Bed rails

[Cosyjimjamsforautumn]

Not really a elderly parent issue, but wondered whether anyone in this section has any suggestions?
DH has had MS for over 30 years and now uses a wheelchair, shower chair, hoist etc. Recently he’s been having problems with semi-falling out of bed 3 or 4 times a night due to his legs going into spasms (he takes high dose medication for this). We want to find a bed rail that will go underneath a mattress an iron bedstead on a double bed. We’ve tried one before but the metal bars feel lumpy under the mattress and makes it uncomfortable for him to sleep. Our local OT visited and was couldn't suggest anything else. Does anyone here have suggestions for brands of bed rails that might work and are not lumpy under the mattress? Or do we need to resort to hiring a hospital bed (would rather not do that yet)?

Could you put a large flat sheet of plywood under the mattress and over the bedrails?

Have borrowed a neighbours bedrail that she used when her DD moved from a cot to a proper bed. Seems to work, though i have to let him out in the morning

Would a bolster pillow down the side of the bed be enough to keep his legs in? Like a larger version of using a pool noodle for children.

I think my mums bed rail straps onto the bed rather than having bars, but I can't find one online atm

If your OT can't recommend bedrails suitable for your bed as it is, there is unlikely to be one that's safe, robust and recommended unfortunately. They are usually first in the know.

I wondered about your comment about hiring a hospital profile bed , as if your ( LA/NHS) OT recommends one s/he can order from local joint NHS stores, if you are UK.

I'm sure you already know this, but they can be raised/lowered and moved in middle/back for support , to assist with transfers and comfort, so sometimes they increase independence. And standard bedrails fit well with these. I totally understand that it is a big step to take though to say goodbye to double bed.

An alternative is crash mat for the floor? Is the issue him hurting himself by falling or the difficulty in getting back into bed once half out? I have to be honest though, that 3-4 times semi falls out of bed /a night/ is an awful lot. It must be very tiring for both of you and I'm so sorry to hear that DH's spasms are causing such a level of sleep disruption for him.