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Beds for Back Pain

You'll spend about a third of your life in bed. So it's got to be worth investing money and effort in choosing the right one to help beat your back pain.

THE BED ITSELF

You know your bed's got to be firm and give you good support. You know that an over-soft or old mattress is NO good. Change the mattress if you need to. Think about buying a better sprung bed or one with a wooden base. Experiment in the local bed shop, until you find one that suits you and your back. Take your time - don't rush to the most snazzy bargain offer - it won't be much of a bargain if your back problems continue.

Maybe you're still in the honeymoon period with your partner and don't want to sleep separately, but your back pain might be better if you could spread out instead of lying in a cramped position or hanging onto the edge of the bed. Why not have a separate bed or mattress on standby so that when you wake up in the night in pain, you can crawl off to it?

A duvet is probably more comfortable than sheet and blankets which are tucked in tightly, and it's certainly less restrictive of movement.

SLEEPING OVER AWAY FROM HOME

If you travel away from home, think of the beds you'll be staying in. If you go to a particular town as part of your work schedule, find a hotel with good beds you can depend on. Phone ahead and ask about the beds or mattresses - you're the customer, don't be shy. Ask to swap rooms if faced with a hopeless mattress or bed base. Maybe the hotel staff can lift the mattress onto the floor and make up your bed there - but don't you do it and risk your back. Put a board in the boot of your car just in case. You can bring it out to put between the bed base and soft mattress if needs be.

If you're expected to sleep on a put-you-up bed or lounger, you know you'll wake up stiff and painful in the morning. So don't agree to it. Buy a deluxe air bed that promises orthopaedic support. Try it out for a night first before finding you've a week ahead of you on an inadequate bed away from home and can't do anything about it.

LOUNGING IN THE SUN

The sun is out, you've done the chores, and you're determined to wallow in the heat and absorb some rays. Your first challenge is getting the lounger out from the back of the shed without hurting your back. Then think. It might be comfortable to lie on for ten minutes, but what about the two or three hours when you fall asleep? If in doubt, buy or borrow a lounger that's light enough to lift easily and strong enough to give your back support when you lay out on it asleep for hours (you hope!).

If you're away on holiday you might not have much choice - especially if you're a late riser and other guests have bagged the best loungers. If the loungers are decrepit or sag, they are likely to make you feel the same. You might be better off lying out on the sand - making a bit of a hollow for your body's curves. Or lie on the grass if you're not by the beach, sprawled on a thick rug.

PILLOWS

Only you know what suits you best, but it's likely to be one or no pillow, not two or more, which would cause your neck to curve sharply when you lie down. This will pull all the way down your spine.

YOUR SLEEP ENVIRONMENT

Your back will have a better rest if you sleep well. Consider if your room is well ventilated. If it's safe to do so, open a window overnight; if it's not safe, fix bars over a small opening window and open that if necessary. But make sure you avoid draughts.

Try and cut out any external noise. Or, for that matter, noise from your partner. Get them a snoring aid if they're waking you up, or move out of the bedroom you share. Ear plugs may help if you've got noisy neighbours.


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