Mattress recommendations for back pain?

[jmbar2]

It's time for me to replace my mattress. I have some disc deterioration at L4-5 and piriformis. Mattresses have gotten incredibly expensive and complicated.

I like foam mattresses, but they break down too quickly. If I'm going to spend a lot, I want it to last. I'm thinking of a good quality spring mattress for longevity and stability, with a high quality topper for softness.

Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

[multigraincracker]

1. I like to go to the library

and read Consumers Reports on big items.
We love our Select Comfort, but did cost $2,500.

[jmbar2]

5. I bought a subscription just to research mattresses

Learned a lot about how to shop for one. But when I look at actual consumer ratings, they're all over the place.

Thanks.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. My gf just got a Purple Mattress.

It is a compressible rubber type matrix construction. It's like sleeping on a cloud. Really like it.


https://purple.com/mattresses

[qazplm135]

4. Depends

On the firmness level for purple. I got a 2 and it's definitely not a cloud. It's a little weird in fact, it always feels like you are at the top of hill. But you are supposed to give it thirty days to adjust so I'm going to wait and see if my body adjusts.

[jmbar2]

6. Thanks for the rec

Purple comes up as a top choice in many reviews. Nice to hear it from a member of the DU family.

[forgotmylogin]

16. I can second that Purple is something different.

I can't afford one, but my girlfriend had it, and I found it impossible to get into an uncomfortable position. Even rolling sideways over my arm, the mattress got out of the way and my arm wasn't compressed. And the pillows are *glorious*. Their special sheets are stretchy and very comfortable but drape almost like a liquid, or heavily weighted silk (but are not hot like silk). The way the sheets stretch they cling to your body but don't confine in any direction. It's definitely unusual and not quite like a regular or pure memory foam mattress.

The only slight issue is if you're near the edge, it's can be easy to roll straight off because you can't feel where the edge is, and the waffle structure gives away with little resistance as you roll across it.

[OAITW r.2.0]

17. I boticed that about the sheets. Very stretchy, in both directions. Like no other bedsheet

I have slept in. They kind wrap around you, takes awhile to disentangle.

And I 2nd your thoughts on the body compression. When I sleep too long in one position in my bed, some body part always goes to sleep (not always the brain)....bad circulation, I guess. But don't have a problem with that mattress.

[forgotmylogin]

18. Yeah, the sheets are outrageous...

It's like they melt onto you and then cling, and it's not unpleasant since they don't restrict your movement due to the stretchiness, but then you do have to peel yourself out of them on occasion!

[flying_wahini]

3. Beauty rest firm (but not hard core), with a pillow top.

Divine.

[jmbar2]

7. Thanks for the suggestion

I trust the views of folks here on DU.

[IcyPeas]

8. I regret buying a pillow top.

You can't flip the mattress.

I find it hot.

It's a Serta Perfect Day. Got it at Macy's.

[jmbar2]

12. Thanks for the insight

Not being able to flip means a shorter lifespan.

[nitpicker]

9. As someone with a long-standing back issue

My mother a long time ago put the 1-inch plywood panel in between mattresses, put eggshell foam on top, them the underpadding and then the bedding.

Works so far...

L5/S1

[jmbar2]

10. That's the approach I'm thinking

The underlayer needs to not sag. The top layer needs to be comfortable.

I've been looking online for what hospitals and nursing homes use. One I'm looking at is
https://www.phc-online.com/Acute_Care_Mattress_p/geo-matt-ultramax.htm

It seems to cover a lot of requirements, plus much cheaper. I'd also put it on a solid surface.

[MOMFUDSKI]

11. Our latex foam

is probably eleventeen years old and it is GREAT and has never compressed even an inch. We have a trailer we go to in Wisconsin for the summer and the sister-in-law gave us their foam mattresses for the bed in the trailer. So we have both houses with box spring and latex foam mattress on top and they both feel exactly the same so there is no adjusting when we switch houses spring and fall. They are the best as far as we are concerned. Both beds are 2 twins put together with king bedding on top. Learned that trick from my mom. Reason is she weighed way less than my dad and with the 2 twins put together the lighter partner doesn't roll toward the heavier as would happen on one solid mattress. I would recommend a latex foam to anybody. One more thing: There is a latex foam factory in Milwaukee where we purchased a latex foam twin size for quests at the trailer. You can check that out depending where you live and if there is an outlet for that. Good luck on your purchase.

[jmbar2]

13. Thanks - I'll check that out.

latex has been recommended by a lot of review sites I've seen.

[jcgoldie]

14. My wife wants that sleep number really bad

She likes it soft and I like it firm. With that $2800 I'm running out of excuses not to...

Thanks Joe Biden!

[jmbar2]

22. Yipes! It had better be good for that price!

[csziggy]

15. After my back surgery my husband bought an adjustable bed frame

Actually, he bought two extra long twin frames. He sleeps flat, I raise the head of mine slightly. With these, there is no box spring. The bed frame has a solid, segmented top and the mattresses are on that. Both mattresses are traditional spring type but made for adjustable bed frames.

My husband got two firm mattresses but mine has a pillow top - which I HATE. It's too floffy and at night it's hot, plus with the pillow top it makes it too high for me to get into bed easily. Next time I get a helper, I'm switching mattresses with him and will let him sleep on the pillow top for a while.

[jmbar2]

21. Thanks for the info

I slept on a pillow top at a guest house and know what you mean.

[Coventina]

19. We've been pretty happy with our Tuft & Needle

We have it sitting atop our old box springs.

We both have back trouble (me more than he).

He's very happy and I'm reasonably happy. I think to be more comfortable, we'd have to spend a LOT more money - like Sleep Number money.

For the money and the generous return policy, it's hard to beat T&N. But, I would advise anyone to try it out in a showroom first.
What works for one person's back may not work for another.

Good luck!!!

[jmbar2]

20. Thanks for the rec

That one is showing up a lot in my research.