Inclined Bed Therapy

[Algis]

We are with you Elaine; if that is of any comfort to you

[Exscouser]

Of very great comfort Algis, thank you my friend!

[AndrewKFletcher]

Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 2003 Oct;15(4):297-301.
The ICP-lowering effect of 10 degrees reverse Trendelenburg position during craniotomy is stable during a 10-minute period.

Haure P, Cold GE, Hansen TM, Larsen JR.

Department of Anesthesiology, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. p.haureATdadlnet.dk

Recently we studied the effect of 10 degrees reverse Trendelenburg position on subdural pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) during craniotomy. Within 1 minute we found a significant decrease in subdural pressure while CPP was unchanged. A longer time span, however, is necessary to exclude a temporary effect. In the present investigation we studied subdural pressure, CPP, and jugular bulb pressure (JBP) before and during a 10-minute period after change in position. Fifteen patients with supratentorial cerebral tumors were anesthetized with propofol/fentanyl in the supine position. Mean arterial blood pressure and JBP were measured invasively, and subdural pressure was measured after removal of the bone flap. End-tidal CO2, PaCO2, PaO2, heart rate, jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjO2), and arteriovenous oxygen difference (AVDO2) were also measured. Dural tension was estimated by the surgeon. The measurements were performed with the patients in a neutral position and during a 10-minute period after positioning the patient in a 10 degrees reverse Trendelenburg position. After 1 minute in the reverse Trendelenburg position, the mean value of subdural pressure decreased from 10.9 +/- 5.7 to 7.3 +/- 5.2 mm Hg (P<0.05) and remained unchanged for the following 9 minutes. Correspondingly, dural tension was lessened significantly. Jugular pressure and mean arterial blood pressure decreased significantly as well (P<0.05), but the CPP was unaffected. No significant changes in PaCO2, PaO2, end-tidal CO2, heart rate, SjO2, or AVDO2 were disclosed. During craniotomy 10 degrees reverse Trendelenburg position reduces subdural pressure and dural tension within 1 minute without reducing CPP. During the following 9 minutes the levels of subdural pressure and CPP are unchanged.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14508169

[AndrewKFletcher]

http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-prev ... ze=largest

Inclined bed rest improves oxygenation and respiratory function.

[inzition]

Sadly i've already had a doppler ultrasound that was done incorrectly, today i had MRV. We shall see. However, after spending 3+ hours in the MRI machine, I experienced what i had before but didnt know why.

I got up and not only could i not walk, i couldnt even stand. MRI bench is of course flat.

Incline therapy was introduced to me few months ago and even though i did not raise my bed as is suggested. I did add few pillows under my head and back. Consequently, getting up in the morning is not as torturous as getting up off the MRI bench.

I have a pyramid built from pillows that allows, at least in my min, the drainage of blood. Laying on the MRI bench proved to me, yet again, that blood gets stuck in one's head, rendering that person more ill than they are.

[Duchess]

I have been using IBT for about two weeks. Brain fog has cleared quite well and dizziness has faded; however, symptoms like I had due to a deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) 12 years ago seem to be returning. The clots started in the pelvis and filled up a leg back then. It was a serious situation. I am experiencing pain again in the pelvis and calf, and my ankle and foot are swelling. I am trying to understand the inclined bed rationale. It makes it easier for the blood to return to the heart from the brain, but does it make it harder for the blood in the lower extremities to return?

[Interrupted]

Update at just over 3 weeks @ 6inch raise from me for those starting out etc.

I'm still suffering. I now still have raging ON and a couple of days ago a relapse kicked in. My dizziness is overwhelming, the world is spinning heinously and I feel quite drunk (wish I was!) Weak back, neck, and shoulders, buzzing to numbness everywhere. This is actually quite unusual for me for it to be this strong, so quite unsettling. I've had to cancel the few bits of work I do which is absolutely gutting. I'm basically hoping and praying this passes soon and gives me a break.

The good news is that around the two weeks stage I was able to sleep properly again. Thank God for small mercies!

Despite this being a far from positive for me so far, I feel that i've gotten this far that I don't want to give up so i'm just dealing with it day by day, week by weak to try and get to the 4 month alleged turn point. If I can get there then I feel i'll have a better sense of whether it's just a futile exercise for me and i'm a freak of nature, or whether (hopefully) it'll all turn good. You gotta hang on in there, is my current theory!

As always to hear from anyone who had a smiliar experience and hit a good turn point, would be most pleasurable - Thank you all for any input x

P.S. I wonder the same as Duchess, because it certainly seems to still be agitating my varicose veing in my calf.

[AndrewKFletcher]

I have been using IBT for about two weeks. Brain fog has cleared quite well and dizziness has faded; however, symptoms like I had due to a deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) 12 years ago seem to be returning. The clots started in the pelvis and filled up a leg back then. It was a serious situation. I am experiencing pain again in the pelvis and calf, and my ankle and foot are swelling. I am trying to understand the inclined bed rationale. It makes it easier for the blood to return to the heart from the brain, but does it make it harder for the blood in the lower extremities to return?

IBT addresses the whole body circulation and assists venous return from every vessel. The proof for this is the positive affect it has on varicose veins over 4 weeks and longer.

Deep vein thrombosis in several people who had obvious signs presented as hard lumps on the calf muscle area found that they vanished. My wife's mum was one who reported the hard lump vanished completely over a few months of IBT.

[bold]Important:
It would be advisable to visit your doctor to detemine what is happening with regards to any suspected blodclot.[/bold]

That said, Alun reported a pulling sensation on his veins and experienced some discomfort along the way. His reports can be found here:
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum ... c=9843.275

With regards to your foot swelling, are you wearing any tight clothing, like socks with elasticated tops that could be too tight? When was the last time prior to tilting your bed that this happened?

A few people have reported intial swelling that resolved in a few weeks after reporting it. This could be an intial shift of excess tissue fluids towards the feet. IBT alters the pressure in the venous return so oedema is drawn back into the veins because the pressure / tension inside the veins draws the fluids back from the surrounding tissue. This process can be assisted using a support stocking at night to increase the pressure in the surrounding tissue. This should be a temporary measure to address this initial swelling.

The pain should also resolve. However, pain is frequently reported using IBT prior to a gain in either function or sensitivity in the skin. The same happens to people with spinal cord injury. If we are improving the circulation in the nervous system, which I am convinced is the case, then there will be a slight increase in pressure and possibly some inflamed areas will produce pain from the area.

Again this has been reported many times. Painfull gums from cavities below the gum line that did not trouble people prior to tilting their beds suggests that the nerves are opening back up. As we get older, the oral nerves and even the taste sensation becomes dulled.

Many also reported that IBT causes a reversal of the ms symptoms experienced. They said they felt like they were going back through the pain and discomfort and experiencing symptoms they had many years ago. This makes sense with ms because people often report pain, spasms, vertigo, aches and lethargy during the onset of a relapse, but on a flat bed this generally indicates neurological deterioration. Whereas the reports received from people with ms using IBT find the opposite following these uncomfortable periods.

Hope this is clear?

Some results from the second pilot study: 120 posts
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/inclin ... 3dc1ea1ed6

[Wonderfulworld]

I want to report - been using IBT now for 4 weeks.

Got a wooden wedge, 6 inches in height under my matress.

I have had a slight increase in energy and mental clarity, and a slight decrease in nocturia.

There have been no other physical changes to my other MS symptoms yet (tinnitus, right sided deafness, nerve pain, weakness, cognitive problems) but even a slight increase in energy is very welcome.

I will continue for another 2 months and keep an open mind.

[AndrewKFletcher]

I want to report - been using IBT now for 4 weeks.

Got a wooden wedge, 6 inches in height under my matress.

I have had a slight increase in energy and mental clarity, and a slight decrease in nocturia.

There have been no other physical changes to my other MS symptoms yet (tinnitus, right sided deafness, nerve pain, weakness, cognitive problems) but even a slight increase in energy is very welcome.

I will continue for another 2 months and keep an open mind.

Thanks for your report.

Please keep a journal. Check out the parameters post to see what to monitor for changes, things like skin colour changes in legs, feeling warmer in bed, warmer hands and feet in bed. Lot's of subtle changes that may not be obvious for weeks suddenly spring to mind on reflection so making notes is essential.

[Wonderfulworld]

Will do Andrew.

You're right. My circulation is much better, I have warmer hands and feet, even my husband has remarked on it recently.

Another thing, now that I think of it, is that I have no incidences of the transitory numbness in my head, neck or arms/legs that I often used to get on waking. My neuro dismisses this symptom as 'not MS' but it usually occurs prior to or during a relapse. My actual head or part of it is numb when I wake (CCSVI anyone?) and it can happen with my arms or legs too. It resolves once I move. This symptom has happened on and off over the last 20 years and has not happened once in the last 4 weeks.

And I had to sleep in a normal flat bed last night when away from home. I slept dreadfully, and have a huge upsurgence in MS symptoms today and feel like sh*t again. Looking forward to going back to my 'wedge' tonight

[PCakes]

I, too, am new to IBT.. it's been about 3 weeks for me and the most welcome and obvious result is my quality of sleep.
WonderfulWorld.. (I like your name) It is so constructive and heartening to read other's experiences on this site.. how many symptoms, like the transitory numbness, do we all share only to have our doctors choose to ignore?.. for example ..my symptioms are without a doubt directly tied to barometric swings... this too was ignored with a 'pat on the head'.. I did some research.. i could find no connection between the CNS and air pressure.. post CCSVI awareness..same research tied to circulation.. voila!! .. the connection is clear!

I am ...a person living with CCSVI... !!

[Wonderfulworld]

Hi Pcakes
glad to hear you've been sleeping better.
That's interesting you feel better depending on the barometric pressure. The medical profession are trained to think in groups of symptoms and anything that falls outside that group is dismissed as coincidental, irrelevant. I had observed many years ago that my symptoms flared around the autumnal and spring equinoxes andn that was really laughed at in the neuro's, but hey presto, I actually found a research paper that proves others have the same experience. So barometric pressure sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

[jak7ham9]

Hi The first night at raising from 2 to 3 bricks my neck was stiffer. Now a couple days later less so.I am sleeping better I pee less often I have more energy I am more active. I still have coldfeet and hands but not so painful. I am still stiff but maybe a little less so.I have great dreams.I turned off my elevator and am slowly going up and down my staircase.Of course the more exercise I do the bette my mobility and strength.My Last night went up pretty quick. healthy boyfriend says he sleeps better on my inclined mattress/ 2 bricks 4.5 inches 3 brick 6.75 Barbara

[AndrewKFletcher]

Will do Andrew.

You're right. My circulation is much better, I have warmer hands and feet, even my husband has remarked on it recently.

Another thing, now that I think of it, is that I have no incidences of the transitory numbness in my head, neck or arms/legs that I often used to get on waking. My neuro dismisses this symptom as 'not MS' but it usually occurs prior to or during a relapse. My actual head or part of it is numb when I wake (CCSVI anyone?) and it can happen with my arms or legs too. It resolves once I move. This symptom has happened on and off over the last 20 years and has not happened once in the last 4 weeks.

And I had to sleep in a normal flat bed last night when away from home. I slept dreadfully, and have a huge upsurgence in MS symptoms today and feel like sh*t again. Looking forward to going back to my 'wedge' tonight

Knew you must be missing some important stuff in your report. Thanks for the update.

Andrew