3 replies to this topic

[chrisbaby9305]

I am a C5-7 incomplete quad who has regained use of hands and arms and can walk approx 30 feet, assisted, with a walker. I'm 18 months into my injury and for the last 10 weeks have had pretty bad pain around my tailbone. Nurse and my doctor say that it's simply pink and not an open sore. I am somewhat numb from the neck down, so I'm assuming the pain that I'm feeling would be multiplied if I had full feeling--I can't imagine how that would feel. I'm a back sleeper and absolutely can't sleep on my back. Due to my manual chair, my right shoulder has a rotator cuff injury, and my left hip is injured due from the fall resulting in my SCI. PLEASE! I need help from anyone who can recommend the best bed for the pressure sores, etc. I understand that too soft a bed, and I would be incapacitated, and am wondering if a firm bed (memory foam) would have enough give to prevent the pain. There are so many--firm, soft, medium, 12 inch, 10 inch, memory foam, latex, air, etc. I need help right away, as my pain is pretty bad. I can spend up to $800 on the mattress. Right now, I'm on a 20 year old spring-type mattress with a 3 inch memory foam topper. Please help! God bless.

[Erica]

I have similar pain in my tailbone as well. Mine is worse towards the end of the day after being in the chair for about 10 hours. This pain worries me because I fear it could be the start of a pressure sore as well. I have the same thinking as you, I'm paralyzed and if I can feel this it must hurt. Could yours be caused by your chair?
I sleep in a hospital bed the mattress isn't soft but it's not overly hard either.

Good luck

[Tetracyclone]

Can you sleep on your stomach?

[Millard]

chrisbaby9305, on 29 October 2011 - 09:44 PM, said:

I am a C5-7 incomplete quad who has regained use of hands and arms and can walk approx 30 feet, assisted, with a walker. I'm 18 months into my injury and for the last 10 weeks have had pretty bad pain around my tailbone. Nurse and my doctor say that it's simply pink and not an open sore. I am somewhat numb from the neck down, so I'm assuming the pain that I'm feeling would be multiplied if I had full feeling--I can't imagine how that would feel. I'm a back sleeper and absolutely can't sleep on my back. Due to my manual chair, my right shoulder has a rotator cuff injury, and my left hip is injured due from the fall resulting in my SCI. PLEASE! I need help from anyone who can recommend the best bed for the pressure sores, etc. I understand that too soft a bed, and I would be incapacitated, and am wondering if a firm bed (memory foam) would have enough give to prevent the pain. There are so many--firm, soft, medium, 12 inch, 10 inch, memory foam, latex, air, etc. I need help right away, as my pain is pretty bad. I can spend up to $800 on the mattress. Right now, I'm on a 20 year old spring-type mattress with a 3 inch memory foam topper. Please help! God bless.

Check out low air loss mattresses. They will ease your pain and prevent more sores. I slept on one in the hospital and when I first laid on it it was terrible. The nurse plugged in the pump and I was lifted about 2" and felt like I was not even touching the bed. I really hated to get off the mattress for PT so they would come in and turn off my pump. I hope to have one at home in a couple of weeks. Some examples are here: http://www.emedhospi...CFULs7Qod_SybHg

Good luck.