bed and small cushions all over my room just in case! We ended up buying a mattress with a 3 inch memory foam topper. Most nights it is good. I still find myself on the couch some nights though. It's hard finding the right combination of support and softness for our joints. Sleeping on the wrong surface can cause all kinds of pain. My mattress if great for my hips, one of my trouble areas, because its soft but it makes me back hurt.
Sleeping on the couch helps my back but makes my hips hurt. I have returned 3 mattress's in the last year(thank you Costco). The gel/memory foam combo was the worst. After 4 hours My hips and lower back hurt so bad I slept on the floor! I have EDS/POTS so it is not just my joints in finding the perfect bed.I have been tossing around get a craftmatic adjustable type bed. I feel too young but I know it would help the some POTS issues and I have heard other EDS'ers give them good reviews. I have yet to find the perfect pillow again. I left "the pillow" in a hotel room 4 years ago. I have bought no less then 40 replacements with no luck. Share this page with your friends:When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, your bed can make a big difference. That's why it's important to understand that choosing a mattress is not a "one size fits all" endeavor. In fact, research shows that selecting a mattress is extremely personal. Your age, your health, and whether you sleep alone or next to someone can all play a role in determining which mattress is best for you.
Good sleep and mattresses go hand-in-hand. Rather than focus on brands, price tags, or aesthetics, research suggests it's more important to consider what feels right, particularly when deciding on mattress firmness and support.The first thing to consider when choosing a mattress is how you sleep. "If you sleep on your back, your weight is evenly distributed," says Sunita Kumar, MD, medical director of the Sleep Program of Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. "If you sleep on one side, all your body weight is being support by those joints. So your mattress should be comfortable but provide adequate support to the spine and the joints."A 2011 research report examined how well 128 people slept on a variety of different mattresses over the course of four weeks. After analyzing more than 16,000 nights' sleep, the study revealed even small changes in mattress support could influence sleep quality, morning pain, and daytime sleepiness. Although the mattresses that produced the least amount of motion were associated with better sleep, desired firmness varies from person to person.
When choosing a mattress, Dr. Kumar says you should think like Goldilocks. "The firmness of your mattress should not be too hard or so soft that you sink into it," she says. "It should be just right."The age of your mattress can also affect your quality of sleep. Over time, mattresses can lose their support. "If the surface is lumpy or not comfortable, it might be contributing to why people wake up during the night," notes Kumar. She recommends replacing your mattress after 10 years.Certain medical conditions can also play a role in which mattress is right for you. Although innerspring mattresses, which offer various levels of support from internal steel coils, are most common, there are a number of other types of mattresses that can address specific needs:Adjustable Beds. These mattresses allow you to sleep in a reclined position or elevate your entire upper body from the waist up. This type of bed also provides you with the option to keep your legs elevated. Raising your legs at night can improve circulation and help reduce swelling in the lower extremities.
When your legs are raised, your hips are slightly flexed. This reduces pressure on your back, Kumar says. She notes that people with the following conditions should check with their doctor to see if this type of bed could help ease their symptoms:· Acid Reflux or GERDMemory Foam Mattresses. This type of mattress is manufactured with polyurethane to increase its viscosity. Memory foam, which can be can be higher or lower in density, is made to soften and mold to your shape in response to your body heat. Kumar says memory foam mattresses provide good support to the body and the joints, particularly if you tend to sleep on your side. This type of mattress may be beneficial if you:· Have arthritis or joint pain· Wake frequently during the night due to the motion of your spouse or partnerAdjustable-Air Mattresses. These mattresses are designed with an air-filled core, rather than a core made from innersprings or foam. They can be adjusted to suit your individual needs. You might benefit from such a mattress if you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, which can result in poor circulation and increased risk for pressure sores, Kumar says.
This is also an option if you're:· Recovering from an illness or injury that has you often confined to a bed or a wheelchairPeople with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of inherited connective tissue disorders, are at greater risk for dislocations, pain, and degenerative joint disease. A review found an adjustable air mattress or a memory foam mattress could increase support, improve sleep quality, and reduce pain for people with these symptoms.Your mattress should provide support to your entire body. If there are gaps between your mattress and certain parts of your body, you may not be getting the support you need. On the other hand, if you experience discomfort in your shoulders, hips or lower back, your mattress may be too firm.It's also important your mattress is big enough. Whether you are sleeping alone or with your partner or spouse, you should be able to move and roll over during the night.Sleep should leave you feeling rejuvenated, but if you’re in pain you’re probably not getting restful sleep.
In fact, people with pain are up to four times more likely to report bad sleep than people without pain, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2015 Sleep in America Poll. A poor night’s sleep can make you moody and unfocused—and it can also increase your sensitivity to pain. Here are some tricks to help you get your Z’s, no matter what hurts. Sleep Positions for Every Ailment If your shoulder hurts…switch sides. Shoulder pain is known to be worse at night, says Martin Redish, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “Any kind of shoulder pain hurts more at night because you lie flat and blood rushes to the area,” he says. Try sleeping on the unaffected side while hugging a pillow. If you’re a die-hard back sleeper, put a pillow under the bum shoulder. Propping yourself up so you’re not laying flat can also help alleviate nighttime shoulder pain, Redish says. If your knee hurts…squeeze a pillow. “Knee pain, especially with degenerative arthritis of the knee, often gets to the point where it can hurt at night,” says Redish.
Your best bet is to sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs. The pillow will cushion your knees so they don’t rub together, says Redish. It’ll also reduce pressure on the knee while you sleep. If your wrist hurts…prop it up. Carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes pain or numbness in the wrist, hands, and fingers, has a reputation for hurting more at night. For pain from carpal tunnel, sleep on your back, with your arm propped up by a pillow. You can also use a night splint for the affected wrist(s), says Redish. If your back or neck hurts…pick a firm mattress. Does back pain keep you up at night and out of work the next day? There’s a good chance the answer’s yes. Low back pain is the number one cause of disability worldwide; about 10% of the global population suffers from it. And, about a quarter of Americans report neck pain, the number three cause of chronic pain. Sleeping on a firm mattress is key to fighting back pain, says Redish. Sleeping on your side with your knees drawn up relieves pressure on the spine.
For neck pain, use pillows to keep your neck straight, and avoid sleeping on your stomach with your head turned. If your hip hurts…sleep on the other side. If hip pain is waking you up or keeping you up, you’ll want to sleep on the side that doesn’t hurt and keep a pillow between your legs. Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, is a common cause of hip pain. About one-quarter of people will develop osteoarthritis of the hip in their lifetime. Hip problems can bring you to tears even during mundane activities like walking or climbing stairs. And, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from hip pain The Golden Rule of Sleep Position When it comes to pain and sleep position, the golden rule is…there is no golden rule. What’s comfortable will vary from person to person. “There’s no secret position,” says Redish. The most comfortable position will be different for everyone. Redish says get checked out by your healthcare provider if pain starts keeping you up at night.