|
As many other newbies have said, I wish I stumbled across this site a long time ago. I've been reading threads endlessly since I found it and I'm starting to piece together a solution to a problem. About two years ago my wife and I bought our first mattress after several years on futons. We got a firm spring mattress from a local company, one of their relatively high-end pieces. It was great for about the first year, but lately I've been waking up every morning with a stiff lower back. One side of the bed has also developed a bit of a dip, though both of us are pretty light weight (I'm heaviest at 170lbs). From what I've been reading it seems likely my back problems could be from the mattress being too firm or from pressure from the springs. So I was researching 2" memory-foam toppers, thinking we'd experiment with putting one of those on top of the mattress and see if that helps any. That led me here, where I discovered that the pros seem to think latex toppers far superior. I've read in various posts here recommendations for combining a 2" latex toppers with spring mattresses. So I'm wondering if throwing on a topper is a good start or if I need to try something more radical and gut the mattress, replacing its foam with something better. In either case, how do I figure out what firmness and thickness of latex to use? Are there any rules of thumb or is it just trial and error? Thanks for the help and guidance.
|
|
A topper doesn't fix a dip, so I would think you will have to replace your mattress. If the box spring is good, you can do what I did and replace the spring mattress with a latex mattress over the box spring. Having never tried latex, I wasn't sure if it was right for me, so I first purchased a 2" medium plush topper to use on top of my mattress. It was really comfortable, and eventually I made my own mattress by purchasing two other 3" toppers (extra firm and medium firm), and zipping it all up in a terry cloth cover. I love my new bed! Others have done mattress surgery, but I'll leave that topic for someone else to chime in on. |
|
Chances are very high that your springs are fine, it's your topping foam(s) that are causing the back pain, as they give no support. Generally speaking memory foam gives little support, especially after some time. Some disagree, so ymmv, but in my opinion memory foam always breaks down after a while and is not nearly as supportive as latex. Someone here recently did mattress surgery - if you look back about 2 weeks or so - and found their springs to have a dip in them. Once you open up the mattress you can tell. If it does have a dip in the springs, you have to buy new springs (a new mattress). If the springs are okay and it's just the foam, you're in good shape to just get rid of ALL the old foam (it's almost surely PU crap) and replace it with latex. You can take a clue from the amount of foam on top of your springs. But if it's a pillow top you don't need that much. I have only 2" of latex on top of my springs and that is plenty. I currently am also adding 1/2" of memory foam because that's what I had on hand but I will replace that with 1" of super soft latex soon. Some people like 3" or more of foam on top of the mattress springs. I weigh about 180 and 2" or so is enough for me. If you weigh more or just like the feel of more foam, you may want more foam on top. Start out by buying 2 x 1" layers of latex in medium. I recommend natural talalay, not dunlop processed latex and not synthetic latex. YMMV. Get 2 x 1" instead of 1 x 2" because that gives you more options for changing the firmness. You could take one off, you could put a firmer layer or softer layer in between the 2, etc. If you weigh more than 180 or so or like a very firm feel you may want to get one 1" firm and one 1" medium. As I say, start with this, then if you need to add another inch of firm and/or soft latex, you can. I'm not against using up to 1" of high-density memory foam like Sensus on top, but I do think it wears out quickly and doesn't provide as much support as latex. Those are my "ball park" recommendations. If you give me more details on your height and weight or how you like your mattress, I could make other recommendations. But basically it's going to be trial and error. Try to approximate the feel of your mattress when you liked it. But if it's a pillow top you're not going to be able to have that much cush, because cush generally = non-support = back pain. You can have medium soft, but not super soft. It may help you to read my newbie guide, http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/answer-whats-best-mattress/6097-0-1.html, then read about mattress surgeries in the highlighted threads at the top. This message was modified Mar 30, 2010 by jimsocal
|
|
This is great, thanks to you both. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. Having so recently spent quite a lot on this mattress, I don't really feel like I can afford a new one, so I'm a bit more inclined toward surgery, if that's what's necessary. I'm 5'11" and 170 lbs and my wife is smaller both ways (and seems to be totally unaffected by all of this). We're both in our mid-30s. I definitely like a firm mattress, and our current one is quite firm. No pillow top. It sounds like your first recommendations are pretty much on target, jimsocial, so maybe I'll start with the two 1" medium latex pieces and see where that takes us. unless any of what I've added here changes your suggestions. I really appreciate your help.
|
|
If your local company was the manufacturer of the bed, I'd ask if they can replace the foam in it! If they were just the middleman and don't do that, then you are probably looking at good springs but the foam on top is shot. That happens really quickly sometimes. I had a Stearns and Foster that developed a dent inside of three months. Anyway, my bet is that it is just the foam, and Jim has the best suggestions of what to do. I personally buy my mattresses from a local maker so I can take it back for sprucing up if I get a dent. Luckily, I'm on year two and okay so far! Had to take my fluffy topper off because the foam inside finally broke in enough to sleep on comfortably, LOL! Kait |