back ache & sleep positions

[kolchak]

I always fall asleep on my back but usually wake up after ~ 5 hours with lower back ache. I recently bought a top of the line temperpedic to replace my lumpy old mattress hoping to solve the problem, but think it may be wasted money.
While my back feels better, I still wake up needing to move to my side after 5 or 6 hours. The firmness of the bed makes side sleeping a little difficult and I still feel very stiff in the a.m.
I'm considering returning the bed for a comfort select but don’t know if my problem is due to sleep position, the bed, or something else?
Can some folks prone to back aches talk about their preferred sleeping position?
Can anyone here actually sleep the entire night on their backs?

Thanks for any advice!

[Slinky]

Since CPAP I sleep ONLY on my back. I don't have back aches, thank God I just am not prone to them. knock, Knock, KNOCK. However, prior to CPAP I tended to sleep on my back AND both sides. I was finding that my hips sometimes got uncomfortable side sleeping so I bought a pillow top mattress and that solved that problem. I just needed a little more soft padding between my hips and the mattress.

The ONLY time I encountered back problems when sleeping was the night I slept on my parents' water bed and the night I slept on a friend's SOFT mattress, like way too soft. It seems I need a firm mattress, but now also some "padding" between my hips and that mattress. Getting old and losing some muscle mass and padding flesh I guess.

[zaquon]

I've been trying to train myself to sleep on my back too. My roommate showed a trick where you put pillows under your knees. It seems to help to align the spine.

My problem is I kind find a pillow that the right size for my head. One is to low, two is too high. Can't really get comfortable either way.

_z

[OutaSync]

Last week Wulfman posted a link to a pillow that is filled with water in the core. You can make it as thin or thick as you like. The only problem I saw there is that you had to buy a case of 4. I only need one. Maybe I could sell the extras on cpapauction.com

I also have a lot of back pain. I bought a matress topper that was too thick (4 inches-that's 6 inches if you are a man ) I sank down in it so deep it took all of my strength to roll over. This was right after my injury. I should try it again now and see if it feels better.

Bev (who is celebrating her one year anniversary on cpap and is proud to say that she has been 100% compliant from day one)

Still can't sleep through the night.

[roster]

Here are some simple tips from the Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleepi ... /LB00003_D

[BASCONERO]

You can try this:
http://ldshchaw.tempurpedic.com/other_p ... pur_pedic/

p.s. one of my friends is a representative agent ( not direct ) and some months ago he gift me one: is very very comfortable and very useful for the back and legs; you can put under your knees; Tempur is one leader company in the world and their products are excellent! Note : I'm not a Tempur agent!!!

[kolchak]

I've tried the pillow under the knees with no success. I'm about to return my temperpedic & get the select comfort / sleep number bed with the hope I'll be able to dial away my back pain.
Anyone here have a sleep number bed?

[CorgiGirl]

Anyone here have a sleep number bed?

Yep, I have two...one on the RV and one in the house. I love them. My husband needs a firmer bed and I need a softer one. This lets each of us have what we need and still sleep in the same bed. I am a side/stomach sleeper, so I can't speak to sleeping on my back, though.

If you have sleep number questions, feel free to PM me or ask here, if others want to know....

[Guest]

Corgi -
do you recall which version of the select comfort bed you have? They have about half dozen models ranging from 2K up to ~ 5k (not counting the bases). The newest is the 9000 series and it felt fantastic, but not sure if I need all the bells & whistles.
thanks for your input

[CorgiGirl]

The one in our RV is a short queen, no frills model -- no pillow top, etc. It does have the more expensive control system. It was included as standard equipment in the RV, so I don't know it's cost. The one we bought for home was a "special model" offered this summer. It's a standard queen and has a nice pillow top but the standard controller and was priced about $1500.

There are two differences between the standard and more expensive controller: the sound of the blower when it inflates (standard is loud, expensive is quiet) and whether or not you see the display while the adjustments are being made. Since we rarely change our numbers, we opted for the standard controller.

If I remember correctly, the $9000 model is the one with a hospital-bed type adjustable frame that is split so that each side moves independently of the other. The differences between other models has to do with the pillow top, but not the actual air chamber system -- the sales person said it's the same on every bed.

You can buy a sleep number bed and pay a reasonable price....

[deepurpleprincess]

Since I started using cpap I wake up with so much hip and back pain. I was hit by a car 6 or 7 years ago while riding a bike. I have a bulging desk and inflamination in my si joints, and a bad hip so I guess that coupled with the fact that I am actually laying still and sleeping is causing it. I used a pillow under my hips, but it doesn't work because I fall alseep on my side and end up on my back. I have a Serta mattress(The one with the sheep on the commercail). It is fairly firm, but I still have pain. I can't afford a new mattress so I guess I have to deal with it. Your not alone. Hang in there.

[birdshell]

I used to be a stomach-sleeper, but this was causing back pain. I taught myself (just by reminding myself) to sleep on my side(s) and back. I figured that if one can recall one's dreams through a self-suggested prompt, that I should be able to do the same with reminding myself of a sleeping position. It was so long ago that I cannot recall how long it took to make a total change. Now I cannot imagine sleeping on my stomach.

Karen,
Who prefers to avoid a pain in the back