Hi Insomnia,
We both prefer a mattress that’s on the firm side but when we layed on a few mattresses the few that we like we’re 5 or 6 on firm scale. I think 5 is not firm but not soft. I know I can’t get up if I am on a real soft mattress ( because of my spinal cord injury, weak core)
Thanks for providing you & your wifes’ Stats;
you are both lower BMI , so you have a lot of options that larger sleepers might not find comfortable. Sorry to hear about the injury to your spinal cord, that must be very uncomfortable, and as I mentioned in my original reply, a too soft mattress causes you to sink in too far and is obviously not an option. Keep in mind ‘5 or 6 on firmness scale’ is only an indication of firmness within that companies internal ‘firmness range’ and so is not a concrete measure, rather it gives a general idea of firmness within that manufacturers offerings. Remover, in the subjective world of mattresses, what one person finds uncomfortably firm, another may find to be too soft. You are the best judge of what firmness works for your personal Stats and PPP.
We sleep on a Serta, It is 3 yrs. old and it doesn’t make either of us sleep well and I am very unhappy but I do have pain, sleep problems
Unfortunately Serta, like many of the ‘big brands’ offer beds with inexpensive foam of insufficient density to provide adequate support…these can wear out quickly and it’s not surprising it’s not working for you any longer after 3 years.
I think a hybrid may be my best choice but I can’t decide and right now I am very busy advocating for cancer and spinal cord injured people
Yes, a hybrid may be a good sleep solution for you both, but there is no way for anyone to tell
you if it will be comfortable. I understand you are busy - and a very admirable use of your time, doing cancer and spinal injury patient advocacy! - and understandable why good quality sleep is essential for you. If it’s possible, setting some time aside to try a few different mattress options, like hybrids, all latex, etc., are really the only way to decide what type you prefer. Once you know this, you will be in a better position to look at the options you have for that type of mattress, either online or in a brick and mortar type showroom.
I am capable of making a decision but need help knowing what is important in a Mattress that could help or hurt my sleep. It’s very important this time that We get a mattress we can get some sleep, I feel like I have been awake for years
As I said in my prior post, it’s always bedt to keep the Mattress Durability Guidelines and Mattress Specifications You Need To Know in mind so you are better able to determine what to look for in choosing a new mattress. You can also read @Phoenix on the functions of a mattress here and an explanation of mattress support and comfort layers here.
I believe you are further along the road to finding a suitable new mattress than you think;
you have seen the downsides of going with the big brands; you have seen how memory foam in such a mattress can have very limited durability; you know you want a firm mattress for both your comfort and support as well as your injury; and you are considering latex, as well as hybrid mattresses (your ‘short list’, in other words). Once you can assess how a latex or latex hybrid feel for you and Janet, you can concentrate on finding the best option based on your needs and budget.
~ Basilio