smokey, when angel duke, a really good dog, was getting slow and his arthritis was painful, i got a hollow core door, stapled a carpet runner on both ends and laid it on the stairs like a ramp so he wouldn't have to use the stairs. and as more time passed, i put the big bed on the floor for the last few months. suprisingly, a firm matress boxsprings helped my back for a while.
glad to read you're doing better, princess peanut sends tail wags.