Using an adjustable bed's lumbar support to compensate for inadequate mattress

Mattress Talk General Mattresses Questions
1

I am having difficulty finding a mattress. Just about every mattress I have tried does not work for me for one reason or another.

Part I: I have decided to get an Aireloom. The two I am deciding between do not support my lower back above my waist. My hips slightly sink into both mattresses. It is not extreme but still noticeable. When I use an adjustable bed’s lumbar support they both feel much better.

Is it not a good idea to use the lumbar support to compensate for an inadequate mattress or is that one of purposes of lumbar support? I actually use a chair that has lumbar support and it works well for me. Not sure if that should be considered.

Part II : One mattress is plusher than the other and I am having difficulty deciding between the two. The plusher mattress is a little more comfortable to me. However, the seemingly knowledgeable sales associate insists that since I am a little below average in weight that after sleeping eight hours on the plusher mattress I will likely have a back pain. She thinks I should choose the firmer mattress. The previous mattress I had for 15 years was slightly on the firmer side and was comfortable to me.

2

Hey Jwblue,

Thanks for the post. It really is impossible for me to know if you are overcompensating for an inadequate mattress fit. Maybe your needs of lumbar support are greater than average and in that case, the “extra” lumbar support may be the right fit for you.

When you say your hips sink in, are you referring to your hips sinking in too much? Everyone’s hips and shoulder are a bit lower than other sections of their body, this is where the greatest weight is and good alignment will have your hips and shoulders sink in some.

Did you have to use extra lumbar support with your current mattress?

I think the sales associate does make some good points, but you have to trust your instinct, only you can tell whether this will be the right decision…retailers tend to err on the firmer side with recommendations. Aireloom is a very good brand, bit different than it used to be, but still quite luxurious. Do you know which Aireloom models you are considering?

Thanks,
Sensei