back and hip pain

[redbird]

boring, mostly for me to keep track,:


I realized a couple of hours ago that I don't remember how long this has been going on, so it seemed worth writing things down for later reference.

One night last week, I had trouble finding a comfortable position to lie down to sleep, and in the morning my back hurt a lot. I got through that day on miscellaneous pain-killers (including naproxen, an NSAID). The next night was also bad, in part because my back was in pain at the beginning of the night. Day two, similar to day one. In the evening, cattitude suggested I sleep on my side, holding a pillow between my knees--his back doctor recommended this, the pillow is to help you get into a good position, and stay there.

I was also, no surprise, having trouble sleeping on some of those nights.

That worked, some, but my hips didn't like it. I persisted, and yesterday was optimistic because neither my back nor my hips hurt much.

Yesterday I was feeling better, and better rested, and hoped that I was healing. If so, I've had a relapse.

Last night, I had trouble finding a good position for lying on my side, but lying on my back actually hurt as soon as I got to horizontal, so on my side it was. When I woke up this morning, my back was okay, but as soon as I started to move around, my hips hurt.

I have had an NSAID and some Tylenol, and applied a heating pad, and it's mostly okay, though I'm trying to rest those joints.

I have ordered a flat, microwavable heating pad from someone on Etsy; the heating pads I already have are cylindrical, which is fine for soothing my hand or a hip, or warming a chilly bed, but I want something I can lean back against. Having bought a heating pad for adrian_turtle a few months ago, I went back to the same Etsy shop.

ETAL 2/23: slept okay last night, hips were fine when I woke up, hip started hurting while I was walking around the kitchen getting milk for my tea, so after being up for about ten minutes and moving around a little.

ETA 2/24: slept pretty well, right hip twinged a few minutes after I got up and then has been okay, at least for a couple of hours. My left hip started hurting a bit after that, and continued, so I have had a naproxen and applied a heating pad on that side. * A bit after noon, noticed both hips hurt.

Comments

[sine_nomine]

Are you open to thoughts on this?

[redbird]

Yes, since you're a reasonable person who doesn't phrase things as "why don't you just..."

[sine_nomine]

:-)

TL; dr (and at the risk of sounding like I am saying "Why don't you just..." but I promise I'm not!):
Have you considered that it might be your mattress?

Long story a little bit longer:
My thought is that, for me (recognizing that we have some similar pain stuff but also some different stuff, and so on) it turned out that the mattress Sweetheart and I had purchased together was a huge contributor to my pain levels, ability to function, sleep, position, etc. We'd gotten one that we loved at a hotel over a long weekend but it turns out that long-term sleeping on it was awful! Had similar "back is impossible; side is only a bit better and I can't stay like this all night because it hurts" and such. Ended up exchanging it for a different mattress (the newest variety of one that I loved in the store but never bought) that was billed as being better for "pressure points". Yeah yeah yeah said I that's all nonsense. Except that I discovered, for me, it wasn't. I was sleeping noticeably better, finding positioning on my side more comfortable and also on my back (I can't do face down because of the hip issues; rolling on to left side is nearly impossible because of same).

When I went home to NJ and was on my mattress there (for three weeks) I realized it was too cushy but better than the one that didn't work for us. Now I am in my own space but the bed I had at Sweetheart's is a Queen that I bought when we exchanged the King for us (same kind as the King so now in my new apt) and wow... it makes a very noticeable difference.

For me the other contributing factor has been conceding that a medication regimen at bedtime is helpful (as I think you know NSAIDs are mostly on my no fly list), and that keeping the level of Tylenol consistent during the day - plus the addition of lidoderm patches (name brand prescription strength) - is also essential. But the meds were doing pretty much nothing until we switched out the mattress.

Finally, I've also found that sleeping on a heated throw is also helpful because it heats a huge chunk of body. I've tried heated mattress pads but I haven't really noticed their warmth (or maybe it's just not hitting in the right places). But now that the meds have been tweaked and I'm on this mattress life is seriously noticeably better, and I haven't needed the added heat at night.

YMMV, of course! And happy to send details of the mattress brand, etc. in a PM if you're interested, or answer questions or what have you.

[redbird]

We are definitely overdue to replace our current mattress (a futon); procrastination gave way to "it's a pandemic, I can't go mattress shopping," and this comment may be a useful reminder to do something about that again.

[minoanmiss]

*sends soothing vibes*

Also, I wanted to preliminarily thank you for wisdom you've gifted me with recently. I hope to gather the wherewithal to reply specifically, but I wanted to say something at least of my gratitude. :)

[redbird]

You are very welcome.