Hi Jill71rdh.
You bring up a good point that it would be unrealistic to expect that there would be a “magic bed” that can be perfect for all sleeping positions. (I wish there was!) Those who sleep in multiple positions have the challenge to assess for themselves and learn to discriminate between the effects of the firmness choice for any given sleeping position as it relates to themselves. It is true that sometimes it can be difficult to untangle the mixed body messages and feelings as they relate to mattress needs and preferences, but you are already seeing a clear improvement and with a few more experiments you could get a clearer picture, or at least have an educated guess as what you can realistically expect.
I’d start by determining which is your primary sleeping position (that you sleep in most of the night). It would be quite difficult if not impossible to find the “sweet spot” that matches all 3 sleeping positions …. many people in your situation seek to train themselves switch away from prone sleeping and sleep only on the back and/or side.
Switching to a different sleeping position will certainly change the requirements for any component and for the overall mattress. It would probably be easier and better for you if you could gradually transition from a prone sleeping position to a side and/or sleeping position. As you may be aware, stomach sleeping is the worst posture for your lumbar region, regardless of your core strength. Those that don’t have a firm enough sleeping surface to keep them in good alignment could end up in a hyperextended swayback position which can cause back issues. Your combination sleeping makes it even more difficult to deal with (than when you slept prone only) since the 3 different positions have different basic support/comfort requirements. It is important to have a topper that does not subtract from the support and firmness you need when sleeping prone but that adds enough comfort to address the “hip and shoulder pressure pains” you are currently experiencing when sleeping on your side. Also, you’d need to assess the thickness of your pillow under your head when sleeping upon your side, as this often has to be a bit thicker than what you would have been using when sleeping upon your stomach. For your stomach and side sleeping position (hopefully, you’ll train yourself to gradually switch to a side sleeping position) you may wish to review the guidelines in this Sleep Positions Article so that you avoid hyperextension in a swayback position that can cause back issues.
[quote]Their soft is ILD is 19. Also, you said the natural would be more springy and supportive while the blended would offer more pressure relieving. Which is better for pain in hip and back? Support or pressure relieving?
Or are the natural and blended so close that it won’t make much difference? If that is the case, I will go with blended as it is more durable for a top layer.[/quote]
There is no one material better than the other it all depends on the many variables involved in the choice (body types, sleeping styles, preferences, physiology, age, health conditions, sensitivities, special circumstances etc) to use any formula, specs (either yours or a mattress), or “theory at a distance”. Different sleeping positions are part of what determines how deep a cradle you need and how thick the comfort layer should be. This, in turn, affects the type of support layers that will be appropriate. The layers underneath this comfort layer can help with pressure relief for those who change positions and with thinner upper layers or can be primarily focused on preventing you from preventing your heavier parts from sinking down too far with thicker comfort layers. Of course, your weight and body profile will also make a difference in how far you tend to sink in and how deep a cradle you need in your mattress so for more on your “statistics”, and how they can affect your choices you can read this article here.
As I mentioned in my previous post …. there is no meaningful difference in terms of firmness between the blended and natural for the same ILD ratings from the same manufacturer and process. Different test results show only slight variations between NR vs blended for same ILD and I have not found any scientific evidence to support that one is softer than other… this depends on the type of SBR that it is compared to and on the additives that are used in compounding. The general consensus is that NR is bouncier and springier than blended and that the blended/’SBR is more durable.
I am afraid that the comments above can serve only as pointers and can give some of the general facts that you’d need to know but the experimenting necessary to assess the causes/effects of any of your choices are incumbent upon you because nobody can feel what you feel on a mattress/toper combination nor do they have your specific needs or preferences and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique only to you.
Phoenix