Ok, oh in that case it sounds like back sleeping is out of the question anymore for you. So what about looking into mattresses that can provide some more flexible compression reduction or the parts of you that are being subjected to weight that compresses them and causes the bruising/straining... plus exercises that will strengthen the muscles in that area so that they provide a bit more strength also, because the problem is compression, but some of that is due to age-related loss of collagen and similar thinning of skin layers. .
Also there is a procedure that, believe it or not, it's called skin blading or skin puncturing or something like that, numerous little blades puncture your skin down to about 1 to 3 mm depth, and the wounding actually stimulates your body responding by laying down newer and deeper collagen which then provides more padding. Very commonly done by plastic surgeons and dermatologists for both cosmetic reasons and for counteracting the loss of that padding that is the collagen that disappears with age, because as that insulation is lost then as you age your skin becomes so thin that it is subject to severe burning easily, other injuries easily, sunburning easily, all kinds of damages that happen because your skin has lost that springy spongy protection of the collagen and one or two other related tissues that I can't remember what the name is. Also much more pain sensitivity and temperature sensitivity and pressure sensitivity on the nerves because of that thinning of the skin.
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So this idea would counter some of that. .
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Add that to the cushioning of some sort of professionally recommended or specialty mattress... there are some on the market I think... or instead of a mattress then maybe a cushion material, material of a cushion perhaps being more of the kind of thing you would find in a nursing home supply store rather than down at your local mattress place...
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I understand that when you buy certain mattresses they give you two or three months or sometimes even longer to try it and if it works then you keep it and if not you get to return it and get a refund.
My mum sleeps on a profiling bed that I have raised four or so inches (with books) at the head end.
The head/body end of the profiling bed is tilted up to some degree and her pillows are also propped up by a triangular prism of foam such that the pillows sit almost vertically.
Between the books, the tilt, and the judiciously arranged pillows, mum's head remains perpendicular to the floor while she yet sleeps on her back.
Any saliva seeps out of the mouth... as her duvet attests to every morning. Clearly not delightful, but somewhat better than the alternative.
The chief drawback (but, again, preferable to the alternative) is that it does put the neck in a flexed position for an extended period...likely exacerbating the head dropping tendency often seen in those with PD and dementia.
Should anyone go down this route, I would recommend they do some neck-extending exercises.
Also worth noting that my mum sleeps like a statue: her position does not budge one inch across the night. I appreciate this won't be true for all.
Hello Colin, I have also had many problems with my shoulder, and in fact, I have had a scapula out of place and there was a time when I was not even able to lift my right arm, which is the side I have EP. The only thing that has fixed that has been a dopamine antagonist, pramipexole. I don't know if you take it or not, the truth is that this kind of medication is not highly recommended because it generally causes impulsive behavior, but it is what has had the most effect for me, the C/L didn't do anything for this kind of symptoms. At night I have no problems sleeping, I have insomnia, but I don't have problems with stiffness during the night after starting to take pramipexole. I had to adjust the dose very well because it exacerbated my social phobia and anxiety in high doses, but with the proper dose, the truth is that it is going quite well for that.
I have found that rubbing a mix (about half and half) of Castor Oil and Vicks Vapor Rub (Camphor, Eucalyptus and Menthol) relaxes muscles and takes away pain.
Just adding for safety: always check new therapies slowly and check that there are not known negative drug interactions with other meds taken. Drugs.com has a Drug Interaction Checker.
hi I was going through the same thing and the dr gave me sleeping tablets and after a week I stopped taking them cause like you said all day I was so tired moogd out on till I tried the red light treatment on the gut and the red light helmet from symox and I’m sleeping 🛌 a lot better and it’s helped me with the pain and constipation l give it a try kind regards stag
Maybe treating the root problem would be better than the expense of a new mattress..My husband was drooling constantly,to the point where he felt embarrassed going anywhere out side the house.We did research and asked our neurologist if she would prescribe Atropinec sulphate 1%w/v.It originally was used as eye drops,but was then found to dry up saliva if drops were delivered under the tongue.The initial dose is 1 drop twice a day working up to 2 drops 4 times daily.They have really helped control the saliva problems.He then was offered Botox injections once every 4 months,which for 2 years stopped all excess saliva,but have not been so successful over the last 4 months,so we are backing it up with the Atropine drops,and that seems to be successful.
Please be careful with the atropine drops! My husband was taking them for 5 months for excessive saliva. They worked for the saliva, but they are an anticholinergic and I thought he was developing dementia. So we stopped the atropine and it took many weeks before his memory returned to normal.
Thanks for the warning.My husband’s has been on them for 3 years,only has 2 drops once or twice a day,and his memory is much better than mine.But your experience will make me not take the dose any higher
Good morning Coling, what you have described is called Hypersalivation and its due to Parkinson you have, I have same issues -😇if you wish to try my way then first stop drinking any cold drinks and start drinking warm water, warm water will clear your tummy and kidney, once its sorted you will be more relaxed and secondly accept the fact that we have Parkinson disease that way you will have less anxiety and third and most effective- exercise- whatever way you can and yes I do meditation, it helps me to control my emotions
My husband is a back sleeper also and to stop the constant coughing we would pack a pillow or two under a shoulder so this would turn his shoulder and head ever so slightly to one side. It works for him. Hope you find what works for you!
> I wake up every couple of hours with aching shoulders
I couldn't go to sleep due aching left shoulder, for over a year before diagnosis. After I was diagnosed 3 months ago and was given meds, I noticed that taking 1 sinemet before going to sleep, made that pain go away. Now I sleep much better.
I also have shoulder pain. I had both rotator cuffs repaired a few years back, after the second, I was diagnosed with PD. I bought two things that have helped me sleep better, a large body pillow that I ordered from brentwood.home website, and it works so well. It is heavy, memory foam I guess, but does not make me sweat and has great support for my legs and shoulder. ( I am a side sleeper). I put between both legs and also under my top shoulder and hug it so it elevates that shoulder a bit more. It is easy to mold to your liking. Also, a great pillow from restlinens.com. It is packed with goose down (ethically sourced), and offers great support so that I do not have neck issues since I have been using it. If your shoulders become more bothersome, I suggest trying PT. Mine was so excruciating that I had no choice but to have surgery or I would have needed a shoulder replacement, which is hard to believe, a worse recovery.
Also, my MDS has me taking Mirtazapine for sleep and for depression. It has helped me tremendously with both. A low dose to start worked for me with some grogginess in the am, but after one cup of coffee, was fine!!
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