Hello there. For additional context I weigh around 190 lb/86 kg.
Historically I have only ever been able to sleep in one very awkward side sleeping position (on either side). I have tried so hard to transition to sleeping on my back but my scoliosis just doesn’t agree. A few years ago I tried the Helix Midnight. My experience with that mattress was it lacked adequate support while also causing minor pain in my shoulders. The second mattress I tried was the Sealy Posturepedic Plus Highpoint. I chose the firm feel. In the store I was convinced that I loved the feel of the mattress and the support it provided. My rational at the time was that it felt easy enough on my shoulders that it would be a great option for either side or back sleeping. So as it turned this mattress was awful for my shoulders worse than the Helix Midnight. For a while I still had the hope that somehow I could train myself to sleep on my back. To buy some time and relief for my shoulders I went through 4 different mattress toppers. I have been forced to admit finally that this was bad decision. I can’t return the mattress and I need a new mattress ASAP. Minus the shoulder pain I still think I liked the High Point, something about the general feel. I am tempted to try the plush version but it’s just really expensive. Should I try another bed-in-a-box or are they just not as high quality for joint relief + support? Any suggestions? Thanks.
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Hey CantSleep5000.
Welcome to our Mattress Forum. 
Sorry to hear you’re having some shoulder pain. When someone has shoulder pain, it’s super important to take a close look at their sleep setup. This means considering the mattress firmness, how much they sink into it, and whether the pillow is keeping their body properly aligned. These factors all play a big role in comfort and support, especially for side sleepers who are more likely to deal with shoulder pain.
The right pillow can make all the difference. I like to think of the pillow as the mattress for your head and shoulders. It needs to provide just the right balance of support and comfort, with a breathable cover to keep things cool, just like a great mattress.
What kind? How soft? Did you have any pain relief with these toppers? Was there one you liked most?
Do you think you might be able to find the specs of this mattress to see what may be comparable at a better price point?
They definitely can be. You just have to know who to shop with and who to avoid!
NikkiTMU
I’ve tried several mattress toppers, including the soft SleepOnLatex topper, as well as Linenspa’s Memory Foam toppers in both 1.5-inch and 2-inch thicknesses and finally the Foam Factory’s 2.5 inch eggcrate convoluted foam with the HD36-HQ grade for firmness.
The SleepOnLatex and Foam Factory toppers were both too firm. The 2-inch Linenspa topper provided some pain relief but caused back and hip issues due to the added height on top of the 14-inch mattress. The 1.5-inch Linenspa topper was the only one with a slight net positive but still not enough pain relief. From this experience I am strongly led to conclude that the actual mattress just isn’t doing the trick for me.
The breakdown provided for the Sealy posturepedic plus hybrid high point 14" plush is
Quilting Layer: Surface-Guard™ & SealyChill™
Comfort Layer:
1.5" ComfortSense Premium Memory Foam with SealyChill
2" ComfortSense Premium Memory Foam
1.5" SealySupport Gel Foam Soft
Support System:
Duraflex™ Pro Edge
1090 Zoned Response Pro™ HD Encased Coil
Response Pro™ HD Zoned Coil System
1" SealySupport™ Gel Foam
Notably according to MF the only difference between the firm and plush is the ‘1.5" SealySupport Gel Foam’ which lists as soft and firm.