My husband is a big guy with a slight curvature of the spine. We just got a brand new mattress. Its a beautyrest super deluxe latex pillow top. Have we made a mistake? Would some exercise help to alleviate some of the discomfort he feels upon arising. We are both approaching 50, could this just be some arthritis?
Concerned spouse
pain is relative and different for everyone. What causes me pain may not cause your husband pain. As far as beds go for someone with back problems, it is all trial and error. I have hip problems and they can be aggrevated by the position I sleep in as well as the firmness of a bed.
Try a temupa pedic mattress. A friend of mine has a full one. Expensive but wonderful. Don't waste your money on anything under 4 inches tho unless you use it as a topper for the mattress you just bought. I have a 3 inch one as a topper on my extra firm mattress. I didn't get a full mattress because I was afraid I would sink into it with my RA and not be able to get out of it (as it does envelope the body)
Hello, good for you for being a concerned spouse.
Many people with back problems have early morning pain and stiffness. These symptoms can come from different problems. Arthritis could be be the culprit or it could be tight muscles or a spinal alignment problem. Some back problems are made worse with movement and others are made worse with inactivity. With latex matresses you tend to not move as much as with regular matresses and this might make him worse. Before you buy another matress have him sleep with a pillow between his knees when on his side and under his knees when on his back. This will help to keep the spine in a better position to avoid stressing some of the joints. He will get used to the pillow pretty quick and if it works he will never sleep without one again.
Before getting out of bed have him try lying on his back with his knees bent and the bottom of his feet flat on the matress. Then have him roll slowly back and forth from one side to the other, keeping his knees together. Stop the rolling if pain increases. It should be gentle and become easier as he does it.
This is some very basic information and I hope it helps. If not, a Physical Therapy evaluation could help identify exactly what his underlying problem might be and lead to a much more extensive exercise and treatment program.
Good Luck
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