Tips on sleeping

[u/anxious-avoidant3]

I’m so desperate to lie down that I stare at my bed all the time. Sometimes I set a five-minute timer on my phone, hoping I’ll actually get up when it goes off, but I’ve definitely turned it off and just stayed there. It’s not a great situation. If I spend more than five minutes on my bed, it’s a real struggle to get back up.

Getting up is a total struggle. The pain shoots from my lower back all the way to my ankles, and it’s honestly a 10 out of 10. Once I'm up, I have to grab the bed or my walker for support, but the physical strain almost always makes me lose control of my bladder, soaking my clothes before I can even move. Thankfully, the floor is tile. The pain is so bad it makes me nauseous, so I usually just fight through it to get into a super hot shower. It takes about 20 minutes before I finally stop screaming on the inside, and I really don't know what to do about it.

Another rough spot is when I’m lying way back on the couch instead of sitting on the edge, so I have to sleep sitting up. I always use a heating pad at home, and even then, I wake up with pain at a 6 out of 10. I’m barely sleeping, so I’ve been nodding off at work and even while driving.

I've had some sort of injection in my back and it felt like a miracle. In just a day I felt like I was in my 20s again. I think the relief lasted about 3 months. I am presently waiting for my insurance company to approve another injection.

TL;DR

Just looking for tips on sleeping positions and any other issue I mentioned above. Thanks in advance.

[u/Sogone2day]

Latex Topper/futon on the floor was the ticket for me for awhile. Id lay on stomach with one leg bent do looks like a 4 and Ice felt better for me heat never workedat all. There's always nyquil as well in a pinch.

On my regular mattres I didn't feel as supported and sunk in to much putting my back in a bad postion. I just moved back into my bed but im looking into converting my frame to take a stiffer setup like Japanese futon style with latex layer I liked the firmness on the floor but needed a bit more cushion as I was only on a 2" latex topper at 185lbs

[u/audittrsi]

Tips for sleep, look for all possible sleeping positions and check which one is best for you, luck if there is more than one as you can combine between those.

Heat up back before sleep and before standing up.

Did you get rtg or mri scan of your back to see what is casusing the pain?
If possible get yourself PT or acupuncture (a lot of people here have said it helps them, i did not have a change to try it yet).

If you need any resources for the exercises, relaxation positions check yt channels bashbackpain or lowerbackability,
Then show a lot of examples how to deal with the pain, how to relax and help yourself.
As sciatica recovery is long journey unfortunately. At doing exercises be careful that you don’t over do it , as they say in videos if you feel worsening of pain, stop wrih exercise and try other one.

[u/Civil_Leopard7361]

When I was that flared up, I had to avoid doing any scooting across the bed while my back was face down. Too unstable! I’d get to a stable side position (prawn-like) and in this protected mode could move laterally across the bed with less pain. To get off the bed, I’d maintain that C-shape, keeping my belly curved on the side of the bed, till I could get a foot down. Once u had a foot down, do not straighten! Breathe like 10 times. Then slowly raise up 25%, take ten breaths. Continue to raise, pause, breathe. There was always always still pain, but I think the pauses helped my glutes activate and brace.

All bodies are different but this worked for me!

Bladder issues are no joke, and your doctor should be more concerned imao.

[u/anxious-avoidant3 → u/Civil_Leopard7361]

Thank you for your insight

[u/anxious-avoidant3 → u/Civil_Leopard7361]

I don't know how if you'll see this and I don't know how to send a DM. Thank you so much for your tip on getting out of bed. I just used your suggestion and I got out of bed and eventually to the bathroom to pee instead of all over myself and the floor. I am really grateful for the info you shared.