Bedding
 

I bought a new bed 7 years ago and until recentlythought it still quite supportive for my back. I must admit I had been waking up with a backache that would work itself out after a bit though I just thought it arthritis.

Recently I went and stayed away from home for a month. I slept on the floor with some padding and sleeping bags and when first getting adjusted to that my back/shoulders/whatever hurt tho after the 2nd week (and a shot of toradol 60mg Im for spasming) I felt GREAT!

My husband got a new bed ~ a Sterns and Foster super delux supportive whoopeededooo bed and that thing is so incredible I'm definately going to buy myself one because when I returned home my bed felt like a marshmellow in comparison.

My back probs have been around since I was 28 y.o. and I'm 57 y.o. now. I do pretty well most of the time but give me non supportive bedding and I'll be aching pretty quickly and want to throw the comforter on the floor and sleep there.

Maybe some of you other spineys can relate. A good sleeping surface is something that one can change before trying a lot of other things that are invasive and it can just be a wonderful adjunct to everything else good that we do for our spines. Sounds pretty simplistic tho I know plenty of people that don't want to spend their $ on a bed. And if you don't have the $ the floor if well padded for comfort can be a really good alternative.

I know this is a rather educated and sophiscated forum in terms or knowing their bodies and seeking information tho just in case some new spineys are hitting the board and considering contributing factors re pain consider this.

Maria,
I have been thinking for awhile that i need a new mattress, but don't have the money for anything at the moment!! Mine is really about 18 years old!! Probably should have been replaced even if i had a normal back.
judy

re bedding
 

Judy,
I think that is pretty aged in terms of bedding. I slept on a near 20 y.o. Sterns and foster bed at my Dad's condo before I sold it. It was really still quite supportive tho nothing like what my husband recently bought. I'm really quite anxious to get a bed like that although I guess my spine is adapting to my bed again as it doesn't hurt as much as it did the first 3-5 days I returned home!

The floor is always a pretty good alternative for me as long as there's some padding for my shoulders, hips and so forth. I have no extra padding there just on my bumm and even that gets sore if the surface is too firm but far worse if it's too soft. i have a futon sofa in the living room that is pretty firm too so sometimes I sleep on it. Even futons have varying levels of firmness as I quickly found out while shopping my futon sofa that turns into a double bed sleeping surface. Another good alternative that is less expensive than the mattress industry.

Do what you can when you can.