....seem to be gone. For close to ten years I have been plagued with lower back pain and sciatica. I would go through periods of time when I would wake up in the morning and have to get on the floor and do a series of stretches before I could walk. Usually going about the day's activities would reduce it to manageable. Working on things at bench top or counter top level, in the shop or in the kitchen, would soon have my lower back feeling lame, not acutely painful, just lame. A few years ago, I went through some physical therapy (which was a wasted of time) and finally had a radio frequency ablation done on a couple of nerves. That helped, but I was told it would only last for 6 months or a year and I'd have to get it done again. I trided a series of stretches before bed every night that seemed to help a lot, but still far from perfect. I would get that shooting, sciatica pain, sometimes all the way to the bottom of my ankle, the lower back pain and lameness were reduced, but never really went away.
About a month ago, my wife said, "How do you feel about getting a new bed?" Well, we just got a new mattress and box springs about 3 years ago and i thought they were ridiculously expensive, but the girl works seven days most weeks, between her regular job and side gigs such as consulting and developmental stuff, so if she wants a new bed, who am I to say no? It turns out the bed she wants is this two-sided arrangement, with separate remote controls, one for her side and one for mine, and you can adjust the head and foot up and down, any way you like, as well as adjust lumbar support, has vibratory massage functions, and the mattresses are very firm. It doesn't stop there. The bed actually has sensors built in that monitor your pulse, respiration, air quality in the room, and other markers and feed it all, via your home wifi, into a server somewhere that uses AI to determine when you're asleep and whether you're in light sleep, REM sleep, or deep sleep. If you start snoring, it will prop you up a bit, or jiggle you slightly until you stop. It also will respond to sleep apnea episodes. Every morning, you get an email that rates the quality of sleep you had and gives you some "sleep coaching" to help you improve it.
I have been sleeping better and feel much more rested since we got this bed a few weeks ago. Then it occurred to me: I have had no lower back pain and no sciatica now in probably 10 days or 2 weeks. Completely gone, not even the little twinges down the side of my leg during the day. I'm not struggling with lower back lameness after working at benchtop level for a few hours now. I am impressed.
My mattresses here at the cabin were a couple of throw a ways from the jailhouse. I taped them with visqueen and have chicken crate topper on it. Works for me.
Have a neighbor friend with the same story. He says he is not 100% sure of the relief. I was floored when he told me they bought two beds with adjustable frames for $18k. YMBKM. I think he got the fancy air mattress brand. Ain’t no way in hell I would be spending that kind of money on a freaking mattress.
Have a neighbor friend with the same story. He says he is not 100% sure of the relief. I was floored when he told me they bought two beds with adjustable frames for $18k. YMBKM. I think he got the fancy air mattress brand. Ain’t no way in hell I would be spending that kind of money on a freaking mattress.
I'm not sure what this one cost, but I know it wasn't $1800. My wife bought it. She asked me if I wanted the sound-system package. I said, "How much is that?" Another $1500.... No. I think this was 5 or 6 grand, all delivered and set up.
....seem to be gone. For close to ten years I have been plagued with lower back pain and sciatica. I would go through periods of time when I would wake up in the morning and have to get on the floor and do a series of stretches before I could walk. Usually going about the day's activities would reduce it to manageable. Working on things at bench top or counter top level, in the shop or in the kitchen, would soon have my lower back feeling lame, not acutely painful, just lame. A few years ago, I went through some physical therapy (which was a wasted of time) and finally had a radio frequency ablation done on a couple of nerves. That helped, but I was told it would only last for 6 months or a year and I'd have to get it done again. I trided a series of stretches before bed every night that seemed to help a lot, but still far from perfect. I would get that shooting, sciatica pain, sometimes all the way to the bottom of my ankle, the lower back pain and lameness were reduced, but never really went away.
About a month ago, my wife said, "How do you feel about getting a new bed?" Well, we just got a new mattress and box springs about 3 years ago and i thought they were ridiculously expensive, but the girl works seven days most weeks, between her regular job and side gigs such as consulting and developmental stuff, so if she wants a new bed, who am I to say no? It turns out the bed she wants is this two-sided arrangement, with separate remote controls, one for her side and one for mine, and you can adjust the head and foot up and down, any way you like, as well as adjust lumbar support, has vibratory massage functions, and the mattresses are very firm. It doesn't stop there. The bed actually has sensors built in that monitor your pulse, respiration, air quality in the room, and other markers and feed it all, via your home wifi, into a server somewhere that uses AI to determine when you're asleep and whether you're in light sleep, REM sleep, or deep sleep. If you start snoring, it will prop you up a bit, or jiggle you slightly until you stop. It also will respond to sleep apnea episodes. Every morning, you get an email that rates the quality of sleep you had and gives you some "sleep coaching" to help you improve it.
I have been sleeping better and feel much more rested since we got this bed a few weeks ago. Then it occurred to me: I have had no lower back pain and no sciatica now in probably 10 days or 2 weeks. Completely gone, not even the little twinges down the side of my leg during the day. I'm not struggling with lower back lameness after working at benchtop level for a few hours now. I am impressed.
Our bed has crap, a sinkhole in the middle. My wife wanted to buy a Select Comfort with our income tax refund. I thought it was ridiculous, but figured I'd let her go ahead. Drove 8 miles to a stores we could pick one out $2200. Around 2009.
I hate traveling anymore, the mattresses suck. Even in nice places. This mattress is showing wear, when it needs replaced one just like it will be bought.
There are a lot of different mattress styles, there might be some I'd like even more. But we like ours too much to gamble on something different.
PS. The individual settings are no joke. My with is around 60-70. I run around 95. Out of 100.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
I’m adding this to my morning coffee routine as I struggle with low back pain also. Lack of developed muscle in the area can cause havoc when things get out of balance.
You spend 1/4 to 1/3 of your life in your bed. Get whatever you need that keeps you from hurting. Not having back pain is worth whatever it costs. My wife and I were both hurting I was going to a chiropractor weekly. Bought a midrange sleep number and now neither of us have back pain.
Sleep Number, with the adjustable base. In bed is the only place I'm pain free these days since my ruptured disc. I'm a side sleeper, and my setting is 50. Back sleepers use 75 or so. If I'm just not comfortable some night for whatever reason, I can bump it up or drop it by 10 and it's like having a whole different bed. We sleep with the head raised about two inches - makes for much better breathing. We don't have all the sensing and reporting gizmos; they came out after we bought this one.
We started with one of their lower models. Liked it so much we upgraded and put the original in the guest room. During our whole-house reno, we had to take our bed apart and move it out of the room. In the process, one cell somehow got a puncture. Sleep Number sent a replacement immediately, no questions asked. That's the only problem we've had in something like 20 years now.
I've had some back problems (4 herniated discs each fixed by a one cortisone shot) but I've never had sciatica). I have the problem of every once in a while that I can't stand straight up without severe pain. I'm 80 and my 51 year Son has the same problem occasionally. He went to a back specialist the last time he had this problem and was referred him to a physical therapist.
It turns out that his problem (and mine) is caused by tight tendons in the hip/back. If you have this problem there are some simple stretching exercises you can do daily to keep these tendons stretched out. I can't describe them in writing so do a Google search for them.
If you've already got the pain the quick fix is to put your shoulders/head back and force yourself to stand up straight. It will hurt but after you get straight up start walking (keeping your shoulders/head back) and the pain will go away. It make take a few days for the tendons to heal completely heal so take it easy at first. Usually back problems are caused by weak back muscles that can't keep your back straight so exercise your back as much as you can.
You can also get an inexpensive TENS unit that stimulates your muscles. Mine is Prospera brand, and can use either two or four adhesive pads and several stimulation profiles. I can set it anywhere from a faint tickle to taser (almost) and can use the pads several times before they don't stick well enough. Replacement pads are cheap.
You can also get an inexpensive TENS unit that stimulates your muscles. Mine is Prospera brand, and can use either two or four adhesive pads and several stimulation profiles. I can set it anywhere from a faint tickle to taser (almost) and can use the pads several times before they don't stick well enough. Replacement pads are cheap.
My wife bought one of those off Amazon. I was skeptical at first but they do really work well.
