Dear Andrew, hi everyone,
After a minor car incident four years ago I ended up with a progressive hip arthrosis (because in this trauma the sacroiliac joint, pelvic angle, and consequently hip angle were distorted). My lumbar spine was also affected (two herniated lumbar discs) and in short – the pain in the groin/hip gradually worsened until my other hip also started suffering and the spine condition (as well as cartilage) progressively deteriorated (among other things I developed a severe lumbar lordosis in an enchanted circle of continual pelvic forward tilt due to pain in the hips/groins). Various physiatrist and orthopedic medical specialists were unfortunately of little help, and chiropractors, osteopaths and numerous other alternative/complementary methods did little to ease the pain. In the incident/trauma, some muscles, tendons, ligaments apparently got strained, torn and ended up continually inflamed so I took to taking more and more painkillers – the only way to temporarily ease the pains which would naturally recur shortly afterwards. My walking got seriously impeded, no hip rotation, just plain forward walking with a painful limp and a forward-tilted body – I looked like a lady in her 80’s (I was 44 when the incident happened and at my 6 feet height had been upright and fit as a fiddle). Eventually I decided to give up on painkillers and other medication and ended up taking only cartilage supplements to somewhat ease the inflammation and pain, with walking reduced only to basics.
Determined to try out any method I come across, in January 2017 I learned about IBT and immediately had a carpenter adjust the bed, inclining it by 10 cm (3.93 in.) to begin with. I slept inclined at 10 cm for four weeks and after a first night or two there was significant improvement in my posture - I straightened up, my lower back muscle pain lessened and I could stand relatively straight. Hip joint/groin pains persisted but the relief in my lower back itself was good enough to start with, the overall water retention and swelling subsided, as did my gastritis. Overall I felt much lighter at first, however some ten days into the incline some of my previous symptoms came back, as my body slouched again due to back pain and the severe hip arthroses pain returned. So, a month into 10-cm-IBT, I decided I had outgrown this height and inclined my bed for additional 6 cm (16 cm=6.3 in., at bed length of 200 cm this is slightly above a 4-degree angle) and have been sleeping at this inclination for six weeks now. It also feels natural, and there is now a different kind of tenderness and pain in my body, most probably due to spine and fascia traction and resulting muscle and other tissue elongation from waist down.
However, this angle/incline seems to be an inappropriate for me: namely, the water in my body started accumulating again (swelling in the face, thighs, and elsewhere in the body has returned) although I still drink much water and urinate on a regular basis; Most importantly - and this is primarily what I want to consult you about - about a week into 16 cm (6.3 in.) the skin on my feet, ankles and shins started feeling extremely dry and itchy, with red spots on ankle joints and small sores from compulsive scratching (I stopped scratching but the itchiness remains). Soon afterwards a constant pain/pressure deep within the lower leg veins developed (phlebitis?) and I notice the veins on my legs from thighs downward are much more visible and pronounced, bulging around the ankles and on the feet. Initially I ascribed this whole “vein issue” to some sort of cleansing of the arteries which would eventually be cleared out of the body but this condition still persists and I’ve had the deep-vein pressure/pain for a month now accompanied by slight feeling of inflammation (however with no redness, swelling or other outward signs besides the surface itchy red spots on ankles). It may be rampant circulation in the lower legs causing the pressure (I had been diagnosed with the neuropathy of lower legs) which would eventually normalize but was wondering if you have some thoughts or experience from someone else to share, or advice to ease my mind. I therefore concluded that this specific angle of the incline was not beneficial for me and I’m seeking for the right angle (thank you, Andrew, for sharing the website which quickly calculates angles!). If you think it would be beneficial - I will increase the incline by 1 cm, to reach approx. 17.5cm (6.88 in.), which the online calculator says is a 5-degree angle. By no means do I intend to quit IBT, but am grateful for any advice you may give me.
I must note that I’m a smoker, drink a unit of alcohol a day (a glass of beer or wine with meal) and work in an office sitting all day, walking only short distances due to inflamed hip joints.
If you or anyone has any experience, thoughts or advice re. all this I would appreciate it very much! Also regarding osteoarthritis – I’m hoping for some major improvements there with time so if there’s any good news to share on that front kindly post them.
And last but by no means least - I would like to sincerely thank you Andrew for sharing this revolutionary method with us all, I deeply believe (and feel) this is the way to reach and maintain good overall health. I’ve been passing the information on, advising people to incline their beds and see what happens.
I look forward to sharing my further health improvements with all.
With appreciation and best wishes,
Radmila