Mattresses for sore backs

[mtbc]

Some of my father's family have lower back problems. I have to be careful with mine, being careful about how I lift, and sitting with good lumbar support. I've done fairly well over recent months but sometimes I awaken with a moderately sore back and it improves over the morning. My current mattress is basically a large block of firm foam with a memory foam topper.

I wonder if I should get a different mattress. But, they are expensive things, and it is not obvious which ones might be a worthwhile improvement. I probably won't make any immediate changes while I ponder the matter.

Comments

[gerald_duck]

Speaking personally, I have three main observations concerning mattresses:

1. If there are two of you in the bed, get a frame that takes two single mattresses instead of trying to find a double that suits both of you. (The Scandinavians are good at this.)
   
2. Get a bed that's large enough. I'm not tall, but I find myself having to sleep with legs bent unless the mattress is king-size. OK, sometimes I choose to sleep with legs bent, but it's good to be able to stretch out when I need to without getting cold feet.
   
3. I prefer pocket-sprung to memory foam. Memory foam seems to inhibit turning over in one's sleep, and doesn't adapt quickly enough if one does. That and it's a bit hot and clammy.

[mindstalk]

"If there are two of you in the bed, get a frame that takes two single mattresses instead of trying to find a double that suits both of you. (The Scandinavians are good at this.)"

Ooh, I didn't know that was a thing.

But I have similar fears to the OP. I'd happily pay $2000 for 20 years of good sleep, but what if it isn't?

And over Christmas I got to observe... I was visiting, and sleeping on the 6 year old's twin mattress she doesn't use. Wasn't perfect but decent; I got some pains, but that might have been the inadequate pillows. A few times everyone else was gone and I had the house to myself, and had been invited to try my friend's 'real' bed, but when I tried I never stayed for long. Super firm, especially if I was on my side as normal.

[mtbc]

Firmness is another interesting question. When my father's back is at its worst he cures it by sleeping on a surface harder than any mattress. I found mst3kmoxie's mother's bed in her previous house comfortable but mst3kmoxie found it far too firm. Still, perhaps I ought not thus assume that firm is what I need.

[mtbc]

I do sometimes have my feet hanging out over the bedframe, perhaps less when there is a cat around who might like to play with my toes. The tip about pocket-sprung is interesting; I had simply assumed that memory foam is better, perhaps wrongly. I can identify with the awkwardness in turning over, I now have to somewhat lift my body into the air in doing so, and I am not sure that my wrists like it.

[aldabra]

My mattress got rattily old and uncomfortable, so I swiped Kathy's spare (she has a triple sleeper), which was new and shiny.

Over the next three months my pelvis seized up such that I couldn't walk normally.

I reverted to the old ratty one (on top of hers, which makes it less uncomfortable), and now I can walk again.

My conclusion is that the dominant theory that firm mattresses are good for your back assumes that a) you're male and/or b) your edges are straight. Possibly c) you sleep on your back. I'm very glad indeed that I didn't just go out and buy one.

But I've subsequently gone and lain on them in a bed shop, with someone to assess how straight my spine is, and it turns out I can feel which ones are too firm because they put pressure on my thigh. I haven't quite got around to buying one yet, but I'm going to go for the middling memory foam. (And if that doesn't take, a significantly more expensive one the details of which I forget, but I'm not going to start with significantly expensive.)

[mtbc]

Ah, yes, it's this spine straightness question that make me unsure about firmness. But, I haven't noticed any memorable pressure. I am overweight, but I sleep on my back quite a lot, though I do turn about too.