Mattress selection for Scoliosis

[sleepyboy]

Hello all,

I’m seeking detailed, expert advice to help me select a mattress that truly fits my unique and somewhat complex profile. I’ve done extensive research and trialed a few mattresses with mixed results but haven’t yet found the “Goldilocks” mattress. I appreciate detailed, technical input that is still easy to understand, as this decision will impact my health significantly.

Here’s my profile and key needs:

-Body stats: Male, 6’0”, 195 lbs, broad shoulders

-Sleep positions:** Side and back sleeper, frequent position changes/tossing and turning

-Health conditions: scoliosis, Upper Cross Syndrome, knee valgus, right, shoulder injury, joint tendinitis basically all over.

-Pressure points: Arms, pelvis, knees (side); occipital bone, heels (back)
Current sensations:Aching when trying to sleep, Dull stiffness on waking, morning compression feeling, waking multiple times due to discomfort.

Sleep environment: Solo sleeper, uses lounging, reading, etc.

Trial & Return Very important — need at least 100+ night trial with free/low-cost returns & good customer care.

Movement & edge support: Needs ease of movement without “stuck” feeling and strong edge support

Temperature: Mild heat sensitivity; breathable materials are important
Previous mattress experience:

• WinkBed softer: too compressive, felt stuck, poor for tossing and turning, inadequate pressure relief for side sleeping
• Zinus green tea memory foam firm: felt like like a brick, good for 5 seconds on your back, then turns into goop.

Firmness preference:

Medium-soft, around 5/10 on the firmness scale — I want a mattress that feels plush and hugging on my side but supportive and not compressive on my back, kinda like looking for a unicorn at this point. Oxymoron.

At this point i am kind of willing to try whatever, i am yearning for a goods night sleep.

Any help will be greatly appreciated, thank you.

@BackScience
@CST

[CST]

Hi Scoliosis Sufferer,
Thank you for providing your details.

First, CST uses different densities of Talalay Latex to support the various parts of your body. Let’s start with the basics: 6’, 195, broad shoulders, side/back sleeper. CST would utilize a combination of softer density segments in the first and second layers under your shoulders to allow them to sink slightly into the mattress. We would support your hips with a firmer combination but with densities that are appropriate for your body weight. I may consider going slightly softer in the overall design based on your description.

This process will level your spine and minimize pressure on your hips and shoulders. Depending on the severity of your spinal issues, we may want to modify this basic design with a different combination of densities. This will also address the pressure points on your arms and pelvis.

If your preferred sleeping position is on your back, I would recommend a slightly different design, but one that will also allow your upper body to compress slightly into the mattress. This will help to put the natural arch in the lumbar region of your back. For your heels, we can construct an area at the bottom of the mattress that is very soft to minimize pressure.

We take the approach of working with each customer individually to solve their unique mattress problems.

Talalay latex is a breathable material, provided you don’t use bed covers that block your body heat from dissipating into the mattress. Being latex is a rubber-based product, it always wants to maintain its original shape, so the is no “stuck” feeling. As a solo sleeper, we can include a 6" to 8" edge support on the side of the mattress where you typically disembark.

CST does not have a typical trial period. If after you’ve had a chance to acclimate to the mattress, if it’s not quite right, we will make a modification to one of the layers based on what you are actually experiencing so we are making an intelligent decision based on what your body is telling you. There is no time frame for the modification. It could be 4 weeks or up to 10 years. You get a free modification no matter when up to 10 years. If the foam fails, we replace it. After your free modification, if something changes in your body profile, you’re buying a layer, not an entire mattress.

If we just can’t get it right, we refund the purchase price less shipping.

Lastly, given your physical issues, I would need to discuss your proposed mattress design over the phone or Zoom to ensure we have all the information necessary.

I hope this helps. Feel free to reach out if you have further questions.

Bob
Custom Sleep Technology

[BackScience]

I wouldn’t say that you need a Unicorn, but I will agree that what you are looking for in a mattress is extremely specific and rules out most options to be sure. However, as a Doctor of Chiropractic and someone that has worked on designing, testing and working hand and hand with thousands of customers over 20+ years, I can tell you that I completely understand the challenges you are experiencing and would be happy to help! The mattress I created called Back Science really addresses all of the issues you are both experiencing, including solutions that other companies have failed to address. The Back Science mattress offers a structured lumbar support through its double zoned, patent pending Lumbar-Flex interlocking support that avoids unnecessary firmness that you will find in an overall firm mattress that may allow the spine not to dip, but fails to properly contour the body. With too soft of a mattress, you won’t get that support you need to keep your spine properly aligned. Back Science was specifically tested with the Mattress Checker App. to objectively verify that your postural alignment will be properly maintained in order to help prevent the lower back from sinking too deeply, while allowing more pressure on the shoulders, which can lead discomfort and potential back problems over time. The Back Science Mattress is something I created after many years of seeing patients who suffered from back and shoulder issues due to poor mattress support and was developed by specifically performing hundreds of postural checks using the App. to really ensure that it works.

Another difference comes from the quality of the coils and density of the foams used. With Back Science, we are using extremely high-quality, all U.S.A. made components, such as our over 1,000 count individually wrapped coils and is a true hybrid system that uses a Hypergel foam on the surface, which will give that weightless pressure relief, but with a much more buoyant/springy surface that differs substantially from that stuck feeling you can get from memory foam, but is far more contouring than a traditional quilted cover and therefore, more pressure relieving on the hips and shoulders. Another difference between Back Science and other companies is that Back Science offers a 365-night sleep trial, but even more importantly, we offer free customizations if needed to first try and solve the issue before returning or exchanging the mattress. That is part of Back Science’s success, though 9 out of 10 Back Science users love the way the mattress performs without any modifications. In your case, I really believe that the Back Science Series 3 would be perfect for relieving your shoulder and over body pressure. However, if modifications are needed, it is a simple exchange of comfort and/or zone layering via UPS that can insert into our proprietary GripLock™ modular cover system.

Regarding the mattress causing your body to heat-up, you will be happy to know that our Back Science Hybrid Series mattresses all use our patented Airflow Transfer System that allows air to ventilate through the thousands of small holes in the top foam layers and channel out the sides, while allowing the reverse to also occur in order to get up to 100 Xs more breathability. According to a recent TrustPilot.org Survey, 96% of the respondents were cooler on Back Science than their last mattress.

Lastly, I will add that I get the privilege of working direct with thousands of customers thanks to our flagship Ultrabed mattress store location in Southern California and I can tell you from my many customer interactions, they really do report that Back Science does bridge that gap that is found when traditional spring mattresses and memory foam mattresses won’t solve the problem that is required when someone requires more pressure relief, but does not want to sink in too much and gets hot.

I hope that helps explain things, but feel free to write back if you have any questions, You can reach me back at this forum or email us direct. Also, if you do purchase a Back Science mattress, be sure to use the 10% off TMU10 discount code we give to The Mattress Underground members.