Tracy I have a few thoughts but be very careful with using the heat and sleeping on it, many times you can develope waffleing or mottleing o the area. A pattern in the under skin.

I would use the biofreeze and not the heat pad once you go to bed. OR lidoderm patches. They will be much cooler in the summer, or winter use.

take care
di

Tracy- I just posted something in the TOS Tips for Comfort thread: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...281#post286281
it might be of a lil bit of help

Thanks for that, what a good idea!! Im going to make one of those later....

I just wanted to say, I use a heating pad for pelvic pain and the way I deal with getting to hot is putting a fan at the bottom of the bed to keep me cool. It does work. I have done this for years. All through my TOS era and what I am going through now.

Ada

Have you tried ice or the cool gel packs ? I know they can cause more problems for those who also have RSD (maybe what caused my RSD ?) but I could not live without ice packs.

I can't sleep on my back............embarrassed to say, but I'm a snorer. I sleep on my non affected side with pillows to support my affected arm from leaning forward. I have a good memory foam pillow that is higher than some of the cheaper models that I have seen. It cradles my head/neck just perfect sleeping on my side, but I don't find it comfortable if I lay on my back (to read)

sleeping on my back used to be difficult for me, too. I generally go to sleep on my heating pad, it has a timer to turn off after an hour. In the warmer months i just put it on a really low heat setting, however i am in CA where it is very rarely very hot.

I have found the use of a pillow under my knees really takes the pressure off my low back- you know how at the PT you lay on the table and they have the wedge thing that they put under you legs that is so comfy....well i try to mimic that feeling with a pillow. It also helps me be comfy enough not to want to roll over.

I also really like my buckwheat pillow. You can mold it exactly to your head, and then it doesn't move, you just stay supported in exactly the comfy place. I learned in feldenkrais how to do it correctly, to make sure your head is supported at a flat level instead of at an incline. I have found that i can mimic this with the buckwheat pillow. It can be sort of hard, though, so if i have any amount of headache (like 50% of the time), I have a really soft and fluffy goose down pillow which serves a very similar fun tion but is super soft.

Actually, the fluffy soft goose down pillow has been a favorite for years....especially when i have a bad headache, it just feels like my head is on a cloud.

i also find that my needs and preferences change over time, so no solution is one size fits all

i do like the rice sock, i have been meaning to make on of those but haven't gotten around to it.

thanks johannakat!

i also use my heating pad on a very low heat at night time to fall asleep on....it does switch off after 90 mins - but more often than not i have switched it off when i feel im on the brink of nodding off!.

i have just found something called a mediflow pillow - soft and fluffy on the top and waterfilled underneath (which can be part filled or fully filled depending on your comfort!) sounds really good to me - it does cost £40 (approx $70?) I think im going to invest in the most expensive pillow ever!!....im going to look into a buckweat pillow too now.

thanks finz!

I hate sleeping on my back too - before TOS i used to sleep on either side or my stomach and would love to be able to just drop off to sleep like i used to....now sleep has become a mission and just getting in the right position takes forever- its such a pain!. I havent tried ice packs yet - i have always found heat to be so soothing - i am going to get some asap to give it a try though....

Hi i have a water pillow it is great i don't know what i would do with out it. It is heavy there for you can't get your arms under it like if you were to sleep on your side so now i have had to sleep on my back. I am glad that comp got it for me they are a little expensive. I just wish i could get comp to bye me a bed lo lo

since Biofreeze was mentioned as something to try I would also recommend Chinagel. chinagel.com I use lidoderm patches too but the OverTheCounter topicals are a lot less expensive.