Need topper for Talalay latex mattress

[phoenix]

Hi Zing,

I am 5’ 5", 140 lbs. and have an L4/L5 issue. I opted to go with 29 ILD (medium firm) as Jason mentioned that you can always soften a hard mattress but it is more difficult to harden a soft one which I agreed with. It is 9" deep. I purchased the mattress and foundation in December 2014 and have since experienced back pain. While not like my previous, desperate situation, but pain none the less. I have started sleeping with two blankets folded up in thirds and then folded over that I put underneath my hips. I am sleeping better and have minimal pain now. So, I think I need a topper. I am hesitant to use anything other than Talalay because I like the advantages all around, but am willing to explore for the sake of comfort.

Your mattress would most likely have multiple layers with different firmness levels (Talalay latex is made in 6" cores so a 9" mattress would require at least 2 layers). Latex also doesn’t come in exact ILD’s and ILD is always in a range so a Talalay core or layer that was “rated” as a particular ILD could be +/- about 2 ILD and most people don’t notice an ILD difference that is less than about 4 ILD. If your support core is 29 ILD (or 27 ILD which would really the same) then it would be on the soft side for many people.

While there is no way for me to “diagnose” mattress issues (especially when there are also medical issues involved) because there are too many unique unknowns and variables involved that can affect how each person sleeps on a mattress in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) or any “symptoms” 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.

There is also 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 that may also be helpful in clarifying the difference between “support” and “pressure relief” and “feel”.

These posts are the “tools” that can help with the analysis, detective work, or trial and error that may be necessary to help you learn your body’s language and “translate” what your body is trying to tell you so you can make the types of changes that have the best chance of reducing or eliminating any “symptoms” you are experiencing.

Having said that … based on your description the most common reason for lower back pain is a mattress that is too soft so it sounds more likely that your mattress is too soft than too firm. If your folded blanket is also helping you then this would also be “pointing to” a mattress that is “allowing” your hips/pelvis to sink down too much which can certainly cause lower back pain (the blankets would raise your hips and help prevent them from sinking down as far). There are also some suggestions in post #4 here that may be helpful for a mattress that is too soft (including one that is very similar to what you tried)

I would also check the support system under your mattress to make sure that there is no flex or sagging under your mattress which could also contribute to the issues you are experiencing as well. You can check to make sure that the support system is providing suitable support for your mattress by putting the mattress on the floor to see if there is any noticeable difference (and there shouldn’t be).

Questions: Should I stay with a Talalay topper? I see they have shredded and adjustable (you can add or subtract the foam as desired) through flobeds which looks attractive. If I go with a traditional version, what depth would you suggest? 2", 3", ? And what ILD? Some say a 15 ILD is too soft.

If your mattress is too soft then adding a topper would likely only be a temporary or partial solution at best and at worst it could make the issues you are experiencing even worse.

If I was in your shoes I would want to have high confidence that you need some additional softness and pressure relief in your mattress surface rather than firmer support in the support layers.

I don’t have any specific suggestions because there isn’t a formula that can predict how any topper will work for a particular person on a particular mattress with any certainty because of all the variables involved and because the choice of which type of topper to choose would be a preference issue … there is more information about choosing a topper in post #2 here and the topper guidelines it links to that can help you use your sleeping experience as a reference point and guideline for choosing the type, thickness, and firmness for a topper that has the least possible risk and the best chance for success. It also includes a link to a list of some of the better online sources for toppers I’m aware of as well.

Given that there is a good chance that a topper may not solve the issues you are experiencing … I would also make sure that you have a good return/refund policy to reduce the risks involved in purchasing a topper that doesn’t work out as well as you hoped for.

If the support core in your mattress is really 29 ILD then it may also be worth talking to Star Bedding to see if they have any suggestions or solutions that may be helpful as well.

Phoenix