Reddit mentions of Rio Home Fashions Twist To Shape Memory Foam Pillow

oh, and for daily life...

1. exercises every day!! Even if you don't feel that great...sometimes it makes you feel better!
   
   
2. Square up before you do ANYTHING. Sounds ridiculous, but I have to square up before I stand, sit, bend over, reach and grab something, friggin' eat, etc...keeping good alignment with core engaged for extra support will help your body keep things where they should be.
   
   
3. Before I stand up, I move my feet around (draw circles?) a couple times, straighten both knees, and squeeze my legs together (my hips now dislocate inward and outward...goodtimes), all to align my joints before I put weight on them. I can't tell you how many times I've just stood up, willy nilly, and dislocated my knee cap/hip/ankle/toe, whatever. so now I just engage all my muscles to get everything where it should be and have many less problems.
   
   
4. I have a serious of things I do ~ 4 to 5 times a day with the joints that fall out all the time. I straighten both legs and arms (get those knee caps/tibias and elbows back in socket!), pop my fingers, push by lower thumb joints back in, pop my neck, twist and pop my back, and check my collar bones. I've made it a routine and find that if I just check all the joints that fuck me up daily and cram them back in, I can often catch them before they cause more problems.
   
   
5. If you can, get a memory foam mattress pad/bed. In my early 20's, my normal mattress would cause things to dislocate while I slept. I would wake up everyday with both shoulders completely out, and if I was lucky, totally numb, but usually intense shooting pain down both that would last almost all day. So I started with a 2" memory foam pad (found on overstock, but that was years ago...usually cheap this time of year!). I eventually increased to 4", then just said fuck it and got a whole mattress. My shoulders rarely dislocate at night now...however it's now my collar bones, ribs, and shoulder blades do regularly, but not a bad as with normal beds.
   
   
6. I have two long and thing memory foam pillows..they're weirdly shaped (http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Home-Fashions-Memory-Pillow/dp/B004G8QCQS/ref=sr_1_90?ie=UTF8&qid=1324246170&sr=8-90 and the pillow with this set: http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Foam-Wedge-Pillow-Multifunctional/dp/B000PJBXMA/ref=sr_1_22?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1324246263&sr=1-22...the wedge is nice too, but that little pillow is my favorite thing ever!) and smaller than most foam pillows. I take these with me everywhere. They really help me keep alignment while sleeping. Also, if I'm on vacation, they help me handle shitty mattresses.
   
   
7. A lot of doctors will give you braces for your joints...while they're inflamed and hurting, that's useful to stabilize them until they're back to normal, but DO NOT wear them constantly! This will cause the joints to atrophy and dislocate more and more! So wear them when you need the extra support, but when they're back to feeling better, focus on strengthening!! I've had doctors tell me to wear them all the time and to not every lift any weights...both incorrect. strengthening (light weights and exercises) should always be the focus! Bracing only to heal and provide extra help when needed.
   
   
8. Watch the weather!! My body reacts intensely to big changes in pressure. I used to live in the midwest and could predict a tornado as good as the weather channel. It's a different pain...it starts with an aching deep in my pelvis, then radiates up my spine and down my legs. From there my joints either: get so unbelievably lose and I dislocate fucking everything (~10 an HOUR...full body!) or incredibly tight and tense. I have since moved to the west coast, where the pressure changes are more subtle, and I don't have near the full body reactions I used to. Took me YEARS to figure out why the hell I'd wake up and my body would totally different...usually the weather (and food for some people). I figured it out by being a scientist about it and taking data points...a diary with daily joint issues, weather, food you've eaten should help you understand some of the trends and prepare for/avoid particular situations.
   
   
9. Learn not to hate your body! I cuss at my bastard-y joints all the time, but when I dance, I <3 it! Find something you love to do, that is somewhat active, and learn to appreciate what your body is capable of doing, instead of focusing on what it can't do. For instance, I found that because my small muscles are constantly twitching to keep things in socket, I have amazing small muscle control. I can totally pop and lock because of it! (check out my vids! http://www.youtube.com/user/amirahfusion) I've invented my own bellydance fusion with popping and waving styles of hip hop. My silly joints have given me a special power! I hope you can find yours :)
   
   
10. Try to stay optimistic!!! Look, I know it's hard with a degenerative joint disease...but we each can choose if we want to be optimistic or not. I find that having some hope/faith in science keeps me at least looking forward to my future, even though I know it will be filled with complications. I try to enjoy and be thankful for the now...what I can and am able to still enjoy.
    
    
11. Also, medicinal marijuana over opiates for me! (getting my card in a week, yay!). I can't do normal pain killers anymore. Opiates make me puke EVERY time (and dislocate a variety of things while doing so) and I got an ulcer from NSAIDS. Honestly, pot really helps me not just handle my pain, but enjoy my damn life. It's better than being addicted to some opiates and out of it all the time. Since switching to pot, I have gotten a masters and Ph.D., as well as started my own bellydance club/troupe. I started enjoying my life again, which is so important!
    
    Whew, that was a lot! Please feel free to ask me any other questions...I'll let you know if I think of more! :D