Blog

As we age, aches and pains often become part of our lives. If you ask anyone over 40, they’ll probably tell you that something always seems to hurt somewhere—and those aches are usually present to some degree every day. Conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia as well as nerve damage and injuries that fail to heal properly are common causes of chronic pain, which is defined as pain that lasts three to six months or longer.

It’s important to speak with your doctor if you’re experiencing any kind of pain, particularly if it’s new to you, because sometimes persistent pain can have a more serious cause that requires immediate medical intervention. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Unfortunately, many people just assume that nothing can be done for those normal aches and pains that come with aging, so they simply grin and bear it. But it’s worth noting that chronic pain can actually impact your mental health too. Pain that interrupts your everyday life, perhaps causing you to miss out on things you enjoy, can lead to feelings of frustration—and possibly even make you anxious and depressed.

Living in a constant state of anxiety is certainly unpleasant, but the problem is that it can also potentially make your pain seem worse. Studies have shown that when you’re depressed you tend to feel like you hurt more, so it can become a vicious cycle of pain and frustration.² That’s why while ignoring pain may seem like the mark of a strong and stoic person, it really doesn’t make much sense in the long term—for your body or your mind.

If you’re fortunate, a healthcare provider can give you a diagnosis and help you manage chronic pain with a combination of physical therapy and medication. But is there anything else you can do on your own to help keep those aches at bay?

In fact, there is. You can sleep on it.

People who experience chronic pain often notice that a good night’s sleep seems to help alleviate the severity of their symptoms.

But what if it’s pain that’s actually making it difficult to sleep? It’s a fair question; chronic pain certainly can impact your ability to sleep, which then raises stress levels and makes you feel those aches more acutely.

Sleep solutions

If pain is keeping you up at night, it’s time to examine how you sleep. Specifically, what you’re sleeping on. The quality of your mattress, pillows, and even the blankets you use can definitely play a role in whether or not you sleep soundly or toss and turn in agony all night long.

No bed solution is going to completely cure your chronic pain, particularly if the underlying reason is related to a medical condition, but there are certainly ways to help you sleep better and with less discomfort.

Look for a supportive mattress that has a pressure-relieving sleep surface. The Yogi Mattress from Ultramatic is a great option. A layer of 972 pure NanoGel™ coloumns on top conforms to the natural shape of your shoulders and hips, keeping your spine properly aligned. This unique gel technology combines the strengths of memory foam and pocket coils to reduce motion transfer, relieve sensitive pressure point, and dissipate heat.

Pair your mattress with an ergonomic pillow. The TechnoGel Anatomic Pillow provides superior support for those who suffer from neck or shoulder pain and sets you on a path to pain-free, restful slumber.

But of course, your mattress and pillow are just one part of the equation. An adjustable bed that can physically adjust to improve comfort and reduce pain is a powerful tool to have in your arsenal.

A frame like Ultramatic’s Sunshine 1.5 is a perfect entry-level option for those considering an adjustable bed. It allows you to quietly and smoothly raise your back and feet to help with blood circulation and breathing. And, by elevating your legs, the bed enables you to relieve pressure off your back.  You can adjust the bed to an infinite number of different positions and find the position that relieves the most pain.

Many chronic pain patients struggle with tense muscles, and so an additional way to relieve the pain is to use massage.  The PosturePlus 4.5 adjustable base is an affordable upgrade from the Sunshine 1.5, and has a built-in 5-program massage function.  Massage can help to release the tension in the muscles, in turn relieving pain and increasing relaxation.  Depending on the tightness of your muscles, you can customize the massage with three different intensity levels.

Besides the hips, back and muscles, chronic pain can exist in other parts of the body.  Other common areas include the shoulders, neck and lumbar.  Ultramatic’s top-of-the-line adjustable bed utilizes innovative design and packs sophisticated engineering in the frame to address these parts of the body.  The Supreme 9.5 Adjustable Bed has a total of 4 motors to better provide targeted neck and lumbar support.  Together with it’s Wall-Gliding™ mechanism that reduces strain when reaching for your bedside table, the Supreme is the ultimate in total body customization and pain-relief.

Once you’ve chosen your mattress, frame, and pillow, it’s time to get snuggly with therapeutic blankets: use heat therapy to help with chronic pain.  If you have a problem with cold feet, poor circulation in your extremities, restless leg syndrome, or general aches and pains, a heated blanket like the Ultramatic BedWarmer can help you take control of your nighttime comfort with warm, soothing heat.

The need for a good night’s sleep is so important as we age.  Doing all we can to achieve the best possible sleep is the key to alleviating the aches and pains with which we may be living.