Guest guest Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Can anyone explain to me the rationale for elevating the head of your bed, via risers, telephone books, etc.? I've read elsewhere that simply sleeping at an angle, for example with a slanted foam pillow, is not as helpful, and I don't understand why. Is the elevation to help with sleep apnea? I know many chiari patients have that problem, but is there a another reason having to do with the position of the spine, or csf flow? Thanks from a relative newbie. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Mike asked; Can anyone explain to me the rationale for elevating the head of your bed, via risers, telephone books, etc.? I've read elsewhere that simply sleeping at an angle, for example with a slanted foam pillow, is not as helpful, and I don't understand why. Is the elevation to help with sleep apnea? I know many chiari patients have that problem, but is there a another reason having to do with the position of the spine, or csf flow? [Kathleen] response; It was explained to me that our body is like a bottle half full of water. When we are upright the water, or csf settles to the bottom of the bottle/spinal column. When we lay flat, the csf tries to get into areas that are blocked at the base of the skull, which causes lots of pressure. When I was at my worst, I would wake up every night at 1:30 AM in extreme pain. After I started to prop up, the pain was less severe. The more I would prop up the better the relief. I finally learned to sit in a reclining chair to sleep to maximize the relief. My butt got tired of sitting, but I felt better over all. The wedge just wasn't enough for me. Kathleen CM I, hydrocephalus,cervical instability, EDS. suboccipital craniectomy and VA shunt 1990, suprasinus decompression 1998, craniocervical fusion 1999, shunt revisions, LP shunt 2003, C5-6 fusion 2004, Lumbar reservoir., Craniocervical fusion redo 2006. Diagnosed with OTFT 2006 http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CCIparents/?yguid=124775342 http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CCIkids/ . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Mike , Beds are usually elevated for the problem of Gastric Reflux. But the elevated bed does help with sleep apnea - - and it is better if the whole bed is elevated - sleeping propped up on a pillow does not give your whole body support (I found that your neck gets slumped over and that only adds to the problems of headaches and increases the pain in your neck and shoulders). You can get bed raisers for about 7 or 8 dollars - - I think you will find it well worth the investment. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Is the bed with an angled pillow the same as raised bed. As long as you have the support on your spine. The raised foamy and then a pillow to conform to your head does the same thing. It would of course be nice if we all could afford hospital beds but usually paying the food bills is even a challenge. There are so many new things on the market. Do what you feel does work. A suggestion: Take an old tube sock fill it with rice and sow the end and you have a great neck support--oh stick it into the microwave and that will put you to sleep. I put an old pillow case over the sock just in case. Keep the sun shining in your heart always... Elvira elevated bed question Can anyone explain to me the rationale for elevating the head of your bed, via risers, telephone books, etc.? I've read elsewhere that simply sleeping at an angle, for example with a slanted foam pillow, is not as helpful, and I don't understand why. Is the elevation to help with sleep apnea? I know many chiari patients have that problem, but is there a another reason having to do with the position of the spine, or csf flow? Thanks from a relative newbie. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 From what I understand it is NOT the same thing. Think of your spinal cord as a " hose " which is part of the CSF system. When you use a wedge or a ton of pillows, the body ( i.e. the spinal cord.hose) is bent in the middle. When you raise the head of the bed ( and this can be done VERY inexpensively with blocks of wood!) the entire mattress is tilted up, but the body is in alignment!! The spine is not bent.. The system should be able to work better!!!!! It helps to accomplish what we want to happen! We put 6 " blocks of wood under the head legs of our beds ( as per an earlier Dr. M recommendation) It was easy, cheap, and made a world of difference to me/my husband, as well! BTW, the rice idea is great. You can even add herbs to it for an aromatherapy benefit. You can also fill socks with sand and use them as inexpensive leg/hand weights! Have a great day! Sally R...Decompression '91... Hydro..VP shunt with 2 revisions...Doing well, without medication, in Bethlehem,Pa. Re: elevated bed question > Is the bed with an angled pillow the same as raised bed. As long as you > have the support on your spine. The raised foamy and then a pillow to > conform to your head does the same thing. It would of course be nice if > we all could afford hospital beds but usually paying the food bills is > even a challenge. There are so many new things on the market. Do what > you feel does work. A suggestion: Take an old tube sock fill it with > rice and sow the end and you have a great neck support--oh stick it into > the microwave and that will put you to sleep. I put an old pillow case > over the sock just in case. > > Keep the sun shining in your heart always... > Elvira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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