Inclined Bed Therapy

hwebb · Post by **hwebb** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:57 pm

I might try a humidifier. Definitely feel the weather here in Melbourne Australia takes it's toll on me. Can be 40+ degrees (celsius) one day, and 20 degrees celsius the next. Have always had troube with my sinuses because of the huge changes in weather (especially when I use an air conditioner).

hwebb

joyj · Post by **joyj** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:02 am

last night i drove my husband mad, i could click my fingers with my left hand so i kept doing it. cant do it with right hand yet, but soon.

Asia · Post by **Asia** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:57 am

Right - so it looks like I'm going to sleep on an inclined bed tonight, my dad has had enough of my pestering and he brought some blocks to put under the legs of my bed (can't say I blame him for not looking forward to going out and finding something suitable - we're blanketed by a thick, fluffy layer of snow, and getting into the garage is no fun). I wanted to make sure - the incline should be 5 degrees, yes?

I'm a little freaked out by your descriptions now. I've never been a masochist and I do have a really bad scoliosis so I'm not looking forward to the pain. Should I sleep on my back? I usually sleep on my side rolled up into a ball so not very beneficial position for my spine, is it?

AndrewKFletcher · Post by **AndrewKFletcher** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:27 am

Asia

Your spine should undergo significant changes on I.T. Measure your height acurately against a wall and place a pencil mark against it. Best way is to use a book edge on top of head pressed against the wall.

This is going to prove very interesting for you and us.

The first two weeks could be uncomfortable, maybe longer given your scoliosis. But it should pass quickly.

Thanks for joining us.

Andrew

AndrewKFletcher · Post by **AndrewKFletcher** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:41 am

joyj wrote:last night i drove my husband mad, i could click my fingers with my left hand so i kept doing it. cant do it with right hand yet, but soon.

That's great news indeed. How long has it been since you were last able to do this?

Asia · Post by **Asia** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:01 am

So yeah, I survived

IBT raport, day 1 closes in a statement that I didn't feel any difference; I slept well enough, my back didn't hurt, I didn't slide down at all (my mum was afraid of that). Maybe the slope is too small? I dunno; in any case, it felt normal.

joyj · Post by **joyj** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:12 am

it must be about 3 years since i last clicked my fingers

Algis · Post by **Algis** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:31 am

....
Should I sleep on my back? I usually sleep on my side rolled up into a ball so not very beneficial position for my spine, is it?

Andrew: please elaborate on that precise Asia's comment

I ask myself the same question since I am in the same position.

Thank you!

AndrewKFletcher · Post by **AndrewKFletcher** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:13 am

Asia it does not matter whether you are sleeping on your side, back or tummy. Best move is to rotate, though the side would give a more acute angle than either the front or back.

Try to stretch out rather then curling up, the inclined bed tends to encourage this but you should also get into the habit of straightening down the bed rather than curled up in a ball.

Warmer feet and hands should become more apparent within a few weeks.

Asia · Post by **Asia** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:31 am

AndrewKFletcher wrote:Best move is to rotate

Sure, sure, only thing is I sleep like the dead

colapesce · Post by **colapesce** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:53 am

hello all, hi Andrew,

I'm on my third week of IBT and have seen a lot of improvement. I didn't post last week because I wasn't well. I had a bug. But was wondering if this could've just been a release of toxins as this was one of those bugs where I just really, really needed to sleep - which I did.

The improvements I've noticed so far are much more energy, dizziness is better, warm in bed (feet would cramp up a lot being so cold), no more headaches. Have been sweating a bit, dreaming, not waking up feeling like I couldn't face the day ahead due to fatigue and pain. I've also noticed that I'm more interested in food/bigger portions, which is a good thing as I'm a bit too thin. In fact I'm more interested in life generally! There's still room for more improvement, mainly vision, but so far so good.

youbetcha · Post by **youbetcha** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:07 pm

Hi Andrew,

Okay, I'm not sure if this is supposed to happen but, I now have leg spasms, feet are always numb/asleep, having more difficulty walking than ever before and they feel swollen (although they are not).

On the positive side, I feel much more energetic, well rested and my dizziness has subsided. As much as I love the improvements, I can't ignore the other problematic issues that I'm faced with and I'm a little scared

.

Any advice? (yes I did lower the bed by 1 1/2" as you suggested in previous post)

Thanks.

AndrewKFletcher · Post by **AndrewKFletcher** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:41 pm

youbetcha wrote:Hi Andrew,

Okay, I'm not sure if this is supposed to happen but, I now have leg spasms, feet are always numb/asleep, having more difficulty walking than ever before and they feel swollen (although they are not).

On the positive side, I feel much more energetic, well rested and my dizziness has subsided. As much as I love the improvements, I can't ignore the other problematic issues that I'm faced with and I'm a little scared .

Any advice? (yes I did lower the bed by 1 1/2" as you suggested in previous post)

Thanks.

Hi

If you take time to read through the posts in the second pilot study for ms, you will find other people reporting that they got worse before getting better.

It is difficult to assure that everyone will follow exactly the same pattern of improvements. All we can do is glean what we can from those who have done this before.
http://andrewkennethfletcher.blogspot.c ... etter.html

On the left of the blog there are some links to the pilot study results that were published on a now closed message board.

Search the inclined_to_sleep_inclined group for reports there.

The blog page has one report from a lady saying she got worse before better.

It became obvious after a while that going back through ms, or putting ms in reverse would not be without experiencing the same symptoms that came at the onset of ms.

Numbness, tingling, pins and needles, sharp stabbing pains, muscular and joint aches have all been reported at some point by people using I.T. for ms.

The first 2 weeks and more can be quite scary for people that don't expect anything to happen.

And of course you could be having a relapse, again people do experience relapses using I.T. Environmental factors that can bring this about are well documented.

By all means feel free to put your bed flat and please do consult your gp for a check up to find out what is happening.

Based on reports, I suspect this will be relatively short term and should improve over a few weeks.

Thank you very much for posting this, it is very useful for others to read and inform them of your problems experience while on I.T.

If I can be of more use don't hesitate to ask.

Andrew

youbetcha · Post by **youbetcha** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:50 pm

Hi Andrew,

I will read through the posts via the link you provided.

Thank you...thank you...thank you, for taking the time to provide me with such an informative reply.

I will keep you posted.

M

cervin · Post by **cervin** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:38 pm

First i want to apologize if somewhere in this 27 page thread, this has been covered. I really try to do my homework before i post. i made it 10 pages in and i kinda gave up, so here is my question.
I have purple feet that hate to not be elevated. It seems i can't have them down for more than a couple of minutes. I don't get head aches. I am pretty good sleeper.
Okay having said that, is IBT for me?
I did incline my bed last night and as an after thought i had these questions. My feet were uncomfortable but it was tolerable.

please advise all of you wonderful TIMS people.
Thanks
-ceci

I am on Dr. Simka's waiting list for MAY!!!

This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Inclined Bed Therapy

interesting comments about the humidifier

Worse before better on Inclined Therapy for ms

circulation question