Mattress to mend a broken back .

JJ_Egan

I am trying to find a mattress that will aid my lower back pains .
Current mattress is one of the very early memory foam topped versions .

Sleeping is difficult on this as for the last six months i have pain from base of spine into the legs shortly after i lie down .
I have lower back disc problems for twenty plus years . In desperation i tried turning the mattress and sleeping on the non usable side .
This has resulted in a better sleep until i wake up in the morning with back muscles very tight and crippled most of the day .

Previous mattress tried over the years have been
Firm dont know what sort > Full Foam as sold by IKEA many years ago > Two week trial recently of two other mattress . One memory foam with foam base and a standard Staples mattress .
No mattress has really aided my spine in the last twenty years .

Have been looking at Memory Foam 2inch double sided with pocket springs or a Latex 2 inch doubled sided with pocket springs .

To go on a firm divan base .
gratefull for any pointers as to mattress suitable for lower back pain .

I was pounced upon in Dreams then visited a smaller beds showroom where the lady was helpfull but gradual pushed me up the range to £800 + mattress . I then did a bit of research and have spent hours reading various posts so i am a bit more clued up than i was at the start of my search for some comfort .

Thanks for any reply .

JJ Egan

Sunnyday

My sister had back problems for years and used to spend a lot of time at the chiropractor, she tried various matresses and could never find one that was good enough.

She eventually ordered from here http://www.intellifoam.com/

I don`t know what she actually ordered but it was a king size super duper all singing all dancing jobby, she got a new base from somewhere else but it was made for a mattress to be inserted into it rather than resting just on top, think it went in about halfway to make the mattress last longer? i don`t know the full details but she was absolutely over the moon, she hasn`t looked back since.

She did say that she waited until they had a big sale before she bought it and got it for half price.

HTH

SD

JJ_Egan

Thanks .
Already proofed that full foam is not good for my back .

Its the choice between pocket spring only , memory foam and pocket spring or latex and pocket springs that i have narrowed the field to at present .



jje

McKneff

Have you tried a full latex mattress.
My duaghter bought one from IKEA and she says its comfortable.

Alternatively, have you tried putting a couple of bricks or something like that under the head of your bed around 6 to 10 inches so that you are not laid flat, presumably the pain you have comes from gravity, (ie lying down) might be worth a try for one night.

Primrose

As somebody who has suffered major lower back problems for years following surgery, I can only comment that addressing your structural back problems may be more effective than trying to find a decent mattress, although I do recommend the John Lewis Hynos orthopaedic bed which has a firmly sprung mattress.
One technique which really works for me, which I read about in the Back Sufferer's Bible by Sarah Keys (think that was her name - she's a well known physiotherapist) is to give you spine a good stretch with gentle traction before going to bed every night.
You get a small pile of books (about 4 thick phone directories would be ideal). Lay on the floor putting your bottom on top of the books. Very gently stretch out your body as much as your can, stretching your arms back to the floor above your head as far as you can. Hold position for no more than two minutes. You should feel gentle traction in your lower spine. This technique decompresses damaged and worn discs and my spine always feels better after I've done it. It is especially effective for helping to reduce sciatic pain.

JJ_Egan

Exercise i know i know i know and i dont i dont etc .
Read all the books even the very first Dr Ciarac .Got one of them horrible back stretchers as well .

Refused back surgery years ago .

Yep tried the full Latex from Ikea years ago . Comfortable yes ( still on the guest bed ) not sure it ever gave me any back relief .

If i can get all the junk off the bed i will try the latex again .

Really what i am trying to decide on now is new mattress with Latex or Memory foam or Plain Pocket springs .
I am sure the memory foam on my bed must be a bit worn after ten years use .

JJ Egan

mary-op

I'm suffering from back problems myself and keep telling myself the mattress we've got doesn't help..........we do need a new one but have problems getting anything thats not very flexible up our stairs.
I think I need more than a mattress........thinking of going to the local chiropractor as well.

ellies_angel

My partner has had 4 operations on his back. Is in constant pain from his lower back down his leg. He is registered disabled because of this. We have recently bought a new bed. A Harrison Sapphire. Cost £1800 but worth every penny. Its not latex or memory foam. The sales person has known Bryan for years, knows his back problem and talked us through the mattresses. This is firm but soft, supporting. He can't just roll over in bed he needs to lift himself slightly to turn. A memory foam mattress would have made this very difficult to do. I appreciate it is (in my words) a horrendous amount to spend on a bed, but for Bryan who lives with pain everyday its the difference between manageable pain and pain which leaves him crippled.

Tim_Deegan

McKneff wrote: »

Have you tried a full latex mattress.
My duaghter bought one from IKEA and she says its comfortable.

Alternatively, have you tried putting a couple of bricks or something like that under the head of your bed around 6 to 10 inches so that you are not laid flat, presumably the pain you have comes from gravity, (ie lying down) might be worth a try for one night.

Ikea latex mattresses aren't actually natural latex. They are synthetic latex, and don't give as good support.

Tim_Deegan

JJ_Egan wrote: »

I am sure the memory foam on my bed must be a bit worn after ten years use .

JJ Egan

It is more likely that the reflex foam under the memory foam has worn out, rather than the memory foam.

Tim_Deegan

ellies_angel wrote: »

My partner has had 4 operations on his back. Is in constant pain from his lower back down his leg. He is registered disabled because of this. We have recently bought a new bed. A Harrison Sapphire. Cost £1800 but worth every penny. Its not latex or memory foam. The sales person has known Bryan for years, knows his back problem and talked us through the mattresses. This is firm but soft, supporting. He can't just roll over in bed he needs to lift himself slightly to turn. A memory foam mattress would have made this very difficult to do. I appreciate it is (in my words) a horrendous amount to spend on a bed, but for Bryan who lives with pain everyday its the difference between manageable pain and pain which leaves him crippled.

There is no need at all to spend £1800 on a mattress. You can get just as good support for less than half that price if you stay away from big brand names, and big retailers.

As long as the memory foam isn't too deep, and isn't too high density, then you should have no problem changing position at all.