JennaBoBenna: The Fragile Old Lady

[JennaBoBenna]

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[lanettasmouse]

if you were sleeping on the floor in your old apartment and never had problems, why not try to sleep on the floor again and see if it helps. i agree that the bed could be a problem to your back pain. i have the same problem, but only when i sleep on a firm mattress (which is all i have right now :( ) so i have to sometimes sleep on the soft couch to help my back. i used to work with a girl and i remember her telling me that her and her husband slept on the floor because sleeping on beds isn't good for your back. i thought it was weird, but she said it has something to do with messing up the spine and what not. (sorry i don't remeber it all, it was a few years ago that i was told this). but i figure, to each their own, cause i certainly can't sleep on a firm mattress, but give me a a really soft, squishy mattress and i'm in heaven:D . so i hope this helps and yu get relief soon. feel better

[JennaBoBenna]

if you were sleeping on the floor in your old apartment and never had problems, why not try to sleep on the floor again and see if it helps.

Thank you, Mouse, for replying. I have thought of sleeping on the floor, but there are a few factors in the way: 1) hard wood floor 2) my floor is always too messy to sleep on anyway :o hehe... 3)I think the floor is too small to sleep on anyway, my room is tiny with lots of big furniture.
I too have heard that bed-sleeping isn't "good" for humans because if we were in the wild like in the very very beginning, we'd sleep on the ground. Oh, I wish I could sleep on a soft couch! I love the image of sleeping in a big mush of cushions and pillows and blankets...but geez, if I did I'd be all out of whack!

[lanettasmouse]

one other thing you can try, if you haven't already, is to go to a chiropractor. they will realign you and it should help, but don't think it would be permanent if the reason you are having problems isn't fixed (the bed problem). it can be a little freaky at first (at least for me it was, but i went when i was a kid) just cause i didn't like the idea of someone cracking my neck. but i can honestly say that once he cracked my neck, that is when i felt a "release." if that makes any sense. so that's an idea too.

[Im2Fruity]

I came up with two ideas...

1. it could be your shoes...You might need better shoes to stand around in. Also, alternate standing with one foot up on something, like a short stool or thick book. It doesn't have to be really high. That takes pressure off your lower back.
2. Try sleeping with a pillow between your knees if you sleep on your side, or propped under your thighs if you sleep on your back. It's really good for your spine and relieves lower back pain.

Hope that helps!

[JennaBoBenna]

one other thing you can try, if you haven't already, is to go to a chiropractor.

Thanks! I really want to visit one, I never have, but my healthcare provider doesn't cover chiropractics! They do acupuncture, but not chiro...weird! I might still look into it though, if it's not too expensive


I came up with two ideas...

1. it could be your shoes...
2. Try sleeping with a pillow between your knees

Thanks Fruity! I've tried all different pairs of shoes and with some its better, but there is still pain. I also put my feet on the shelves of the desk at times. There's a shelf a couple of inches up that I rest my foot on and also higher up shelves that I use to stretch my back. About the pillow: great idea! I think I will try that. I just think it might end up on the floor because I'm a big wiggle worm when it comes to beds. :) :rolleyes:

[EZ rider]

I used to have back problems but I don't have them anymore :) I replaced my old mattress with a Select Comfort air mattress and inflated it to a firm feel. After I had been sleeping on it for about 6 months one day I realized I hadn't had a back ache in awhile. The back aches left very slowly. At first I thought i had wasted my money because nothing seemed to be happening. I found out how important good back support is when you are sleeping by having the back problem and loosing it. IMO a firm support for sleeping is essential to a pain free back. I think your on the right track experimenting with a firm support for sleeping. You already know you can be pain free from your experience of sleeping on the firm floor. Based on my experience with back pain and firm mattress support I recommend you continue to look at firm sleeping support and don't give up on it if you don't see results right away. It takes time. Good luck and I hope you loose your back pain too.

[Eva_26]

A shoe that is quite costly but amazing is: Finn Comfort ... I had a pair of them in sandles for the Summer months and wow, never got sore feet. They also have them in shoes as well. You can check at your local shoe shop.
http://www.finncomfort.com/Home/index.cfm

MBT: http://www.swissmasaius.com/Default.aspx?lang=en-US
These shoes are amazing for your back, legs, etc. posture. Costly again.

New Balance - Runners

Ecco

Earth Shoes

Good Luck!

Eva

[Care4raw]

[QUOTE=JennaBoBenna;381042]Hi all!

Okay, so this is more of a vent rather than a request for help, but if you have any suggestions, please share!

Hey JennaBObenna (love your name),

I think the suggestions are great.

What do you think about hot baths?You can use rosemary in your bath to help with the back pain,other essential oils too.

My suggestion is to meditate on your back and see if you can make any mental or emotional connections with the pain. For example sometimes when we are in situations that are difficult we respond by saying "its a pain in the neck ..and the irony is more often than not we have a pain in the neck. Sometimes during an 'over burdened' period we typically get lower back pain. Sometimes theres an event that triggered things...

I know about this as i massage therapist with a polarity therapy backgrnd and have worked on a lot of bodies, (including my own....overwhelm goes right to my lower back!). Doing these therapies while connecting to an emotional component can really change things, very quickly and deeply too.

Have a nice hot bath if its your thing, and check in with your back..literally ask questions..if this all isn't too out there.Or what ever instinctly feels right for you.

May you heal quickly!



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[Tetris15]

My husband had a similar problem. He went to The Walking Store (I think that's what its called) and they evaluated his feet and the affected pressure points when he stood. They recommended some insoles for his shoes that completely fixed his problem. They cost $60 (we're certainly not talking Dr Scholls here) but were well worth it.

Best of luck.

[Ginger]

Take up yoga & stretching regularly?

[RawMistress]

I agree with some of the posters.

It could be your bed (you may need "special" support (I do)

could be the shoes (may need special support again) (I do again)

could be..You may need to start exercising and stretching you back..

How is your posture? That does make a difference (in some people)

Have you ever been in a accident or fall? That could also be a problem. Sometimes the effects dont show for years.

Good luck to you!

[EZ rider]

You may need to start exercising and stretching you back.
How is your posture? That does make a difference (in some people)This reminds me of something I read a long time ago and started practicing to the point where I do this automatically (subconsciously) always. What the book said was that walking is a great back exercise if done properly. It suggested that as a person walks they imagine a string attached to the top of their head and that the string is gently pulling straight up so that their eyes are looking straight ahead and their posture is tall as they walk. I have found this to be a very good habit to get into. Walk tall.

[JennaBoBenna]

Thank you for the suggestions, all! It's very much appreciated!
This morning after sleeping on my firm bed I feel like a million bucks! It is so amazing how much better I feel! :) :D

[rawgreenyogini]

I think it is your shoes also. When I was working more, I'd be on my feet standing, not necessarily in one spot, for 10+ hours a day. If you don't have good shoes it doesn't matter how physically fit you are. Your back is being compressed into your hips.

It hurts and I feel for ya.

[JennaBoBenna]

Hey all! Just an update:

I work at a chiropractic office now which means I get free chiro care!

So, we took some x-rays and it turns out that my hips are misaligned! My spine is twisted slightly to the right! :eek: so we're working on fixing that.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! My back still hurts from time to time, but no where NEAR how it used to ache! I've learned how to stand correctly now (using my Wii Fit Balance Board!) and I'm not in constant pain anymore :)