I recently dealt with three herniated and bulging discs from lifting too much stuff (couches, mattresses, bedframes, chairs, etc). Fortunately, we sleep on the Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe. While we love the feel of it in general, it was a bit too firm given the disc issues I was having. My 3” wool topper wasn’t doing much to help, either.
What ended up working was a half wedge topper combined with the Oxygen Pillow. The slight incline and targeted pressure relief made a big difference during the first six weeks of pain. I positioned the wedge topper directly under my shoulders to hips.
Once I started feeling better, I switched to a @Sleep_EZ firm Talalay latex topper (36-38 IL). I placed this one under the sheets like you would do with a standard topper.
We normally prefer a firmer sleep surface, but during the early recovery phase, the plush feel of the wedge topper combined with the slight incline helped keep pressure off my lower back. As my condition improved, the latex topper offered just enough contour and relief without making the bed feel too soft. In fact, it maintained a firmness close to the Plank Luxe, but with added comfort, especially for side sleeping.
Actually,inclined sleepingis something I would recommend for your condition as it does do wonders for reducing the pressure in the back. You can learn more about inclined sleep here.
Now that I’m back to about 95%, I’ve kept the topper in place. It adds a layer of comfort and helps extend the lifespan of the mattress overall.
I should mention that your foundation is another key component. Slats that flex, can get worse over time, causing a once good foundation to become less effective. It is worth investigating your foundation too.
Hope this helps, best of luck on your recovery.
Maverick