Leesa mattress is a very poor fit for me--suggest an alternative?

[phoenix]

Hi loraxc,

We had been sleeping on an OLD traditional innerspring mattress with a newer memory foam topper. It was WELL past time for it to go (lots of sag), so we tried the Leesa. The first week was okay, but since then I have been having more and more issues. My lwo back has been in a lot of pain (I have occasional recurring back pain, diagnosed as arthiris even though I am only 42, but this is MUCH worse than usual) and I cannot get comfortable during the night. I wake up on my stomach and I am not and have never been a stomach sleeper. I really hate this bed, and I wanted so much to love it! I think mainly I find it too soft and not supportive enough. It feels mushy and squishy. In general, my lumber area feels like it is just sagging/hanging–neither “embraced” my memory foam or firmly supported by an innerspring…?

My husband actually thinks the bed is just fine, even likes it, but I cannot continue with it. I am within my 100-day warranty and plane to return. I would like to try another online “disruptor” bran din approximately the same price range, but am willing to go up to $1000 or so. Note–we have a FULL sized bed, so the mattress is cheaper!

I’m sorry to hear that your mattress isn’t working out as well as you hoped for but at least you had the foresight to choose an online mattress that has a great return policy.

I’m not sure why you are only looking at what I call “simplified choice” mattresses (what you are calling “disruptor” mattresses) since there are many other mattresses in your budget range that would be well worth considering as well but there is more about simplified choice mattresses in general in post #1 here and there is more information about many of the specific mattresses in the “simplified choice” category in post #2 here in the same topic.

–Given my total hate for the Leesa, should I consider something with coils? If so, what?

I don’t make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort” or PPP or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more accurate than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial)or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).

There is also more information about the 3 most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase in post #13 here which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists based on suitability, durability, and all the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you (including the price of course and the options you have available after a purchase to fine tune the mattress or any exchange/return options that are available to you).

Assuming that the materials in a mattress you are considering are durable enough for your body type and meet the guidelines here … the choice between different types and combinations of materials and components or different types of mattresses (see this article) would be a personal preference and a budget choice rather than a “better/worse” choice.

While your own careful testing or personal experience is the most reliable way to know whether any mattress is a good “match” for you in terms of comfort and PPP or how closely it “matches” another mattress … when you can’t test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance is always a more detailed phone conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart and who can help “talk you through” the specifics of their mattresses and the properties and “feel” of the materials they are using (fast or slow response, resilience, firmness etc) and the options they have available that may be the best “match” for you based on the information you provide them, any local testing you have done or mattresses you have slept on and liked or other mattresses you are considering that they are familiar with, and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about “matching” their specific mattress designs and firmness levels to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences (or to other mattresses that they are familiar with) than anyone else.

–Or would I want to look at a foam mattress with a higher firmness rating? In general, I prefer a firm feel…BUT my husband is a slender person (5 ft 10, 135 pounds) and cannot handle a “rock hard” mattress. I am 5 ft 8, 150 lbs.

The most common cause for lower back pain is a mattress that is too soft and based on your description it sounds like your mattress may have been too soft for you in which case it may be worth considering a firmer mattress but having said that I can’t feel what you feel and your own experience is a much more reliable way to assess whether a mattress is soft enough or firm enough than any “theory at a distance”. Sleeping on your stomach on a mattress that is more suitable for back or side sleepers can also lead to sleeping in a swayback position with a hyper extended spine which can result in lower back pain and discomfort when you wake up in the morning.

– I wonder if partly I have gotten used to the feel of memory foam over innerspring and cannot adjust?? If so, is there anything you would recommend?

While it’s certainly possible that your body has become used to a particular mattress … most people will adjust to the feel of a sleeping surface that is different from what they are used to over the course of the first few weeks (see post #3 here). If you are still having pain or discomfort after that then it’s more likely that the mattress just isn’t a good match for you in terms of PPP.

In the past, we tried going to a real=life retailer and could not agree on a bed other than a Tempurpedic, which we both liked but could not justify paying for.

There may be some good quality/value options available to you locally that would be suitable for both of you, that can provide you with good guidance, and that you can test in person before a purchase and if you let me know your city or zip code I’d certainly be happy to let you know about the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area.

Phoenix