So after reading many articles on this site, my wife and I decided on a DIY latex mattress. We already had a 2" medium dunlop latex mattress topper from SleepOnLatex.
We called them and ordered a 3" firm and 3"soft dunlop latex toppers. Our bed is currently 3"firm on bottom, 2" medium middle, 3" soft top. It’s pretty comfortable for my wife. It initially feels comfortable when I get into bed, when I get up for a bathroom break around 3AM, my back is pretty sore, when I get up around 6-7 AM my back feels better. Both my wife and I are side sleepers. I’m 5’8" and 175 lbs, my wife is 5’6" and 160 lbs. Last night we swapped the medium and soft layers (Med-soft-Firm). It wasn’t as comfortable as (Soft-Med-Firm). My wife is pretty happy with the mattress, I’d like any suggestions which could help solve the 3 AM backache I keep experiencing.
I’m glad our articles were able to help you with your DIY mattress project. Sorry to hear that, while comfortable for your wife, the configuration is causing some discomfort for you.
How many nights have you been sleeping on this DIY configuration? It is quite unusual that the pain surfaces at 3 AM (after 4+ hours of sleep and then that the pain diminishes/disappears with 3-4 hours more rest. I’d gather some more data. Something seems to be missing from this picture…. Are you 100% side sleeper? … Are you switching positions? Did you notice any muscle spasms, or muscle tensing at any point throughout the night?
Both you and your wife are side sleepers with normal range BMIs of 25.8 and the F/M/S seems to be quite adequate, but as you wake up with less or no pain in the morning (thus far) I’m thinking that it may be a slight comfort issue coupled with some other unknown factors so I’d be on the lookout for some more clues.
If this is a very new DIY setup…there may be a few added factors at play.
The mattress might not be completely broken in (sometimes it may take a few weeks depending on how taught the cover/encasing is)
Your body has not finished adjusting to the new mattress; (it may be that with your old mattress your body gradually got used to a slightly inappropriate sleeping surface and learned to compensate, which means that a longer adjustment period might be necessary, and that might get worse before it gets better.)
HI Phoenix,
Thanks for the reply AND a BIG thank you for all the great information on your website! It was the first time we’ve gone into shopping for a mattress feeling like we knew what we were doing. You are correct in that this is a very new mattress for us, under 2 weeks. It may be that I do need more of an adjustment period as it seems to have improved somewhat. I keep hoping I’ll find the secret combination that will make my 70 yr old body wake up feeling like I did when I was 20… but haven’t found it yet. I’ll give it another couple of weeks. If I don’t feel a significant improvement, do you think adding another 2" of medium foam to the center or perhaps a softer topper would help? (Talalay? top layer now is a Dunlop ILD 20) ( I will say soft memory foam toppers always gave me a backache on our old airbed.) I do think the mattress is comfortable, just needs a little tweaking. Another DIY advantage I like is that when we move we can take the mattress apart and not have to carry a 150lb mattress around!
Very glad to hear The Mattress Underground forum and our mattress resources helped you go into your DIY mattress purchase feeling a bit more prepared (at least theoretically)
Age is also a very important factor in the adjustment period. It takes more time for a 70 years old body to unlearn set incorrect postures and reteach our bodies. Older bodies are well-entrenched into certain postures and habits so going to a chiropractor may help a bit with this. The major factor that contributes to spinal curvature is the change in the intervertebral discs. As it comes to spinal alignment in an older body the cartilage that separates the vertebra hardens and loses flexibility which typically results in the compressed total length of the spine and some degree of kyphosis (forward tilt). Even though this is normal with aging it will have the effect of prolonging the adjustment period (you to the mattress) when it comes to a new mattress. This is to say that I’d hold off making significant changes (if the current construction is not terribly uncomfortable and wreaks havoc on your sleep). I’d give it more adjustment time than usual.
This being said I’d also keep in mind that as we age our need for pressure relief (thicker or softer comfort layers) can often become greater so once you readjust yourself to the new sleeping environment try to assess if the discomfort is comfort-related or support related.
If there is a need for more softness you may look into either swapping a layer for softer ILD or adding a very thin layer/topper to your DIY.
HI Phoenix,
Well I have a few more data points after sleeping on our DIY for an additional couple weeks. Ends up I think I do sleep on my back as well as sides during the night, although probably favor my sides. I don’t feel quite as much pain as I initially did when I get up around 2-3 for a bathroom break, mind you not pain free but tolerable. I get the most comfortable sleep on my side if I take a thin foam pillow and tuck it from my waist up to my armpit, and use a second thicker pillow for head and neck support. It also creates a space for my arm to be and slightly elevates my upper body. I’ve been wondering does this indicate the need for a softer comfort layer? Currently my top layer is a soft Dunlop ILD 20. Would a Talalay top layer be better for me?
Again thank you so much for all your insights!
(I’ve directed many friends to your website to help them with their mattress journey)
