I am 63 years old, 5’8” and about 120 pounds. I have lots of lumbar pain, sacral pain and facet joint problems. I also have several bulging and herniated discs in my neck. Forgot to mention that I’m a side sleeper.
After trying many mattresses, I think I have finally figured out what I need to sleep comfortably and not wake up in pain, but I don’t know if it exists.
I think I need a mattress that provides lots of lumbar support, but that is soft and plush for the top third of the mattress because of my neck and shoulders. I need to be able to sink into the mattress for my upper body, but if I sink into the mattress anat my hips and lower back, I’m in terrible pain. Does it matter such as this exist?
I would say give the nest and wild hybrid a try. Its 12" tall, the top 4" is made of custom formulated foam that the owner makes in the factory, and the bottom 8" is a very high quality texas pocket springs quadcoil. It’s 12" tall and the top 4" are his specialized comfort layers.
Now that I am getting more of a complete picture of what is happening and the specific issues you are dealing with, @BackScience, particularly the Back Science Series 3, may have some very worthwhile solutions for you to explore. The designer, Dr. Rick Swartzburg, is a practicing chiropractor who has spent years focusing specifically on spinal alignment and mattress design for people dealing with chronic back, lumbar, cervical, and joint related conditions. This type of situation is really his specialty.
What you are describing is actually very common with lighter weight side sleepers who also have lumbar instability or disc related issues. You need enough surface plushness for your shoulders and upper body to relieve pressure and avoid aggravating your neck and cervical area, while at the same time maintaining firmer and more stable support through the pelvis and lumbar region so the hips do not sink too deeply and pull the spine out of alignment.
That balancing act is where many conventional mattresses fail because they are either too soft overall, which can aggravate lumbar and sacral pain, or too firm overall, which creates pressure problems in the shoulders and neck. Some of the better engineered mattresses use zoning, specialized coil designs, or progressive layering to create a softer cradle for the upper body while still keeping the midsection more level and supported.
Not to say that many of our Trusted Members may not also have viable solutions, because several do specialize in highly customizable builds, but in your case it may be especially worthwhile to speak with manufacturers that have experience working with very specific spinal and orthopedic issues rather than simply selecting a mattress based on firmness alone.
At your body weight, material choice and layer construction become even more important because many mattresses simply do not compress the way they are intended to for lighter individuals. That can create pressure points even on mattresses marketed as soft. A good manufacturer should be able to guide you toward something that provides enough pressure relief for side sleeping while still maintaining proper lumbar support and pelvic alignment.
I’m currently sleeping on the back science mattress you’re describing. And my problems are exactly what you described. I guess I need to talk more to Rick.
Back Science definitely offers that specific zoning section that makes it softer for the upper portion of your body, in comparison to the firmer middle, so I would definitely want to speak to you further to figure out if we just need to add additional zoning or if you possibly are one of the more minority of customers that is not working well with the current zoning that works so well with the majority of customers. I don’t have your personal info from this forum, but please email us or give us a call and I will be happy to schedule a time to go over this with you.
Thanks!
Rick
Dr. Rick Swartzburg, D.C.
Founder and Head of Product Design
I am 5’5" and 115 lbs. I have a latex mattress with 3 layers (S/M/F). I have a weak back and it definitely provides lots of lumbar support, my back never hurts. I have a soft layer on top but it is not plush. I do not have any shoulder or hip pain. I tried many variations and this ended up being the best out of all the options. There’s a part of me that would love to have a plush top, but I didn’t find one that ultimately was comfortable enough. I sleep very soundly and without pain.
Sorry about that, I think I saw on another reply that you are using talalay on top! Still curious if they are all 3” layers and still not using a cover for them
yes, 3" layers with Talalay on top. I tried it without the cover but it must have felt too soft for my back because I remember that I felt better with the cover zipped up.
