Sleeping pads for those with back trouble?

L

lmalterna

Joined
Dec 12, 2002
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I could use some suggestions.. I have a trouble disc at L4 and my camping trip was cut short this weekend due to that little bugger. Having been some years since I tent camped(out of the back of a car) & the fact that I left all my camping gear with my son when the divorce came through, I had nothing to sleep on but some 2" foam cushions from an outdoor glider... I slept well but woke up very stiff. Less than an hour later while trying to loosen up, pinched the nerve a little and set up the muscle spasms.

Since my wife loved camping, I am going to have to invest in a better sleeping pad/mattress. I have slept on the inflatables before and was less than impressed but still open to trying a newer one if I can get some feedback first.

Thanks guys,
Bill
 
HTH,

I broke my back S1/L1 and was facing giving up camping, but started using a hammock (before surgery) and it helped a huge amount. If it's something you've never tried, it may well be worth a go, there's tons of info on the net about hammocks, a lot about people with bad backs use this system and have loads of success.

If you're car camping and want to go with tents I agree with suppertramp; Thermarest and get the thickest one they got!

Good luck! John
 
I have issues with my lower back when laying flat so a hammock works best for me aswell.

If i can't use one i'd say a good inflatable mattress is the next best thing for me. I've tried sleeping pads and none of them seemed to be thick enough, but a friend of mine did recently purchase a Big Agnes Dual Core inflatable pad which felt pretty nice when i tried it out a bit.
 
I also suffer with a bad back. Been using a Thermarest (the same one) for nearly 20 years and when my back is bad I sometimes use it at home!
 
Read up on hammocks, then try one out in your back yard or local park. You will never sleep in a tent again!
 
Man I dont envy you! I was in an accdeint many years ago that left cracks in my spine. A couple years after the accident the L4&5 broke open and I had to have reconstructive surgery. Since then my good sleeping days have been over. I just cant sleep on the ground without my legs going numb and hurting in my back. I have a thermarest and still it did not help. The only two things I have found are a military cot or a hammock. So when car camping with the family I use the cot because the wife sleeps better knowing her man is in the tent with her lol but when hiking or paddling with friends I use my hammock! If I could just get my wife to try the hammock I now she would like it too and I would not wake up in the middle of the night cold and seeing she stole the blanket again!
 
I have wanted a Hennessy for some time but it would be a no go now that I am remarried. I have slept on floors n the cheap unbaffled air mattresses & did not do well. I may save up to try one of those Thermarest XL Dream Maker mattresses.

Bill
 
lmalterna said:
I may save up to try one of those Thermarest XL Dream Maker mattresses.
Click to expand...

Bill's got the right idea. The Thermarest XL DreamMaker is fantastic. Too bulky for lashing to your pack for a hiking trip - but perfect for base camp. I take mine along when I go to my inlaws house with the family - they have crappy mattresses in their guest room, and I sleep fine on the floor with my Thermarest!

BTW - I've used Thermarest products for 25+ years and have never had a failure or even worn out a mattress. I still have my original 3/4 lightweight model from 1980-something.

TedP
 
This is now something I have to consider. Bad chest trauma from my accident, and a broken spine tips? I don't know, but the doctor scared the hell out of me with "Your spine is broken, but it's a little nothing fracture."
 
I have a bad back, old compression fractures. Sleeping on the ground on a foam pad had become intolerable until a forum friend sent me a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core mattress. It even allows me to sleep on my side in a position that relieves the pressure on my spine, changing positions through the night. There may be something better out there but this baby does it for me. It compacts to the size of a large water bottle.
 
I have scoliosis and a bad enough back as it is and I'm only 24. I have used sleeping pads from Thermarest and Coleman WITH a supplementary foam mat under them and it's still very uncomfortable, even on flat ground.

I have since turned to using air mattresses...which, in most cases, are just as terrible as sleeping pads, unless you're willing to do some research and spend a little money. Last month I bought a full-size Aerobed. It is very comfortable, stays firm and holds air better than any other air mattress I've used. I ended up making the decision after my father bought himself one. I had always heard great things about them and my father backed them up.

I used the Aerobed last week on a four day camping trip and shared the mattress with my girlfriend and we both slept comfortably. I touched up the mattress only once, not because it lost air, but because I wanted it firmer. So far with the Aerobed, I would say yes to a recommendation.

Good luck!
 
Codger_64 said:
I have a bad back, old compression fractures. Sleeping on the ground on a foam pad had become intolerable until a forum friend sent me a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core mattress. It even allows me to sleep on my side in a position that relieves the pressure on my spine, changing positions through the night. There may be something better out there but this baby does it for me. It compacts to the size of a large water bottle.
Click to expand...


This is a winner for me as well. I use this mattress size wide/long along with my big Agnes bag which has a special sleeve to hold the mattress. That allows me to roll around in the bag without ever rolling off the mattress. I like to shift from side to side because I can not sleep on my back at all. It's good down to 15 degrees and I've used it in summer 65 degree nights upside down.

I am 6'4"+ and 330lbs. I swear by this mattress.

[video=youtube;180M-OYHGEc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=180M-OYHGEc[/video]
 
Sorry to hear of your aches. My wife has an L4-5 fusion. Her back almost put an end to our tent camping too. However, we made two adjustments: 1 got a tent tall enough she could stand up in. Especially first thing in the morning, being able to completely stand was a big help. 2 we got an air mattress. I would highly recommend one of you are car camping. If possible, get the tallest one you can find. Gettin in and out of bed with a low mattress definitely added to her discomfort.

After we made those small changes, she's happy and we are going strong years later!
 
Thanks guys, sounds like I have some good items to check out. Dr. never pinpointed what caused my problem. Wear or chipping at the edge of the plates allowing the disc to bulge and pinch nerves at times. Sets up spasms and pain/muscle cramps through my legs. Looks kind of funny watching me try to walk but really puts a crimp in my style ;) Flexeril, Ibu and back brace help but takes a few days to work out.
Dr. said it is usually from bad fall or car wreck. I started having the problem at age 22-(I am now 46) no car wreck and not much abnormal in injuries- normal active crazy teenager so I do not know what did the damage. I rode horses/dirtbikes some and carried 100lb feedsacks up and down stairs but it could have been back yard football or any number of incidents. Removal of disc and fusion of plates is prognosis but I intend to be years down the road.

Thanks,
Bill
 
Sounds like you have some good options to try out, I have a bad back and I use thermarest with pretty good success also. REI is a good store if there is one near you because they usually have a lot of different models to try out, and they have a great return policy if you are not satisfied; wherever you buy make sure you can return it even if you have used it for a night or 2, some of them are expensive and you can't really tell till you spend a night on it if it will work for you.
 
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