How do you get good sleep?

I switched to decaf two years ago, and only drink three cups of that a day. Same with decaf tea, but I don't drink even decaf within a few hours of bedtime. And I don't watch anything on evening TV that requires any brain power, or anything that stimulates my mind; cartoon network only (Bob's Burgers, American Dad, Rick & Morty).

Hi that is a good question. So many of us in this community have trouble sleeping. In my case it is a never-ending flip this way and flop that way to find a position that is comfortable on my hips and knees. Is it pain that is causing you not to sleep well? If so, is it one particular part of your body hurting more? I ask because then we can try to find articles that might give you more information. Vickie, Team Member

As I have aged (62) more joints have become affected. Osteoarthritis has joined the PsA. They are presently hitting my knees and hips. Half of my spine is fused. I would like to know what kinds of beds, mattresses, creams, support pillows and hacks people are using. I’m thinking that people have found some good ways to get better sleep.

A word on mattress recommendations; don't go cheap, and don't stick with an old mattress. Too many of us have often succumbed to the temptation to buy a cheap mattress, figuring that since most mattresses are basically made of the same stuff, they're mostly pretty equal to one another. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you sleep on a full/queen, you should expect to pay $500 and up on a good mattress. Personally, I've never cared for memory foam mattresses. Look for a mattress that is made with padding on both sides so that it can be flipped every six months to avoid sagging. Many of us with PsA will have trouble flipping a large mattress on our own, so try and work it out with your spouse, kids, or a neighbor, if necessary. I live in the Kansas City metro area, and therefore am fortunate to be able to shop at Hawn Bedding, a locally owned (since 1946) mattress manufacturer with a showroom near me. Avoid shopping at places with "warehouse" or "outlet" attached to their names. And definitely avoid places that sound like they're owned by someone who used to have a used car lot. It is an unfortunate truth that, as with most things, you get what you pay for when buying a mattress. And a good mattress is going to set you back quite a bit. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for when to replace a mattress; 7-10 years is typically the expected lifespan. And I'm willing to bet that quite a lot of you out there have mattresses that have exceeded that.