I ask this because I have learned one thing while out camping, my back isn’t cut out for it. I stopped tent camping because my back simply couldn’t take it anymore. I loved camping but if I got 1 or 2 hours of sleep in little naps at night it was a good night.
I’m finding I am having the same problem in the RV. I can’t sleep in a bed, no matter what mattress is on it, the flatness is what kills me. I could be on the mattress from heaven, within 30 minutes my back is screaming, so I sleep in the Lazy Boy recliner to beat all recliners at home, it has heat, massage and is fully adjustable. Great right? Well, yes and no, some day we want to hit the road and at some point the lack of sleep is going to affect me worse than it does now. This monster Lazy Boy won’t fit in the RV and I try to sleep in the small leather recliner we have and I manage a few hours of sleep but that’s it.
I like to get up early and go for walks, the last few trips out the sleep or lack there of has really affected me and I end up trying to catch up in the morning so I’m over tired when I do get up. I generally don’t feel like doing anything until my back decides its going to stop screaming for awhile. I have been to the doctors, have had the tests and found I have rheumatoid arthritis in my lower back. Here is a little back story (no pun intended), I play hockey for a long time, per my doctor 2 years longer than I should have. So now my knees and my back and even my elbows are paying for it. Would I do it over again, hell yes.
I digress, this means now my wife and I sleep separately, her in a bed and me in a monster sized Lazy Boy. In the RV she sleeps comfortably in the queen sized bed while I sleep in my little recliner or the couch depending on which one hurts me less that night. There are beds that adjust like a recliner but they are priced at a point only people with money can buy them so I’m stuck I guess?
Anybody have an idea what I can do that won’t take up an entire room and what to do if and when we decide to go full time? 
Quick update, the RV went the entire weekend with no issues. We used the furnace, everything was used except the water pump and everything worked like it should. I installed a new water sprayer for the toilet, it still burps out a few drops at times, very frustrating but a towel on the floor keeps this dry.
Have a great week everybody!
14 comments:
When you get ready to full time, you will probably be selling a lot of stuff and then should be able to afford a good mattress or recliner. I would start doing some physical therapy or yoga or other isometric type exercises to strengthen your back. I know you can't cure rheumatoid arthritis - but you can try and reduce some of the pain and things that trigger the pain. Swimming and water exercises are supposed to be a big help. We all hate to exercise but if it improves quality of life, then it is a necessity.
Get back replacement surgery! :)
Sorry,,, :(
I sympathize completely. When my late husband was fighting head-neck cancer, he eventually couldn't sleep laying down. So like you, he moved to the recliner in the family room. It was a Lazy Boy and there were too. I moved to the other one. Used a twin flannel sheet over it and another as a topper with a twin quilt for cool nights.
I've had back issues for almost 20 years now thanks to degenerative disk and degenerative joint disease. Moving to the recliner gave me amazing pain relief and excellent sleep.
I suggest you get the measurements of the space for a new recliner in your rig and then visit Lazy Boy and order a wall-away to fit.
If your wife is willing to try the recliner sleep, then you could do away with the couch and get two!
I would also go for getting a custom recliner made, along with really working on therapeutic abdominal muscle exercise. Your tummy supports your back. It won't make the arthritis go away, but stronger muscles do lessen the pain. I had back pain for many years until I started sleeping on a baffled water bed. Of course it is something we could never take along, so the first thing we bought was a very expensive mattress. I've slept on it a few times and it seems to be OK. I'm hoping!
Sounds like its time to get one of those adjustable beds that you used to see on TV all the time, ya know the ones that can adjust themselves to a semi-seated position. There's on that has the two separate zones so you can raise yours to a like seated position to help relieve some of the back pain.
I agree with Matt!..an adjustable bed might be the answer..at least then you and your wife can sleep in the same bed!
IF ALL THESE GOOD COMMENTS FAIL---FULL-TIMING IS OVERRATED ANYWAY
. BEEN THERE-DONE THAT.
I can relate to basing the enjoyment of my weekends out in the RV by stating if/how many things broke or didn't work in the RV! It made me remember one reason were THINKING of downsizing to a travel trailer....less systems. Not to mention less money....and less room!!!! hmmmm.
Mike and Cindy, I clicked your name and it states your blog is no longer valid.
Don't know if this will help in your situation, but my bed was recently replaced with a pillow-top mattress. Never had it so comfy! I used to have trouble sleeping on my left side (hip hurt too bad). Not so much with the new mattress. Hopefully you will find a solution.
Erik, I can sympathize with you. I can't sleep sitting up or reclined, I need to be flat or my feet will swell up like balloons. But what if you took the queen sized bed out of our RV, put a twin size sideways under the cabinets (if that's what your bedroom floorplan is like) for your wife, then put your, or get another recliner of the same you are sleeping on now in the RV?
Sorry about the rheumatiod arthritis, my grandfather suffered with it. I have arthritis in my back & hips, but at least it's not rheumatiod.
I agree with the poster who said you'll be selling stuff so you should have the funds to get something when the time comes. Hopefully it will all work out for you.
ps...I thought anonymous left a few posts back? Erik do you have a stalker?? LOL! Cheers! ~M
I, too, have rheumatoid arthritis and back problems. When we bought our used Phaeton, it came with a sleep number bed. We both love it. I felt immediate improvement in my back pain. We have now bought a park model and it comes with a pillow top mattress. If it causes back problems, you may see me out on the street selling drugs to get enough money to buy another sleep number bed (only kidding).
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