Inclined Bed Therapy

[katie45]

Was reading posts from back in Nov and noticed yours
''It feels like somebody put some spicy powder into my brain - especially the forehead and also part of the face.' '
[quote] I remember that very sensation back in '97 (I was still walking then)
I called it a 'salt and pepper' feeling in my head. It occurred to me that perhaps
we will all go through a kind of retracing of symptoms. Your post gave me some hope. thx, katie,,,, don't know how i messed this up!

[AndrewKFletcher]

76" long bed raised 6" at head end. (Standard UK Bed Size).

Not an exact measurement but an approximation of an angle range that produces desired flow in a closed loop water filled tube adding a small amount of salt solution coloured with food colouring for visual effect.

More acute angle is a trade off between comfort and sleeping, as the higher incline causes a lighter sleep pattern.

Idea is to strike a ballance between what feel good for you and what produces the desired results. 4" raise on same bed did not produce the same results for many people but did help people get used to sleeping on an inclined bed, so was used as a start point.

[ndwannabe]

Day one sleeping on inclined bed - not much difference, may be a little more tossing and turning. More often got up to go to the bathroom (probably anything new in / about my bed would do the same thing)

Day two however, OUCH! I have not ever been that stiff and spasmodic. Feels like I have been exercising every single muscle in my body. The neck was the worst. I never in my MS history had such spasms. I realize, this may be an initial response, but I am not sue how many days like this I can take

Sorry for a downer folks. Happy for those for whom it works / who are tough enough to persist despite the initial reaction.

[AndrewKFletcher]

It is working Many reports from people in the first two weeks stating they feel terrible, spasm overload, muscular aches, stiff neck, light sleep and for those with oedema problems countless trips to the bathroom.

This is by no means a downer And is the reason people should start at the lower elevation.

Your whole body has received one huge kickstart, so like any other method there is always going to be some aches and pains along the way, especially for those who are PP.

Andrew

[ndwannabe]

It is working Many reports from people in the first two weeks stating they feel terrible, spasm overload, muscular aches, stiff neck, light sleep and for those with oedema problems countless trips to the bathroom.

This is by no means a downer And is the rason people should start at the lower elevation.

Your whole body has received one huge kickstart, so like any other method there is always going to be some aches and pains along the way, especially for those who are PP.

Andrew

Thank you Andew for such quick and positive response! See, this serves me right for not reading ALL of the therapy guidelines. It probably tells one to start with lower elevation.

[mrsilkykat]

Today is Day One of Inclined Bed.

So far, it's great. I felt wide awake this first morning. Didn't need to grope for that first cup of black tea before I could function, wasn't grumpy. I also had a great massage by a new therapist yesterday so that may have had something to do with it. I'll track how I feel for awhile & post some results from time to time.

I scanned this thread last month & decided to give it a try without fully reading all the posts. I had a carpenter do the incline, so I've got a very sturdy, stable bed. Incline: 6" to 3" to 0 (actually the bed is now 16", 13" & 10" from the floor) It looks like a considerable incline but when I lay down I don't notice the slant. It feels quite normal and supine. My sleep was no different than usual--got up 2 times during the night--no trouble falling asleep in my usual side sleeping positions.

So far, so good.

[BUCK]

Hi Andrew,

Sorry it took so long for a response...been on hoidays.
My wife just started sleeping inclined by accident & noticed that she felt better in the morning...she has been sleeping on a 6" wedge for almost 4 years now & no MS symptoms, other than when her BP is low then she feels dizzy. Prior to inclining she was pretty much numb from the waist down.

[AndrewKFletcher]

Hi Buck thanks.

I know the old addage don't fix what ain't broken, but do you think it might be worth experimenting with the full inclined bed or better to leave well alone?

These foam wedges do compress so again the angle might not be as useful as it could be regarding feeling dizzy.

Was she diagnosed with ms for several years prior to using the wedge pillow?

Andrew

[youbetcha]

I've been sleeping on a 6" incline for 1 week now and I feel refreshed when I wake up, however, I'm having more problems with numbness in my right leg since I've started. A coincidence or not??

Anyone know how long this should be tested before giving up?

[happy_canuck]

I've been sleeping on a 6" incline for 1 week now and I feel refreshed when I wake up, however, I'm having more problems with numbness in my right leg since I've started. A coincidence or not??

Anyone know how long this should be tested before giving up?

Hi youbetcha,

I have been on the incline since Nov 30 and the numbness (which is constant for me and has been for years) moved around a lot. Then about a week ago, I got this normal-feeling patch on my right forefinger, which is the first time I have felt anything like that from a finger in years and years. So far, it hasn't gotten any bigger, but it hasn't disappeared yet either! I keep feeling it to make sure it's still there. So I would say hang in there for a bit longer.

For Andrew, your tracking stats:
- BP this a.m. 148/92; pulse 49 -- still higher than its pre-Christmas reading by quite a bit
- my chiropractor said today my back looks better than she expected (i.e., between her treatments my back is holding its gains) and she thought I had grown taller. She knows I have inclined my bed, but I didn't tell her it can change my height.

I have a very busy few days ahead with business travelling (taking blocks with me), so I'll check in with you guys next week.

Sandra

[AndrewKFletcher]

I've been sleeping on a 6" incline for 1 week now and I feel refreshed when I wake up, however, I'm having more problems with numbness in my right leg since I've started. A coincidence or not??

Anyone know how long this should be tested before giving up?

Lower the bed back to a 4-5 inch rise to see if the numbness changes.

Look out for shooting / stabbing pains, or unusual pains moving around, this is an indicator that nerve pathways are opening back up.

By all means discontinue I.T. if you want, but I would be "inclined" to leave the bed tilted it for at least 4 weeks before deciding what to do next.

Like I said the first two weeks can be scary for some.

[AndrewKFletcher]

happy_canuck

Thanks again for your regular updates. You are right to advise to hang in there, this is a long haul therapy and does not normally produce significant positive changes in weeks 1-2, although some have found obvious symptom relief from day 1. As I have said before these first two weeks can prove to be a challenge.


I know there are people reading this that have stuff to report, but for one reason or another have not yet done so. Just tell it how it is, good or bad we need to know what changes you are experiencing.

And then there are the inevitable "Grab it and scarper brigade", rather odd considering that no one is asking for enything other than a few words to share with others so that they may also benefit in some way.

If I had adopted this same selfish attitude, Only my family would be benefiting from Inclined Therapy!

For those that have already shared their experiences on this magnificent forum, I would like to express my gratitude and thank you on behalf of everyone who has read your posts and been inspired enough to tilt their beds.

Acurate reporting is essential to move this to a conclusion.

Kind regards

Andrew

[colapesce]

hi Andrew, hi all,

I inclined my bed with 6 inch blocks on Saturday 2nd. First few days were amazing. Couldn't believe how good I was feeling. By Wednesday I walked further than I have in a long time and at a fast pace too, did a full working day, came home and cooked dinner, even did some cleaning! Just like a normal, healthy person. But I think I overdid it with my newly found energy and the next couple started to feel dizzy and tired, off balance, etc. Having said that I've not had to take any painkillers or Modafinil so perhaps not as bad as I felt before the incline. I'm definitely going to stick with it and see how it goes over the coming weeks. I've not been getting up in the middle of the night to go to the wc so much either. Also, on about day 4 I felt that I could taste food better than I have in a while.

Will report again in a few days.

[youbetcha]

Sandra & Andrew, thank you very much for your informative replies.
I will hang in there and will post any changes I experience, next week.

Thanks again!

[midge604]

Started sleeping inclined on Jan 2/2010. I always had cold feet and my feet and toes would cramp when rolling over at night. the very first night my feet were warm, no need for socks anymore. Last night I realised that my feet and toes were not cramping anymore. I sleep more soundly and deeper than before, when my wife wakes up she no longer has headaches or stiffness. Our bed right now is only at 4 degrees,but I will be raising up to 5 degrees in February. No other changes yet with my m.s. but I look forward to continuing with this therapy