Is there a magic brand that exists for chronic pain?

[phoenix]

Hi santamonicagal,

Welcome to the Mattress Forum!

First, thank you for your time and expertise…I’m truly grateful to get steered into the right direction on our heavenly hunt for comfort.

You’re very welcome.

I’ve read extensively through your helpful articles relating to the durability components to look for (higher BMI need 1" or less of padding to avoid breakdown) and so forth.

I’m not sure exactly where you read this particular piece of data, but that generally wouldn’t be correct. Heavier people in general will need firmer and thicker comfort layers and firmer support layers than those who are lighter and because no materials will last as long with much higher weights the quality and durability of the materials and components is even more important than normal. Post #3 here has more information and suggestions about higher BMIs that is worth reading.

We do not want another memory foam, however. We miss the ease of movement you get from an innerspring. I find that shopping for a mattress is a lot like “process of elimination” as it helps to know what you don’t want! The bed runs warm and I don’t like the sinking feel and find it very hard to move around.

Being able to reposition is a key component of achieving deeper stages of sleep, and many people do find that memory foam “sleeps warmer” for them, so avoiding a product using similar material for your next mattress is probably a good idea based upon your comments.

But the biggest issue is my chronic body pain I’ve lived with for over 18 years. I have a goodie bag of ailments in my spine, cervical and lumbar both, plus hip pain and overall arthritis, stiff-stiff all the time, achy and tender. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find the “Magic Mattress”. But, I’d be happy with moderate firm to firm and with something that provided a healthy alignment so I could rest deeply.

I’m sorry to hear about your multiple issues. Unfortunately, there is no one “magic mattress” that works to address so many issues – I wish there was! The best you can do is find something that tends to not exacerbate your current issues, uses good quality materials, and provides both good support and adequate comfort.

Firm to moderate firm (you mention in a post if you’re undecided between two moderate firm and firm, go for firm.) I think you mention this because the durability will be longer without the extra padding to breakdown over time, correct?

Not necessarily. Everyone’s definition of “firm” and “moderate firm” are of course different, but sleep ergonomic research will generally recommend if you’re “flipping a coin” between two comparable products and one has a slightly firmer surface comfort than the other, then you should lean toward the slightly firmer item, as over time all foams soften a bit and you’d always have the option to choose a plush topper to create more surface comfort. Between support/alignment and surface plushness, they’ll generally recommend to prioritize the former.

Sampled a “Monterra” Aireloom King and it felt great. Both in Firm and Firm plush. The plush was nice because of the tufted quilt surface and it felt luxurious. But, would be afraid the plusher one wouldn’t last as long due to my heavy husband. ?
The sales rep told me they have an “Atlantic Dream” in the warehouse that was never sold (still in the bag) and could sell it for 50% off. This is a $4700 mattress he’d give us for $2175 with a 100 day free trial, no restocking fee, we’d just have to spend the “credit” with them if we returned. I’m leaning towards this idea…but wonder, is the Atlantic Dream really like the Monterra model (just a different year, the rep tells me.) We are fearful of accepting a mattress site unseen. What do you think?

If you’re looking to stay local, I’m guessing one of the reasons you’d want to consider something is that ability to be able to sample it in person, so I’d be leery of something sight unseen (and no specifications) that is “similar” to what you tried in person. You stated you’d done quite a bit of reading on the site, so you’re already familiar with the fact that you can’t feel quality or durability and that the only way to objectively evaluate any product is to learn the details of what is on the inside of the product, so make sure that you find out the information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase. Aireloom is unfortunately not generally forthcoming with complete details about their mattresses, but if you’re able to procure that information about the mattresses you’re considering and post it here I’ll do my best to comment upon that information.

You mention this is a brand to avoid and I have a photo of the specs but is that not enough info to go by? See attached photo.

Unfortunately, the photo provides little meaningful information about the comfort materials within the product.

There’s also an extra firm version of the exact same he could also do for the same price (another unused return). Would you go for the firmer of the two, given my husband is heavy and if after time, I think it’s too stiff, could always put a topper on it?

I’m not clear how a mattress could be an “unused return”. It doesn’t make sense that someone would purchase a mattress, not sleep upon it, and then return it. I’m not aware of the ability to determine whether or not a mattress would be comfortable by simply looking at it. :huh: But regardless, without knowing the complete specifications of the product, “discounted” or not, I would consider such an item a risky purchase and something to avoid.

What’s your opinion on Sleep by Number? They feel ok, nothing like the Aireloom but the duel adjustability is interesting.

You can see some of my general comments about air mattresses here. While any mattress can be a good match for a specific person because each person’s needs and preferences or the criteria that are most important to them can be very different … in general terms I would tend to avoid them unless there is a very compelling reason that an airbed would be a better choice in “real life” (outside of the many “marketing stories” that you will hear about them) than the many other options or types of mattresses that are available to you.

Is there a magic brand out there and WHAT BRAND DO YOU SLEEP ON?

I sleep upon a latex mattress, although that should have absolutely no bearing on what you (or any other member of the forum) should choose. And no, there is no “magic brand” out there.

Phoenix