I am looking for input on the types of mattresses or firmness of mattress that help with low back pain, particularly with sacral torsion. This is the type of pain that is at its worst when i roll over in bed. I did a lot of research and as a female side/back sleeper with low back pain, believed I should buy a medium to soft bed. I ended up with the Alexander Hybrid, and while itâs super comfy, it is a bit of work to roll over - and this makes my back hurt. We have had the bed about 60 days so need to think about our options if we choose to return.
Earlier this week i slept on a tempurpedic bed in a hotel. It was a standard tempurpedic - about 10 inches tall (the version wasnât listed). It felt firm initially, then accommodated. Overall, it was maybe a bit too firm, but my back felt great and it was easy to roll if i needed to - no sinking. Is there any type of bed out there that is better for the type of back pain that is exacerbated by twisting/rolling? Is a medium/firm a better bed, despite what Iâve read about softer beds for side sleepers?
I am a female -5â5 130lbs. side and back sleeper. My husband is 5â9, 150#s side and back sleeper.
I would keep in mind that there is no such thing as a mattress that is âgood for back painâ in general ⌠there is only a mattress that is good for âyour back painâ regardless of whether the same mattress would be good for someone else with similar back issues.
While itâs not possible to âdiagnoseâ mattress comfort issues on a forum with any certainty because there are too many unique unknowns, variables, and complexities involved that can affect how each person sleeps on a mattress in terms of âcomfortâ, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your Personal preferences) or any âsymptomsâ 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.
The most common reason for lower back pain is a mattress that is too soft (either comfort layers that are too thick and/or soft or a support core that is too soft) for your specific needs and preferences.
If you are a back sleeper then a pillow under your knees may also help to decompress the spine and can sometimes help with lower back pain. An adjustable bed that can provide some slight lift for your legs can also be helpful if you are a back sleeper. A pillow between the knees may also be helpful if you are a side sleeper and a thin pillow under your pelvis and lower abdomen may also be helpful if you are a stomach sleeper as well.
Mattresses with more resilient materials in the comfort layers (such as polyfoam, latex, or microcoils) or with thinner layers of memory foam or with some of the newer versions of memory foam that have a faster response will generally be less motion restrictive than mattresses that use thicker layers of memory foam.
[quote]Earlier this week i slept on a tempurpedic bed in a hotel. It was a standard tempurpedic - about 10 inches tall (the version wasnât listed). It felt firm initially, then accommodated. Overall, it was maybe a bit too firm, but my back felt great and it was easy to roll if i needed to - no sinking. Is there any type of bed out there that is better for the type of back pain that is exacerbated by twisting/rolling? Is a medium/firm a better bed, despite what Iâve read about softer beds for side sleepers?
I am a female -5â5 130lbs. side and back sleeper. My husband is 5â9, 150#s side and back sleeper.[/quote]
While I can certainly help with âhowâ to choose ⌠Itâs not possible to make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first âruleâ 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 âmatchâ for you in terms of âcomfortâ, firmness, or PPP or how a mattress will âfeelâ to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, health conditions, or âtheory at a distanceâ that can possibly be more reliable 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).
Iâm not sure what youâve read since you found the site but just in case you havenât read it yet ⌠the first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice ⌠and perhaps more importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure youâve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best âmatchâ for you in terms of âcomfortâ, firmness, and PPP that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesnât turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the âvalueâ of a mattress purchase 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 all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.
Thanks for your all of this detail, Phoenix. This site is a really amazing resource. I do have pillows in every possible configuration. Recently i got a memory foam body pillow which has helped with side sleeping position - my arm no longer falls asleep. I have also been in physiotherapy for my low back pain and have been surprised that the therapists have little input on mattresses. Considering the amount of time we spend in bed, Iâd hope theyâd have some insight. I didnât expect that the mattress would cure my low back pain, but i was hoping it wouldnât be contributing to it. Ultimately, iâm concerned that this mattress (alexander hybrid) is too soft, and is not keeping me aligned - despite all the pillows.
I believe i need a firmer mattress that is more responsive - and easier to roll on, but still accommodates relatively lightweight side sleepers. A cool sleeping, limited off gassing, memory foam, latex or hybrid under $1500. Iâm curious about BB BME, and Purecrafted beds (which has a factory about an hour from my house). The ability to âtestâ a mattress first is appealing because my better half is liking the al-hybrid and perceives that weâre on some hamster wheel of mattress testing. I donât anticipate any challenges returning the mattress if we have to, but it will be a hassle to find something new, and now iâm gunshy on the online thing.
Do you know of any other high quality mattress manufacturers in MI, and do you have much knowledge of Purecrafted?
You didnât mention where you live in Michigan but the better options or possibilities Iâm aware of in and around the Detroit region (subject to making sure that any mattress you are considering meets the quality/value guidelines here) are listed in post #2 here. There is also a list for the Lansing area in post #2 here, for the Grand Rapids area in post #273 here, and for the Portage/Kalamazoo area in post #2 here.
Pure Crafted Beds is one of the members of this site which means that I think highly of them and that I believe that they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency. They would certainly be well worth considering.