Mattress Forum

Count your blessings, TJ12. Many of us wish we had that problem!

And once you Do get out of bed you will be more productive because you are rested!

I am lucky if I get 6 hours before I start to hurt a bit, and after 8 hours - or occasionally 9 - I am almost forced to get out of bed because I just don't feel comfortable any longer. I am not sure this is due to the bed, it may be due to my body's problems. But in any case, count your blessings, and congrats on finding a comfortable configuration. My advice: Don't worry too much about chasing that last 5-10% of comfort, at least not until you sleep on it as is, for a month or so.

I know you're right Jim.  And that you hurt a lot...I'm sorry that it's such torture for you.  Have to say ...I haven't been more productive quite yet, still in the lazy stage I think...but hopefully, that will get better and hopefully, you are correct, another month or so will help me settle in.  I figure a lot of it can't be helped due to the physical issues I have (hips for one thing among others and no energy among others)...so I also re-joined a health club this week and am going to attempt to strengthen my body there ...(ugh...and grrr....unlike others in So Cal [yes, I am here also!])...it doesn't make me excited! LOL] So maybe that will help too.  I remember eagle2 recommending that exercise would also help with the bed thing so we'll see.  Also, I know that you are always trying new things...I want to mention...we have an adjustable bed base (which of course, is a big investment but we needed to do it to due to injuries my husband has which sometimes almost incapacitate him), and I think that helps quite a bit too...I do sleep with legs and head slightly elevated.  It really does take the pressure off of my lower back.  So, yes, I will consider myself lucky at this point.  Before I got my FloBeds, I woke up miserable pain and stiff every day for the past five years!  Crazy!

TJ, I am in the same boat as you: I need to do more exercise but hate exercising. I like doing fun outdoor activities rather than exercise but I can't seem to find the right fun, finding the people to do it with, etc.. so I am working on finding the right thing to do alone, that will inspire me to exercise. I am, however, beginning to do more, and with summer coming I will work toward developing some good exercise habits.

I'll only caution you, though, not to OVER-do it! A couple years ago after my 2nd-to-last car accident I went through quite a while of no exercise due to my neck and shoulder injury (whiplash). So then I bought a book with a VERY easy (I thought) exercise plan designed for people who want to lose weight and build muscle in just 20 min. or so a day. Well, some of those exercises weren't as gentle as they seemed to be, and I really screwed myself up due to my already screwed-up neck and shoulders. I made my neck and shoulder and back worse and so I had to quit exercising again, and that set me back many more months and worsened my pain (and caused me to put on weight). So just be very aware of any stress on your problem areas and know that it's better to do too little than too much exercise, especially when you haven't done a lot for awhile.

My pain isn't as bad as many other people's, nor is it as bad as it was a year ago and for the few years before that. Now it is quite bearable, in fact it's almost to the level of "discomfort" more than pain, so that's good! Since I re-built my mattress a year ago it has generally been much better, and last night, for example,  I slept a good 8 hours and though I felt a bit stiff and sore when I woke up, I slept very well. Sometimes I do suffer discomfort at night, and wake up after 5-6 hours but in general it seems to be getting better. Maybe (?) I have found a good configuration now, finally.

But I'm always expecting my mattress to change - or me, or whatever it is - and then have to go through re-configuring again. I can't understand why that is, but I just know that is how it has been going. I keep hoping things will "settle" and I can stop messing with my mattress! Despite what some here might think, I really don't like changing it all the time, and actually wish I could just leave it alone and forget about it!

Can you give me a link to your adjustable frame? If and when I can afford it, maybe I'll try it.

Good luck with the exercising!

Thank you Jim!  You're right, I am being very cautious...I am only slightly stiff in the legs from the first time!!   But each day gets worse in the beginning, right?  So, check with me tomorrow! LOL  However, I have only 1 word for you...YOGA!!!  I used to do it years ago, and of course, got lazy but went back to an Iyengar Yoga class today (focuses on spine alignment)...I must say, I almost cried from the spinal discomfort (no I didn't push it, it was a first level class but any stretching is torture to my spine which is not flexible whatsover! ) but when I got out of there...the bulge in the back of my neck actually got smaller (two people confirmed this so no, I am not imagining it!) and I felt much more energetic and stronger.  I can only think that this bulge which has been building up from too many hours at my desk in front of the computer was the result of my discs compressing and that the stretching pulled them apart.  So, I intend to drag my husband, who has 3 herniated discs in his cervical spine in to try it...if it helps him, my case will be made and I will let you know. (And he is a real outdoorsman at heart!)  The thing about therapeutic yoga is that they teach you to adapt the poses to your injuries with tools (i.e. I couldn't reach the floor leaning forward in what is called the "down dog" position, but the instructor gave me a chair to use instead so I did not have to go so far which helped with my spine issues.)

Either way, I would rather do the outdoor thing as well, but it seems as if by the time you figure it all out and get out there, it takes a big time commitment to do on a regular basis which is hard to do if you have to work as well.

Here is a link to the Leggett & Platt adjustable frames http://www.lpadjustablebeds.com/.  I bought mine at Electrosonic in Burbank ..they also have a store in Orange County.  But they are not returnable.  Might be at other stores, not sure.  There are others out there....but these guys make solid frames. FloBeds and SleepEZ buy their adjustable bed frames and "re-package" them.  You can always try them though, they do have LI blended latex mattresses on top of them (simple ones with just two layers and about 8") but it might give you an idea.

P.S. I know FloBeds didn't work for you, but you never tried the VZone, did you? I believe I read that you once said it wasn't around when you tried your mattress...I really do think it's the best thing since sliced bread!  You can switch layers around a lot (i.e. hips and feet, etc.) to customize.  In my case, I have ended up with a custom VZone though...and that is what finally made me happy!

I'll keep you posted!

Didn't you say Electropedic, not Electrosonic?

How did you get your Vzone adjusted?  What did Dave do to change it?

LOL!  Good catch!!  Yes, I meant Electropedic!!!  Electrosonic is a company I do business with!  I ended up (my choice) making my VZone S/S/F/F/S/S.  I have a firm layer next under that and then an XF bottom layer.  As I've said all along (to myself (!)  and Dave) , I really like a firm mattress with a "soft/plush" top and this configuration has done that for me.  I needed firm under my hips and lumbar for my hip and lower back pain (among much other pain) but needed soft everywhere else (had heel pain too).   I'm really enjoying it now. I  might even try firmer under my hips as I still have pain there but that might not even be fixable.   My husband (behind my back) flipped my convoluted layer upside down (because he tried his that way and liked it!) and I will be interested to see how it differs right side up next time I change my sheets.  I believe the upside down configuration firms up the mattress.