Tilted bed
By sleeping this way, may back and neck are stretched out a little while I sleep.
This was created out of necessity.
When I lie down, the torsion of my back is passed on to my neck.
So even when I sleep my vertebra in my neck are pushed in a skewed way.
I have tried other ways, but it appeared that by using gravity was better
than some kind of force to stretch out my back and neck.
That I sleep this way, is also in my records, by a letter for the court
of 18 mei 2006 (in dutch).
Benefits
I am less tired by sleeping this way.
I think it could be that for example my neck vertebra are more loosely apart
so they put less pressure on things in my neck that run to my brains.
Another possibility is that there is less pressure on the spinal cord in my neck,
so that I have enough strength to breathe properly.
And I suppose that because my neck vertebra are more loosely apart,
that the blood vessels to and from my brains have a bit more space
and therefore my brains could have more oxygen during sleeping.
I had the most to gain from my tilted bed, after sleeping this way one and a half year.
I need less pain medication.
I don't have te take painkillers daily.
By lying this way it was possible to write all kind of letters,
and I am still able to travel to the insurance-docters and the court.
I was able to create the biggest part of my site, by lying on my tilted bed
for most of the day.
Disadvantages
A disadvantage is that a starting migraine is significantly increased,
because the blood pressure in my head increases, causing more pressure on the veins in my head.
The advantage is that migraine occurs less frequently.
If I lie down directly after a meal, it is not pleasant for my stomach.
Also sometimes air gets trapped in my stomach.
If I lie this way, there is always pressure on the major blood vein in my belly (is that the aorta ?).
And the blood circulation of my legs is less, because they hang down to prevent me from sliding down the bed.
After 5 years sleeping on my tilted bed:
My neck and back are stretched by gravity,
but my shoulders are pulled down by gravity as well (towards my head).
The muscles of my neck to my shoulders become shorter,
which is bad for my neck. This become after 5 years a growing problem.
After 6 years sleeping on my tilted bed:
After 6 years I got pain around the knee and have painful knees
(it might have to do something with: blood vessels, tendons, knee joint).
The pain increased, so I could not lie tilted for long.
The problem is that if the pain increases, I can not relax very well.
Because I could not lie on my tilted bed so much, the result is
an increases of my neck problems in 2008, so I am often too dull and miserable to be doing something serious.
After 7 years sleeping on my tilted bed (in 2009):
After 7 years I had to make the bed less tilted.
I reduced it from 10° to 4°.
And I added a slanted board with a top of memory foam to support my lower legs.
I lie on my tilted bed for about 1 or 2 hours a day. And this still helps to reduce my neck problems.
Last change to this page: December 2009