Best mattress for bad back?

[Guest guest]

Hello, group.

I'm relatively new here and wanted to get some opinions from folks who should

know.

I have two herniated disks in my lower back and one in my cervical spine (neck).

They pretty much " came to life " about 9 years ago (I'm 64 years old). The worst

time of day for me is usually right after waking up after a night's sleep. It's

hard for me to get a " good night's sleep " since my back pain wakes me up after

about 5 hours or so - and that's on a GOOD night. I can get back to sleep after

some difficulty, but generally cannot remain in bed for much over 8 hours. I

sleep mostly on my back, occasionally turning on my side, especially after

waking up the " first time " . I absolutely cannot sleep on my stomach - it feels

very uncomfortable to me and I can't breathe properly, either - feels like I'm

choking.

I've long thought of buying a new mattress in hopes that it would alleviate at

least some of my pain. I have heard and read wildly varying opinions about

whether it would make a difference. My spine doctor believes that it might be of

some help, but that the pain is mostly caused by lying immobile for hours in bed

and that if our mattress is fairly new and in good condition (it's a queen-size

Serta Perfect Sleeper, almost 7 years old), a new mattress won't make much of a

difference. The physical therapists to whom I have spoken have said that the

right mattress can make a big difference. Like most everything else, it seems,

there is no one *correct* answer for everything or everyone.

The mattresses that I have looked at are all quite expensive so if I do decide

to get one, I want to at least have some assurance that it will do the job. I've

looked at the usual suspects on the Internet - Sleep Number, Tempur-Pedic,

Comfortaire, ComforPedic by , Bob-O-Pedic - and also the Cuddle Ewe

mattress topper that one person had posted about on some group years ago. All

have their supporters and detractors.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this topic from those of you " in the

trenches " .

Steve

[Guest guest]

Hello Steve -

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my Tempurpedic! I can't sleep well on anything else. You

mentioned your mattress is " relatively new, " but seven years is actually pretty

old for a standard mattress. They shouldn't last past 10 years. A Tempurpedic

is expensive initially, but if you can afford the investment, it pays off in the

long run - they last 20 years or more. The Tempurpedic also has a trial period

so that you can return it if you don't like it, so that helps alleviate some of

the risk.

BTW, you mentioned that you sleep on your back - that's one of the worst

positions for someone with lower back disc problems!! If you want to be on your

back, get a large pillow (or better yet, two!) and put them under your knees so

that you're almost in a " sitting " position laid down. The best position is on

your side, but with a pillow between your knees. There are companies that sell

pillows specially designed for both of these positions also.

Hope this helps.

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

--- " slatus2000 " wrote:

>

> I've long thought of buying a new mattress in hopes that it would alleviate at

least some of my pain.

[Guest guest]

I'm going to pipe in here too with a plug for a Tempurpedic. I've been in pain

for more than 20 years and sleeping is always an issue. So, was getting up. It

felt like I'd been hit by a Mack truck every morning. I never really thought a

bed would do much of anything for me, because I have RSD. Still, when my husband

and I went to get a new bed, he insisted I try out the Tempurpedic. I didn't

know what I thought of it in the store. They feel hard as a rock and I hated how

expensive it was. We don't have that kind of money, I said, but my husband

insisted that if it helped it would be more than worth it and that I deserved

it.

I can't say how thankful I am. I sleep so much better and I don't wake up sore

all over. I don't post often, because I haven't found a lot of things that have

helped over the years, but this did improve the quality of my life, so I want to

add my two cents to all that Cheryl said below.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Darcy

Cheryl wrote:

> I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my Tempurpedic! I can't sleep well on anything else.

You mentioned your mattress is " relatively new, " but seven years is actually

pretty old for a standard mattress. They shouldn't last past 10 years. A

Tempurpedic is expensive initially, but if you can afford the investment, it

pays off in the long run - they last 20 years or more. The Tempurpedic also has

a trial period so that you can return it if you don't like it, so that helps

alleviate some of the risk.

>

> BTW, you mentioned that you sleep on your back - that's one of the worst

positions for someone with lower back disc problems!! If you want to be on your

back, get a large pillow (or better yet, two!) and put them under your knees so

that you're almost in a " sitting " position laid down. The best position is on

your side, but with a pillow between your knees. There are companies that sell

pillows specially designed for both of these positions also.

[Guest guest]

Moderator's Note: I slept on one of these matresses when I was home in north

Western Canada. It was incredibe! Hard to find in the US though. Lyndi - now on

to Carl's helpful post!

-------

Carl writes: I know of a a mattress that can help. Named the Lily Dream X, it is

a Japanese product approved by the Japan Health Science Authority as a

therapeutic medical device.

If you can afford it, why not?

Carl

[Guest guest]

I love my Beauty Rest.

Ellen

[Guest guest]

Just two nights ago at a Holiday Inn Express I slept on a Serta Perfect

Sleeper mattress called the International Continental Emerald. It was firm

but soft at the same time. Really a wonderful mattress for me--nothing like

the nasty Sealy whatever I have at home which needs to be replaced.

I do think the ideal firmness or softness of a mattress probably depends on

each individual.

Sorry if this doesn't help much.

e.h.

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the pillow recommendations, Cheryl! I have been

sleeping with a pillow under my knees, but it's a small one, not at all

suited for the position you describe. I will try a larger one tonight

and see how it goes. The one I've thought of using is a big thing that

looks like it has handles on each side. I think it was designed to watch

TV while sitting on the floor or in bed.

I've also tried the pillow-between-the-legs thing (again, with the small

pillow), but I don't feel comfortable doing it for an extended period.

It just gets hot and annoying after a while, and I wind up tossing it on

the floor.

And that's another vote for the TempurPedic! I've read where some people

find them too hot and that is a concern I have. I do like the trial that

they give you so that's a point in their favor.

I've had two people (one a physical therapist) tell me that they love

their Bob-O-Pedic, which is a TempurPedic clone, but then I've also read

where several people have complained that they absolutely hated it. If

these things (TempurPedic, etc.) were less than $1,000, I'd just go and

get one, but the prices are a little rich (OK, a LOT rich). I feel like

I should take out a mortgage to finance it! If I knew for a fact it

would help me, I would still go for it, but it's so hard to know which

one is THE one.

Steve

Cheryl in AZ wrote:

> Hello Steve -

>

> I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my Tempurpedic!

> BTW, you mentioned that you sleep on your back - that's one of the

> worst positions for someone with lower back disc problems!! If you

> want to be on your back, get a large pillow (or better yet, two!) and

> put them under your knees so that you're almost in a " sitting "

> position laid down. The best position is on your side, but with a

> pillow between your knees. There are companies that sell pillows

> specially designed for both of these positions also.

>

[Guest guest]

I can't afford a temporpedic so I have a fosters bed with 22 inches of memory

foam and 3 layers of regular foam on top of that. I don't use the box springs

cause my dog Booger has a hard time getting up on it, but it is awesome! Because

the foam acts just like a temporpedic without the cost.

I've even went to stay at others houses and was able to fold up all

the foam and take it with me. Just an alternative version that works for me!

Good luck!

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl, and Steve,

 

I have lumbar disk problems that also make my legs hurt and painful to touch and

walk.

Yes, I have had 2 MRIs and xrays, but no surgeries, my Oregon OHP Plus won't

cover things I need. 

 

I can't lie in my back like you mentioned Cheryl because of my DDD and sciatica,

synovial cyst, etc.  I use a firm Queen size pillow between my legs and change

sides as much as possible.  I am in chronic pain to say the least.  I am almost

49yo (Jan 24th) lol...I buy those heat patches from Walmart that come in a box. 

I can't think too well as I am in too much pain so will end this for now.

 

Glad you love your bed Cheryl! 

 

I hope you feel better Steve    Pillows are great and electric heating pads

are good too. Got to keep moving, walking a little too...ug....lol.... 

 

Gentle hugs and hang in there.  Sleep on your side if you have lumbar problems,

jmo    Coleen

[Guest guest]

I personally have a lot of back and leg pain as well. I actually have a

couch in my bedroom because I can sleep better against the back of it,

propped up by its form, than I ever can sleep on a bed.

[Guest guest]

Overstock.com has memory foam mattress topper on sale. Might be the

cheapest way to test a tempurpedic type bed. Also I can relate to sleeping in

the living room. I like a recliner that rocks; if I can find just the right

reclined position and can rock a little at the same time, I can get downright

comfy.

Problem is the chair is at my cousins house in a different state and my

recliner doesn't rock. I got the Lady Lazy Boy.with the handle inside the arm

near my leg with a stationary ottoman. Not quite the same.

Ellen

[Guest guest]

i have RSD and i love my temperpedic, when my 94 year old father stays with me i

let him have downstairs bed, i must really love him to give up my bed

Jane

> wrote:

> I personally have a lot of back and leg pain as well. I actually have a couch

in my bedroom because I can sleep better against the back of it, propped up by

its form, than I ever can sleep on a bed.

[Guest guest]

This won't solve all problems, of course. But I've heard that egg crate

is good. Maybe it's especially good for Fibromyalgia. Good luck.

I sleep in a lazy boy chair. It helps me.

[Guest guest]

When we stayed at a hotel years ago for a couple of weeks, we had the

king-size Serta Perfect Sleeper mattress on our bed and I found that it was

great for my back. That's why we bought one (queen-size) when we needed a new

mattress - it's the one we have now. It was never the same as the one in the

hotel, however.

> e.h. wrote:

> Just two nights ago at a Holiday Inn Express I slept on a Serta Perfect

Sleeper mattress called the International Continental Emerald.

[Guest guest]

A moderate amount of walking is usually not a big problem for me,

although extended walking for a distance can be difficult since the back pain

shoots into my left leg. Once that starts, I have to rest up.

I do sleep on my side, usually switching there from sleeping on my back a few

hours before getting up in the morning. It's hard to break old habits - sleeping

on my back is just the most comfortable for me and I go to sleep more easily in

that position.

> Coleen wrote:

> Got to keep moving, walking a little too.

[Guest guest]

Another vote for the TempurPedic.

I'm all too familiar with the " Mack truck " syndrome that you describe. Mornings

are the worst! I've always hated getting up early in the morning anyway (I'm a

night person) and the back/leg pain gives me yet another reason to despise doing

so.

Of course, my wife is a " morning person " .

> Darcy wrote:

> I'm going to pipe in here too with a plug for a Tempurpedic.

[Guest guest]

Hard to find any info on it. I did see a posting by someone who wanted

to get one " for his client " , who was going to spend $7,000 for it (US

dollars? I don't know).

> Moderator's Note: I slept on one of these matresses when I was home in north

Western Canada. It was incredibe! Hard to find in the US though. Lyndi - now on

to Carl's helpful post!

> Carl writes:

> I know of a a mattress that can help. Named the Lily Dream X, it is a Japanese

product approved by the Japan Health Science Authority as a therapeutic medical

device.

>

> If you can afford it, why not?

>

> Carl

[Guest guest]

Hmmm. One I have not heard about. So many mattresses to choose from.

> Ellen wrote:

> I love my Beauty Rest.

[Guest guest]

Moderator's Note: Siouxmoore, you are using the posting process correctly.

Looking forward to your questions and input. Hugs,

> Siouxmoore wrote:

> I’m not sure I’m using the mail the right way. Could you (or someone)

respond to this e-mail and let me know if it’s getting out to people.

Thank you.

siouxmoore

[Guest guest]

Steve,

We just replaced our 9 year old Serta pillow top mattress because it had

developed two pretty deep indentations in the shape of our bodies! Hubby

claimed it was killing his back. With my chronic back/leg pain due to herniated

disks of 8 years duration, I was afraid to change anything. It was a case of

better the devil you know than one you've never met!

With all the big sales right before Christmas, we gathered up the newspaper ads

and schlepped out to find a new mattress. We ended up at a bed store called

" The Mattress Firm. " Hubby was pretty set on getting a TempurPedic even before

we left the house. Once in the store I checked it out and was concerned about

how firm it seemed. But with a 100 day store return policy, I decided to give

it a whirl.

BEST DECISION I'VE EVER MADE! Yes the bed feels firm at first, but after a few

minutes it kind of forms around you. I no longer wake up in pain due to

pressure " hot spots " and I'm less stiff/sore in the morning. Both of us have

experienced a reduction in back pain.

Many here have mentioned the high cost of the TempurPedic. To tell you the

truth, it wasn't much more than a regular pillow top mattress. The sale price

was only $499 for a queen mattress and box springs. The queen pillow top on

sale next to it was marked $399. So if you're serious about trying one out --

and I really hope this encourages you to do so -- watch the ads because they may

be a lot more affordable than you think.

Hope this helps!

-Kathy in AZ

I would appreciate any thoughts on this topic from those of you " in the

trenches " .

Steve

[Guest guest]

$499 for a TempurPedic? Wow! I have not seen a price for anywhere near that

anywhere I've looked. Even the Bob-O-Pedics we looked at were more than that.

On their own website, the lower-end TempurPedic (Tempur-Cloud) twin-size is

listed at $1,099. I would expect that the manufacturer's website would always

have the highest prices, but that is incredible.

You did good!

> Kathy wrote:

> The sale price was only $499 for a queen mattress and box springs

[Guest guest]

Anybody go for an adjustable bed like the Craftmatic? I never really

thought about that option, but noticed it mentioned on a mattress

website that it was good for those with back problems.

[Guest guest]

All,

I agree the temperpedic is good but I looked at that I had to make position

changes and went with the Sleep Number. My Sister has the temperpedic and I was

concerned about it losing shape over the years because of the composition.

I encourage anyone looking to lie on each one for at least thirty minutes at the

store. I have to disagree about lying on the back position, my physical

therapist states whatever position is comfortable, lie in it. Bridging exercises

for back and disc problems are done on the back and some people have Sacral

Iliac problems with back problems and putting yourself in a sitting position

puts pressure on your SI joint, sciatica and piriformis muscle.

Placing pillows under your knees puts more pressure on your back so that doesn't

seem possible in my situation. I lie in the fetal position as Cheryl states and

it does take pressure and I move my knees up to open up the vertebral spaces as

I also have stenosis ( closing of spaces) and it helps.

Pillows ordered online seem good but I have found with the variety of pillows at

stores, they are the same. The body pillows for fibromyalgia are good as they

are long enough to keep pressure off.

This is why I like the Sleep Number as when the pressure is on my back I can

lower the number and it takes the pressure off as my back is not the same all

the time and has more inflammation than other times.

The one thing I missed was adding the positional function to move the bed up and

down but my bed has over ten pillows and I work with it. As I said, lie on them

for a while at the store.

There are so many payment plans now there is certainly something that can be

done. I think the salesperson said if you get a prescription from your doctor,

they knock off some of the pricing.

There are temperpedic pillows also that help with neck problems. I do not regret

choosing sleep number but like temperpedic also. If you cannot afford the

mattress, start off with the mattress pads that have memory foam that you can

put on top of your bed and they come in several inches. Bennie

[Guest guest]

Hi

I haven't posted in quite some time. I'm 38 with mild cerebral palsy, as well

as chronic nerve pain in my left arm, hand, and fingers with weird nerve

sensation down the left side of my back. I have a lot of muscle spasms as well

as very tight muscles everywhere. My back, neck, and hips are especially tight.

I was waking up so tight I felt like I needed someone to literally break me in

half.

Several months ago I got a new bed and it has been the best thing ever! Here is

a link to the bed (there are some different choices depending on your needs):

http://www.thesleepdoctor.com/the-dr-breus-bed/index.html

It was developed by a sleep doctor. If you click on the link there are full

descriptions of the mattresses and the technology behind them. When I lay on my

bed, I literally feel like I'm floating, with no pressure being put on any part

of me. I have never been more comfortable in bed! I cannot say enough good

things about my bed! It's a bit pricey, but all of the really good mattresses

are and this one is worth every penny!

[Guest guest]

>

> Anybody go for an adjustable bed like the Craftmatic? I never really

> thought about that option, but noticed it mentioned on a mattress

> website that it was good for those with back problems.

>

The TempurPedic also has an adjustable version. It adds to the cost, but I wish

now I had invested in it. I spend most my nights propped up on pillows, and it

would have been nice to be able to adjust the bed instead.

Cheryl in Az

Moderator