Lower back pain/pelvic tilt /mattress suggestions

Used to have Dormia, was great for a few years then developed a "dip" that created discomfort. Switched the mattress with a Serta that was on the bed of one of the unused bedrooms (adult kids out of nest years ago). Found the Serta be to great! Just the right amount of firmness, including at the edges so I don't slide off when trying to climb into bed. Had given thought to getting a new mattress but this Serta has been wonderful. No more back pain, wonderful support. Sometimes neck and base-of-skull pain but I've had that on and off for eons, so it's not the mattress. The Dormia was a steal years ago when our daughter was marketing designer for the company, down in D.C. No way we would have paid the retail price that it was selling for at the time (Queen Size $4200). With her discount, the total pkg including delivery came to just under $400. Personally, I feel that the brand and others like them are way overpriced and overrated. So confusing to assess each of the brands, and I am grossed out at the prospect of lying down on any of them to "test out." 😳

Pelvic floor exercises are very specific and a urogynecologist specializing in that was highly recommended to me several years ago. Unfortunately, she had an aggressive hubristic personality that was a huge turn-off. I felt so small while sitting across from her (she was at her desk, with assertive body language and clip-toned voice). Prior to that specific office visit, there had been in-office tests and then I had to keep a journal and measure urine output for a week. Bottom line, as highly recommended as she had been, I could not deal with the lack of empathetic understanding and her dismissal of the transvaginal mesh that had been implanted by a male urogynecologist a few years prior. (That mesh was a source of pain as well.) To top it all off, her office was at a distance from our home, with a round-trip travel time of 70 minutes (and someone else was transporting me, plus the time spent in the office, adding another 60 minutes on average). So I did not return.
Since that time, I've researched the topic, the strategies employed, and what to ask/look for when choosing professional help for dealing with (and ameliorating) the manifold issues of pelvic floor disfunction/pain. There are now three physical therapy sites (one within a major medical center) that have therapists focused on the dynamics of the pelvic floor and how to target the specific issues as well as the overall aspects of PFP (pelvic floor pain). Again, that medical center is at a distance, presenting a problem for me since I have anxieties about highway/parkway/long distance driving and don't have another means of getting to that center. Yes, I've looked into modes of transportation but the logistics and the cost are additional stress factors. Another PFP center is scheduled to open within the next month or so within a 12 minute drive, one town over, all local roads. I can manage that, so I'm scouring all the info that I can find on their credentials, etc.😊

Kagel exercises are incorporated within PFP strategies but they are NOT encouraged for patients (whether male or female) who have Interstitial Cystitis (which I had diagnosed in 2010). Talk about a conundrum! 😳
I also am dealing with lumbar area disc and nerve problems as well as spinal stenosis, so these factors circumvent specific movements/positions that can and do aggravate pain and problems in those areas. Gee-gads!

Presently, I am searching for an In Network physiatrist, for several spine, CNS, PN, and chronic pain issues. So grateful for the insurance that I have. And grateful that I'm retired because all of this is horribly time consuming!

So my journey continues...🤔...and I hope you have success in obtaining the attention and medical help that you require.

I use Sleep Number bed, set at 35. It’s been a Godsend for me. My back hurt badly before switching. We sprang for the bed frame setup to have kind of a hospital like setup. I highly recommend.

Thank you for the info that you've shared. Must be wonderful to have your back pain relieved!
Is your Sleep Number bed a specific "style"/name?

The memory foam mattress was not a good experience for me and we returned it. While working with a p.t. He suggested a lumbar support pillow for my back and I LOVE it. I even travel with it. I got it on Amazon. It has made all the difference in the world.

If your current physical therapist is good and she is helping you, stay with her and pay out of pocket. I have a different issue that needs PT. After several months of no help I finally found an excellent physical therapist who specializes in my problem. Unfortunately, he also does not take insurance. I’m 75 and decided my health and well being is worth the cost of paying $70 for a 30 minute session once or twice a week.

I have severe spinal stenosis at L4/L5 and had shooting sciatica pains. I did a training and began following the Gokhale Primal Posture method. I’ve been pain free for a few years now.

It’s called a C4. We sprang for the base with adjustable head and foot and because if very cold feet we also got the foot warmer. Good luck, I know what back aches do.

An excellent, knowledgeable, and effective physical therapist is GOLDEN in my book. After having been with the 4 centers located within a stone's thrown from our home (and not finding them at all to be fulfilling my PT needs), I am attending a more distal center where one in particular is outstanding. He's helped incredibly with the knee issues and is presently addressing my very traumatized ankle/foot. If you have found YOUR "golden therapist" do stay with that person. Although I still experience difficulty with my knee and ankle/foot, the pain levels have dropped significantly, making daily life so much better. I have not hesitated in expressing my gratitude to my therapist. Wishing you success and less pain in your future!🌺

Can you give info on what you mean by "did a training" and what is the Gokhale Primal Posture method? Or at least links to where I can read about these two points? Gracias.