Firm mattresses for those with lower back issues?

Buster_Danog

I am confused on which mattress to buy. My sister has a king sized Ikea one which she paid about £500 quid for and it seems to be very firm. However, I came across some advice on the internet that claimed the Ikea long term guarantee on mattresses is not so good.

Anyway, due to a lot of lower back discomfort in the past I need to know which brands are best and what the pros and cons are as in having to turn the mattress over, ventilation etc.

What kind of long term warranties can I expect if I spend hundreds of pounds on a mattress? Ikea offer something like 10 or 15 years, but someone told me they are unlikely to honour it. I heard Which? done a study on mattresses but I don't have access to their paid website.

Anyway, essentially I am in the market for a large mattress and one of those low profile beds without slats (don't know what they're called). I have no idea on this one.

jenniewb

I have an Ikea mattress. I got it almost 9 years ago now and it was around £350 for a double back in 2004. It's a sprung mattress and I made sure I tried the mattress first before purchasing, you can do this in their stores as you may well know.

I also have lower back issues and find my bed is fine for me. Obviously I'd love a specially made or Tempur mattress or similar, but short of winning the lottery that wont happen! What I can say though is now 9 years on I really don't see any reason to get a new mattress, the Ikea one I still have hasn't broken down or become saggy in the middle. If I had to look for a new one I'd still use Ikea as an option.

Buster_Danog

Do you have to turn it over every so often? I heard that is another issue, but that might just be memory foam come to think of it. I'll have a look at Tempur, but I don't want to spend too much either.

Pinkypants

If you have lower back issues I would say that a firm mattress is NOT for you. If a mattress is too firm then your lower back will get very little support. Imagine lying on you back on the floor your shoulders and bottom take all your weight with your back not touching the floor. i.e not getting any support.

The firmness you need can only be determined by you, you need to try them and find out which ones really do support your back, normally the softer mattress WILL offer better support.

There is a massive difference from a mattress that is supportive and one that is just FIRM.

Pocket springs have been and are still the best.

gleek1

Agree with post above - I was told in John Lewis that firm matresses are really only for very heavy people. I was told that when you lie on your side your shoulder should sink into the bed and that should shouldn't really need a pillow or should only need a thin one because when your sholder sinks in your neck should be just about straight. If you are light/average, you will not have enough weight to 'sink into' the bed and be supported.

FWIW - after buying that mattress we are sooo much comfier in bed so the advice worked for us!

Racheldevon

If you have back/joint issues then I would check with a physio who's treated you / or other health professional. Personally as someone who a chronic joint condition, I really value there opinion over a sales person in a shop who isn't qualified to assess what might be best for your particular medical needs with your back. There is conflicting advice about the tempur ones - I know many physios and OTs suggest they't not always great for joint problems as you can end up fixing in one position as such

I do know that Dreams offer a one month trial as my brother's just bought a matress and they said if he wasn't happy after a month he could return and exchange it for a different one.

Buster_Danog

Oddly enough my lower back issues have been aggravated by mattresses that are not firm. For the last few years I had a think Ikea mattress which is actually on the floor. That and a pillow under my lower back is my usual way of sleeping and along with the gym tends to keep any pain away.

My concern with Dreams or any other brand, is that if I buy a mattress and it is OK for a year, but it loses its firmness / support then I am left without a warranty. This is why I am after a brand name that is a quality mattress. I guess Ikea offer some kind of a warranty so I could just look to them. I like my sister's mattress.

Pinkypants

Racheldevon wrote: »

If you have back/joint issues then I would check with a physio who's treated you / or other health professional. Personally as someone who a chronic joint condition, I really value there opinion over a sales person in a shop who isn't qualified to assess what might be best for your particular medical needs with your back. There is conflicting advice about the tempur ones - I know many physios and OTs suggest they't not always great for joint problems as you can end up fixing in one position as such

I do know that Dreams offer a one month trial as my brother's just bought a matress and they said if he wasn't happy after a month he could return and exchange it for a different one.

Most physio's just recommend a firm bed!

I know I have spoke to enough of them in the past whilst doing research. They may know about the make up of the spine, but they don't know how beds are made.


Sergeant Troy your mattress may not have been firm, but if it was a cheapish Open Coil type then there would have been insufficient springs to offer you correct support. Ikea do not sell good mattresses. Yes you should have been turning your mattress EVERY month, either over or just around (if a non turn).

A double sided mattresses IF turned every month will outlast a non turn mattress, but if you don't turn your mattress very often then I would go for a Non Turn kind.



As for which brand is best they are over 100 different brands. Are you looking for the rolls royce of mattresses, a good old ford or vaxuall?

Or best value for money, best life span?

Go for a brand if you want to pay for their Massive Head Office, company cars, sales reps etc........

Buy from a smaller less advertised brand and you'll get much better for value for money.

Their are quite a few makes that offer a 10 year warranty.

Dreamworks, King Koil, Kaymed 10 year Warranty.

Sleepeezee 5 year guarantee.


Top End Products.

http://www.hypnosbeds.com/index.aspx

http://www.vispring.co.uk/

http://www.harrisonbeds.co.uk/

Prices I'm guessing £800 upwards from this lot. Just for a 4ft6 mattress!

http://www.mattress.co.uk/blog/worlds-most-expensive-mattress


Or just plump for the best bed in the world a WATERBED, they are used in hospitals for burns patients to help prevent pressure points. No pressure points thus means proper support, as the whole body not just parts of it, are being supported equally.
Non turn, no noise and permanently heated!

Katiehound

I have a lower back problem and my osteopath would not recommend a firm mattress.

If you want to read the Which? report on mattresses there may well be a copy you can look at in your local library.

Buster_Danog

thanks guys. I am still undecided on this but will look in more detail at the links later. I did buy a lesser known brand which was a supposed orthopedic mattress from hotukdeals a few months back. It was awful. Everyone who bought them tried to send them back. I think that was Yorkshire beds or some similar name. There are terrible mattresses out there from smaller companies. My sister had her mattress since 2007 and her and her partner have been sleeping on it since late 2009. They both say it is great. I'll keep looking.

Pinkypants

There are terrible products from all sizes of companies, just not mattresses. But if you pay a reasonable amount for a mattress you WILL get better value for money with the smaller companies, as they have smaller over heads.

Purchasing from the likes of hotukdeals or groupon will not result in a great product, they are very good at marketing rubbish to make it LOOK like a bargain.