Bob, I use a standard foam mattress overlay that I buy at Walmart. It seems to work ok for me, but I still have to turn myself at night. It does provide some pressure relief though, as I can tell a difference when I don't use it. I'd be happy to talk to you more about it, but what I've written above is about all I know on the subject. :)
However, I have a friend who found a clever [I think] solution: He cut a square out of his twin mattress where his tailbone would be and inserted a Roho cushion into that cutout square, so his butt is on the Roho cushion at night. He tells me it works well. Of course, that would only work with certain kinds of mattresses. Don Price On Sunday, May 18, 2014 8:53 PM, Lissette Whitehead <[email protected]> wrote: Since I've been injured (8 years) I've had an intelli-gel mattress topper and I just love it. It's super comfortable. I sleep on my back all night, I never get repositioned and I've never had a sore. It also never loses it's shape. Lissette Whitehead 416 W. San Ysidro Blvd. San Ysidro, CA 92173 www.lwgripgloves.com ________________________________ ________________________________ To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Do you use a mattress overlay From: [email protected] Date: Sun, 18 May 2014 23:21:42 -0400 I have a foam mattress topper, but it's not the waffle type. I just started using it about three weeks ago. I also put pillows under my calves to keep my heels elevated. I also put a pillow under my back to keep my tailbone off the bed. I still do it even with the overlay, because I'm afraid of taking it out and risk my ulcer opening up again. I once used an air mattress, but I felt like I was sleeping in a life raft and it made me very claustrophobic. It also made it impossible for me to sit on the side of the bed so I stopped using it. My insurance will not pay for me to get an alternating bed. I was recently in the rehab for a few months and I had a Roho overlay. It worked great for me. The mattress that was on the bed when I arrived was definitely too hard for me to lay on, so they added the Roho overlay and I used it until the day I left. I was thinking about getting one for my bed at home, but the prices were too steep for me. C-4 quadriplegic since July 2, 2005 due to Transverse Myelitis -----Original Message----- From: wheelchair <[email protected]> To: rhvshark <[email protected]>; quad-list <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, May 17, 2014 4:07 pm Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Do you use a mattress overlay An inexpensive, but effective overlay is the EHOB, made in Indianapolis, IN. The waffle cushion and air seat cushion is ok for some. Best Wishes In a message dated 5/17/2014 2:16:13 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Does anybody use a mattress overlay, > >I'm doing an article on mattress overlays. In my early days as a T10 para, Medical routinely paid for >a a foam egg crate overlay to help prevent pressure ulcers. Over time I stopped using them, but these days >my skin is getting more sensitive--case in point, I sleep with a pillow under my calves to keep my feet >elevated so there is no pressure on my heels. > >Do you use a mattress overlay? If so, what kind?--foam egg crate? Air pump driven overlay? >Variable Alternating air pump driving overlay? Gel overlay? Roho overlay? > >If you use one of these what do you like, or dislike about it? > >And, is it OK if I contact you for more information? > >Thanks in advance! > >Sincerely, >Bob Vogel > >
