Back support

It is possible to buy beds like that - but they are pretty expensive. It is also possible to get a hospital bed at home if you really need one but they tend to be for patients confined to bed. Ikea also sell different sorts of bed base with some that have raising head sections - they are very common over here on this side of the channel!

Far more to the point would be to sort out your pred dose because your PMR isn't being managed at all well. Either you need a slightly higher dose or you need to alter how you take it to minimise morning pain and stiffness. 

If you leave taking your pred until breakfast it will take until about lunchtime to have a good effect. Taking is as early as possible in the morning is recommended and many patients take a sandwich or yoghurt and a drink of water to bed with them, take their pred when they wake early to go to the toilet and then settle down for another couple of hours by which time the pred has not only had a chance to combat the inflammation underlying the pain but it also had less to do.

The pain and stiffness of PMR are due to inflammation in the body which is caused by substances caused cytokines which appear in the body at about 4.30am. The longer they are left "unfought" the more damage they cause. Studies found that the perfect time to take our ordinary white pred tablets is 2am - this gets the prednisolone level in the blood to a peak by about 4-4.30am, ready and waiting to stop the cytokines doing their dirty work. A few people have tried that, taking their pred in the middle of the night with excellent results. Most of them wake then needing to go to the loo, one or two actually set their alarms! If you can't face that thought, then taking the pred as early as you possibly can is the next best thing.

For a few people taking 2/3 of their pred dose in the morning and the rest in the evening works to avoid severe morning stiffness - that may affect your sleep, it may not, all you can do is try. It is all to do with the fact that the antiinflammatory effect of pred lasts from 12 to 36 hours or so. If you are unlucky and for you it is 12 hours then splitting the dose might be good. I could take pred on alternate days and still feel fairly fine on the second morning.

All this is based on the thought that you are taking ordinary white non-coated pred tablets. If you are on the coloured (red or brown) enteric coated pills then they take about 6 hours or so to achieve their peak level in the body - so you could take them before bed and they would be starting to work before you get up in the morning.

Some people also find that using an electric blanket BEFORE getting out of bed gets the circulation in the muscles going enough to make that first morning movement less awful. How you get out of bed also makes a difference: it may be better to turn onto your side (if you can) at the edge of the bed and then push yourself upright so you are sitting on the side of the bed.This is recommended practice for anyone with back problems and I have used that technique for many years so it is automatic to me anyway - but it was the only way I could get out of bed in the 5 years I wasn't on pred for my PMR. 

Hi audrey, it sounds to me that you are either not on the required amount of pred to allow you to control your pain or that there is an additional underlying problem. We managed to get a frame for my ma in law that opened into a "V" shape and went under her pillows which allowed her to sleep siting upright. Hope this helps and good luck.

HI Audrey,

We have one of those beds it's a superking size with a memory foam mattress, each side works independently which is a godsend, it was a real bargain even after paying a white van man over £80 to collect.

At the moment there is a king size one for sale at £300 on preloved, I was very lucky with my find it is in immaculate condition, it cost me more to buy the new bedding as the bottom sheets have to be single to allow the separate actions then the superking duvet etc.

I must say it's the best ting I've ever bought, can't wait to get into it.

My husband is disabled and pre the new bed had some aids from his Occupational Therapist, which could be provided free of charge, your doctor could put in a federal.

Ultimately

I hope Eileens expert advice works for you, oh to be free from pain.

Kind Regards

When I started on Predisone 15 mg/day for my PMR I woke up every morning right where I had started the day before. All the aches and pains were back. The meds only worked for about 18 hours of a 24 hour day. I upped my meds to 20mg per day and took 20mg the next morning at 7 am and 10mg that evening at 7 pm. From there on I took 10mg on the 7's morning and evening. The next morning I was comfortable. That program has you on 20mg part of the day and 10mg part of the day. It may be unconventional but it worked.

 Once the inflammation gets under control I would  think that you could get back to a single morning dose only and start a slow reduction in dosage.

Charlie 44644

Hi Audrey,

I had a similar problem with entering/exiting the bed at first.

I went out and bought a zero gravity chair (one for outdoors, because of price...$150.00). I put a blanket on it and it became my sleeping headquarters until I got the prednisone sorted out, very comfortabel and easy to use.

It also works for people with back problems.

It now sits outside mainly and is a visitors favorite.

Shawn

well you can buy an electric bed expensive but mt Brother has one and says its the best thing he ever bought.