| If back pain is making your life miserable, here are | | | | Memory foam can make sleeping much more |
| some items that just might make you a little | | | | comfortable, if you have severe back pain. I could |
| more comfortable during your recuperation. These | | | | never be comfortable when using mattresses |
| are ones that work for me, from the inexpensive | | | | alone, but now, I wake up more rested due to |
| to the somewhat pricey. Through the years, as | | | | better quality sleep. |
| my back problems slowly increased, I began | | | | Hand-held back massagers |
| collecting anything spine-friendly, and I'm glad that | | | | The portable massager I use for my lumbar area |
| I did because they now come in handy. Nowadays | | | | is called the Accuvibe, and I got it at Sharper |
| I am battling a bad case of sciatica and a | | | | Image. It has heat or non-heat settings. I prefer |
| herniated lumbar disk, leaving me nearly immobile | | | | the non-heat mostly, but use the heat setting |
| at times. Ever hopeful in getting better soon, I | | | | after using ice on my back (the doctor said to |
| resort to using a mountain of pain medicines and | | | | alternate heat and cold on my back). The |
| muscle relaxants, along with all my gadgets. | | | | massage wand is long, and reaches most areas of |
| Despite the slow healing process, they all really do | | | | my spine easily. My previous back massager was |
| help. | | | | by Dr.Scholl's, and is ok, but has a less strong |
| The I Joy Massage Chair by Sharper Image | | | | massage. It does have a handy heat option |
| This chair is a powerful massage tool that is truly | | | | without the massage, which is good when I'm |
| able to work my back like a real masseuse. It has | | | | dealing with back muscle spasms. It's like a heating |
| various settings and a pad to put between your | | | | pad, but can get hot, so I am careful not to fall |
| skin and the massage rollers. This softens the | | | | asleep with it on my back, to avoid burning my |
| massage intensity a little, and when your back is | | | | skin. |
| sore, it's best not to let the chair work your back | | | | Wedge Pillows |
| too strongly. When I bought it, my main back | | | | Throughout the years, I have had a few different |
| problems were less complicated, just pain from | | | | wedge pillows but my favorite is one with a |
| moving, that disappeared in a week or so. Now | | | | memory foam roll at the bottom, that I bought |
| that I've graduated to stronger back problems, | | | | through QVC. It is soft, easy to clean and strong |
| this chair is even more useful to me. I use it once | | | | enough to support my back in bed or in my chair |
| a day and only for twenty minutes. If my spine | | | | as I work. There are also lumbar pillows, |
| hurts while using the chair, I cut the session short. | | | | disc-shaped pillows to put behind you while sitting. |
| The doctor told me to do whatever feels good | | | | Another good wedge is the kind for under your |
| to my back, so it has his ok, as long as I know | | | | knees as you sleep. That helps takes pressure off |
| when to stop. I joys are trusted massage chairs | | | | of the spine and help keep it straight when lying |
| with a history of happy customers. Mine has a | | | | down. |
| cupholder and even an outlet so I can use my | | | | Dr.Grosso's Back Relief Belt |
| laptop as I get my massage. The newer chairs | | | | This handy little belt is helpful for giving you |
| even have hookups for Ipods. They are | | | | support in your lower back. It comes with blue gel |
| mid-range in price, there are more expensive | | | | ice packs, to insert in a hidden pocket in the belt, |
| chairs out there, but this one has all the settings I | | | | for ice therapy when needed. The belt is adjusted |
| need, from thumping, to tapping and more. You | | | | by easily workable straps and by an air pump on |
| can even tell the rollers where to massage, and | | | | the side. Just pump it to the right tension and |
| choose your own manual options yourself, instead | | | | then go about your business. It helps take the |
| of using the automatic ones, which give you a | | | | pressure off as you work or lift. The belt isn't for |
| variety of techniques altogether. | | | | heavy lifting, but is good for basic support in the |
| Memory Foam is a Wonderful Thing | | | | lumbar area when you need it. With the belt, you |
| Instead of buying those expensive full memory | | | | get a paperback booklet called, "Guide to a Pain |
| foam mattresses, I have a 4-inch slab of | | | | Free Back," by Dr.Grosso. It is loaded with |
| memory foam on top of my mattress. It is very | | | | easy-to-understand diagrams and explanations on |
| comfortable, and molds to my body. I've had the | | | | how to help your back, along with giving brief |
| 2-inch mattress topper, as well, and it is also fine. | | | | explanations to common back ailments. It also is |
| The thicker the memory foam is, the more | | | | full of exercises to strengthen your back muscles. |
| "locked in" you feel as you lie there. My doctor | | | | There are many other aids available, that I |
| gave me the OK on memory foam when I asked | | | | haven't discovered yet. Find whatever makes |
| him. He isn't one to gush about anything, so to | | | | your recuperation time more bearable, and use |
| hear that he likes this is a compliment to the | | | | them. The pain killers, muscle relaxants and other |
| product. I also have a memory foam pillow, and | | | | meds are the most important part of my |
| use it to cushion my lumbar area (lower back) as | | | | therapy at present, but hopefully as time goes |
| I work. Smokers please note, memory foam is | | | | on, I won't need to use them as much as I do |
| flammable unless they tell you otherwise, so it is | | | | right now. The whole sciatica pain experience has |
| best not to smoke while using it. Foam and fire | | | | taught me to stop abusing my back and think |
| don't mix. The more dense the foam is, the more | | | | twice about how I sit, stand and move. Any |
| durable it is. I have medium denseness for my | | | | items that make life easier are welcomed. Try |
| mattress topper, and it keeps its shape just fine. | | | | them, and you may just like them too. |