Hi Maxie,
[quote]I relate to AWOODS has experienced with pressure points etc., and I would like to try out the layering she has put together. I don’t see an update since her last ‘check in’ on this forum.
Here are my questions;
What is a 6" core layer? Is this the mattress itself?
What kind of 1 1/2 " sculpt latex layer or convoluted layer did she use?
What does the 1 1/2 " sculpted latex layer or the convoluted layer do under the LaNoodle topper?[/quote]
Here is a link to a diagram of a sample configuration of a mattress similar to the on awoods configured. Hers was a custom configuration. All of these layers were latex.
I would advise you to be cautious about using other people’s experiences as a recommendation of something that will work for you, especially when you have your own specific issues with pain radiating down your leg. I would always keep in mind that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and I would be cautious about using anyone else’s suggestions, experiences or reviews on a specific mattress (either positive or negative) or review sites in general as a reliable source of information or guidance about how you will feel on the same mattress or how suitable or how durable a mattress may be for you. A mattress that would be a perfect choice for one person or even a larger group of people in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP may be completely unsuitable for someone else to sleep on (even if they are in a similar weight range). In other words, other people’s experiences in general won’t tell you much if anything about the suitability, quality, durability, or “value” of a mattress for any particular person (see post #13 here).
As we’ve touched on before and as I reiterated above, unfortunately I can only assist with the “how” to choose and not the “what”, as I can’t feel what you feel, I don’t have your specific pain issues, and you’re taking a specific product and customizing it with a topper, introducing a second variable.
With that being said, there are a few things that I gleaned from your comments that might be useful for you. All of the toppers you’ve mentioned consist primarily of natural fibers and while certainly “cozy”, they will tend to be a fit firmer as far as a topper goes. It may be true that something along the lines of a plush latex foam (perhaps like the LaNoodles that you ordered) will offer you better pressure point relief. A solid sheet of latex foam might be easier for you to reposition in, and even the LaNoodles should be a bit easier for you to move around than some of the thicker fiber toppers. Additionally, you described a pain radiating form the lower back down the leg, similar to what patients with sciatica describe. Of course, I’m not an orthopaedist, but there can be instances where if a mattress is too soft it can also cause these back issues, allowing for too much low back sag that can further allow compression of an already bulging or compressed disc. You of course would be the best judge of what is causing your issues, and you seem to think that it is more of a pressure-point issue based upon your previous posts. I only bring this up as a reminder to people reading through this thread that pain like yours can come from “too soft” and “too hard” of a mattress.
I’m looking forward to your comments once you’ve had a chance to use and adjust to your new topper and see if that provides you more relief than your previous choices.
Phoenix