Hi Cajen9669,
While it’s not really possible to “diagnose” mattress comfort issues on a forum because there are too many unique unknowns and variables involved that can affect how each person sleeps on a mattress in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) or any “symptoms” they experience … there is more about the most common symptoms that people may experience when they sleep on a mattress and the most likely (although not the only) reasons for them in post #2 here.
There is also more about primary or “deep” support and secondary or “surface” support and their relationship to firmness and pressure relief and the “roles” of different layers in a mattress in post #2 here and in post #4 here that may also be helpful in clarifying the difference between “support” and “pressure relief” and “feel”.
These posts are the “tools” that can help with the analysis, detective work, or trial and error that may be necessary to help you learn your body’s language and “translate” what your body is trying to tell you so you can make the types of changes that have the best chance of reducing or eliminating any “symptoms” you are experiencing.
While the most likely reason for hip pain is a mattress that is too firm … it’s also possible that a mattress is too soft and your hips are outside of their neutral alignment which can also lead to hip pain because of ligaments or muscles that are “stretched”. It’s also possible that it could be related to your mattress protector or a mattress pad you are using or to the foundation you are using under your mattress and are some suggestions in post #2 here that may be helpful.
It’s also possible that your “symptoms” are unrelated to your mattress because if your hip pain only happens occasionally rather than on a more frequent basis and isn’t a “pattern” in how you are sleeping on the mattress then it increases the possibility that there are other causes for your hip pain as well that may not be connected to your mattress.
If you have a bad back then I would be very cautious about choosing a mattress that is too soft because it’s relatively easy to “fix” a mattress that is too firm by adding a topper but it’s much more difficult to “fix” a mattress that is too soft because it would normally require removing and replacing any comfort layers that are too thick or soft or replacing a support core that is too soft … or replacing or exchanging the mattress.
In the end, and since you are the only one that can feel what you feel on the mattress … you would be in a much better position than I am to decide on whether your mattress was either too firm or too soft and deciding whether to keep your mattress or return or exchange it would really be a matter of “best judgement”.
I would also be worthwhile to have a more detailed conversation with Christeli so you can take advantage of their experience with other customers over the years that are in similar circumstances and that have experienced similar “symptoms”.
Overall though , if you have a history of back issues I would prioritize support/alignment and making sure that a mattress that isn’t too soft for your back over comfort/pressure relief issues.
Phoenix