Hi Chalie,
There are always a percentage of people that aren’t happy with their initial layering choices but of course that’s part of the value of a component mattress where you can re-arrange or exchange the layers.
Post #2 here includes the first suggestions I would make.
Once you talk with SleepEZ (and that’s always the first step so that you can go into more detail on a phone call than is possible on a forum) and if you let us know what they say I’d be happy to add my thoughts as well.
Your pain lessening when you increased the support of the mattress is also a good “pointer” to what may be happening.
Sometimes too … especially with stomach sleeping … layer thickness can also play a role as well and as you’ve mentioned (and you must have been doing some reading :)) there is always the possibility that you may end up doing best with firmer layers throughout with a thinner soft topper on top.
The key with making adjustments or exchanges is to make sure you have identified the most probable cause of any issues you are having as accurately as possible so you can make the changes that have the greatest odds of success. Back pain or other pains that you notice more when you wake up in the morning is usually connected to alignment issues (either sinking in too far or not enough in different parts of the body, twisting, torsion, or bending of the spine, or hyperextension of the joints) while pressure pain is usually more evident when you are going to sleep or your limbs fall asleep or become numb or tingly (or sometimes just uncomfortable from pressure points).
Phoenix