Hi BackPain100.
I understand why you’d have misgivings … “good judgment” needs to be exercised as it usually comes in different “data packets” consisting of non-equivocal facts and knowing how to interpret them which, of course, is where some research and some good information comes handy… and with consulting your body to understand its needs and preferences all of which need some processing time. Our bodies are very intelligent and if we “listen” to them we can quickly learn their language. … if however, you’re used to overriding its signals it may take a little longer.
To learn about pressure relief and support and how to test for each …there is more about primary or “deep” support and secondary or “surface” support and their relationship to firmness and pressure relief and the “roles” of different layers in a mattress in post #2 here and in post #4 here post #2 herethat may also be helpful in clarifying the difference between “support” and “pressure relief” and “feel” also and in post #4 here that may also be helpful in clarifying the difference between “support” and “pressure relief” and “feel” and post #6 here has some good information as well. The good news is that if you are still unsure after your local testing ,… many companies are offering their guidance in the selection process and also allow for mattress in-home testing for long enough to help you determine if it is a good match. The challenge here is to determine which of the companies you’re considering have your best interest at heart and which are just profit making machines.
Regardless of how good they feel in the shop… once you are in touch with your body some will feel better than the others and the local testing will give enough data points to move you along with your deicion. This combined with selecting durable materials, for the 5-10 years mattress useful life criteria the that you mentioned in your previous post, and with some guidance from the manufacturer/retailer themselves would have the best chance of success.
I hope your research on the site has included following the guidelines in the mattress shopping tutorial as well.
Phoenix