I’m an 84 year old male, 5’-4", 145 lbs, in reasonably good health but suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis, scoliosis, hip and rotator cuff issues, gerd, diverticulosis, deviated septum, chronic sinusitus all of which bother me primarily at night. I sleep inclined and am most comfortable on my left side with a pillow between my knees but can only stay in that position for 2 or 3 hours. I recently puchased a highly recommended (by CU and a friend) Doctor’s Choice (in firm at my orthopedic surgeon’s recommendation) and a Brooklin Bedding 3"Talalay topper with no wool (wool makes me itch and can be odorous). I seem to be bottoming out on my hips and shoulders and the good lumbar support in the DC doesn’t seem to transfer thru the Talalay when I try to lay on my back. So my comfort level is only marginally better than my 13 year old Beautyrest (also recommended by CU for side sleepers). I’ve discovered sleeping on an inherited 30 year old Stearns & Foster felt better than either. I also bought a Boyd adjustable bed (with incline feature) with hopes that if I could raise my legs I might be more comfortable on my back thus eliminating the hip and shoulder issues. Unfortunately the Doctor’s Choice does not lend itself to adjustment despite the fact that their specs indicated that it was suitable for an adjustable bed. I can still return it but where should I go from here?
Thank you for sharing your experience. Managing a combination of spinal stenosis, scoliosis, and joint issues while dealing with respiratory and digestive concerns like GERD and sinusitis requires a very specific type of support. It is quite common for orthopedic recommendations to lean toward a firm mattress, but at your weight of 145 lbs, a standard firm bed can often lead to the exact hip and shoulder pressure issues you are describing.
As a chiropractor and mattress designer for over 25 years, I have seen many patients struggle when a mattress is too rigid to allow for proper contouring. When you add a separate topper to a very firm base, you often lose the benefit of the underlying support system because the materials aren’t working in tandem. The result is often bottoming out through the topper onto a surface that is too hard, which doesn’t allow your spine to maintain its natural curve.
The Back Science Series 2 Hybrid is designed to bridge this gap. It provides a luxury-firm feel that offers the structural integrity needed for spinal stenosis and scoliosis through our patent-pending Lumbar-Flex zoned support. This system provides a specific lift in the mid-section to keep the spine neutral, which is essential when you are sleeping at an incline to manage GERD or sinus issues. Because the support is built into the mattress core rather than added on top, the alignment transfers correctly whether you are on your side or your back.
Regarding your adjustable bed, many high-coil-count mattresses are not built with the flexibility to move with a power base, which leads to the “bridging” effect where the mattress lifts off the base. The Series 2 is engineered to be fully compatible with adjustable systems like your Boyd base, allowing it to contour perfectly to the incline positions you need for comfort and health.
The pressure relief for your rotator cuff and hip issues comes from our buoyant Hypergel surface. It provides the pressure-free sensation of a plush bed without the sagging or trapped feeling often found in traditional materials. One of the most important features for your situation is our GripLock modular cover system. If the feel isn’t exactly right for your hips or shoulders, we can perform a comfort customization by swapping out internal components at no cost. This allows us to fine-tune the mattress specifically for your back and joint needs without you having to return the entire bed.
We offer a 365-night sleep trial to ensure you have plenty of time to see how your body adjusts to the new support levels. You can find more information about the technology at www.BackScience.com. If you would like a more in-depth discussion or a personal sleep consultation to go over your specific physical requirements, please feel free to call us directly at 800 667-1969.
As a member of The Mattress Underground, you can use the code TMU10 at checkout for an additional 10% discount.
Dr. Rick Swartzburg, D.C.
Founder and Head of Product Design
Thank you for your response, I will certainly consider your product.
Hey fflockckd,
I know that @BillyIdol has a BS2 and loves it, perhaps he will chime in with his experience with it. It is a popular mattress for folks who have targeted issues and just a super comfortable mattress regardless of issues. Hopefully, you find something that resolves your issues.
Maverick
I do have an adjustable base to go along with the BS2. BS2 is great in every way! Great pressure relief with support with zero sagging. You cant go wrong with BackScience.
Dr Rick is a great guy and he can help you!
John
I’m not an expert, just a human who sleeps on a mattress, but it sounds to me like your mattress is too firm for you, hence the shoulder and hip pain. I love the analysis from Dr. Rick although I am not familiar with his product and not endorsing it. Personally I sleep on 100% latex, it’s soft enough to cushion my hips and shoulders and firm enough to support my back.