i think I know the origin of my back pain!
|
Well, I think I finally solved the mystery of why my lower back has been hurting so much lately. Okay, my mattress springs were definitely contributing to some of it. There's no doubt about it. The LuraFlex coils were just to conforming. Adding the door skin plywood made my bed feel entirely different in a wonderful way! However, there's another reason for the pain on my right, lower back. I didn't even associate the two. I have a large ovarian cyst which the doctor said is so big she can't even tell which side its on. It seems to be taking up the whole space! I was due to have surgery in late August until I caught a cold. Surgery will now be October 8th. One ovary out, a hysterectomy and total pelvic reconstruction. Oh, joy. Anyway, I was bragging to my GYN that I had no symptoms of an ovarian cyst. I was astonished when the ultrasound showed it being so large. Well, as it turns out, I HAVE been having pain, but instead of the front, it's been on my lower back. That makes perfect sense. And, you know, I'm relieved to know it's not just my mattress or middle age that's causing it. At least, I know there's a 'cure" come October 8th! In the meantime, I'm thrilled that I had this idea to cover my coils with something firm. I still say those springs were just too flexible. So, hopefully, in a couple weeks time my back pain will be a thing of the past! |
Re: i think I know the origin of my back pain!
| I hope everything goes well for you on October 8th. I'm also happy that you finally have a bed that you like. |
Re: i think I know the origin of my back pain!
|
MequonJim wrote: I hope everything goes well for you on October 8th. I'm also happy that you finally have a bed that you like. So far, two nights of almost bliss! I didn't wake up with the same back pain I was having with the softer coils. It just feels so good not to have that sensation of sinking. And, my Cuddle Bed alternative down topper from Costco is just the right amount of plush and support. I HIGHLY recommend this mattress topper! 400 count and luxurious. And, it has a deep skirt to keep it on your bed. I like that it goes all the way to the ends of the mattress. I actually just received ANOTHER fiber bed today (ordered awhile back). A VERY nice, 300 count thick alternative down, well constructed fiber bed. Microgel and puff fiber. It feels like down. Baffled and gussetted. But, I like the feel of the Cuddle Bed better. For one thing, the baffled squares are smaller, mimicking more the way a quilted mattress top would feel. The other fiber bed I got today is actually very lovely, but the baffled squares are almost too large. Well, I have 90 days to return it. And, who knows, maybe I'll keep both and take turns using them. As for my ovarian cyst-caused back pain....I walked around a store today and it definitely hurt. But now that I know its origin I'm not so concerned. I just hate having issues with my mattress and it was driving me crazy! |
Re: i think I know the origin of my back pain!
| Well, hopefully this will solve the mattress problem and once you have recovered, iyour bed will be great again. We'll keep you in our thoughts! |
Re: i think I know the origin of my back pain!
| BeddyBye, I glad you were able to pinpoint the cause of your back pain at last. I'm sorry you have to have surgery to resolve the problem, but at least now you will be able to recuperate in comfort. Best wishes for a successful surgery. I'll keep you in my thoughts. |
Re: i think I know the origin of my back pain!
|
Thank you, all! I'm just so proud of myself for doing this little experiment with the ultra-thin, somewhat flexible plywood. As time goes on and I still feel the need for something even firmer, I might try the next thickness up---regular plywood, but quite thin and rigid. What I'm wondering is: Are the LuraFlex coils really even doing anything now? How is this a lot different than having an all-latex and foam mattress? I hope the layers will hold up just as well as they would if they were on the coils rather than a thin board. cloud9 wrote: BeddyBye, I glad you were able to pinpoint the cause of your back pain at last. I'm sorry you have to have surgery to resolve the problem, but at least now you will be able to recuperate in comfort. Best wishes for a successful surgery. I'll keep you in my thoughts. |
Re: i think I know the origin of my back pain!
|
I guess this vindicates my contention that you needed rigid support for your back! The plywood solution is very interesting. How thick is it, and how much foam do you have over it? I'm also intrigued by your question: "What I'm wondering is: Are the LuraFlex coils really even doing anything now? How is this a lot different than having an all-latex and foam mattress? I hope the layers will hold up just as well as they would if they were on the coils rather than a thin board." I think your innerspring is now functioning in much the same way that a box spring would-- providing some give to the plywood on top of it. Because you now have a solid surface over the coils you've pretty much elliminated the contouring factor and the support is more uniform. Does it differ from an all foam or latex mattress? I wonder. Most mattresses today have so much foam over the innersprings that I wonder how much they really differ from an all foam mattress. That's probably why for some of us, our old double-sided mattresses which are just springs with a little bit of mostly precompressed material over them are so much more comfortable on our backs than the new ones with all those layers of foam. This really underscores the beauty of a zippered mattress system where you have the option of reconfiguring the components inside until you get it right. All mattresses should be built this way. |
Re: i think I know the origin of my back pain!
|
Wouldn't it be nice if all of us had the option to simply unzip our mattress to alter it and rarely have the need to buy a whole new if people didn't go in and replace their compressed pillowtops or cheap foam mattresses? LOL The plywood is actually door skin which is the veneer-like stuff glued on to interior hollowcore doors. So, it's very thin and does have some flexibility to it. I almost went with regular, rigid plywood (also the thinnest, but with no "bend" to it.) I decided this door skin might be just enough firmness to take away some of the conformity of the coils....and yet something that would work with the springs, much like the box spring effect you spoke of. Later, if this solution proves to be TOO flexible, I'll go back and get the stronger plywood. That's another thing I wonder about: Will our weight start to bend the thinner plywood I currently have over the springs, causing it to conform with the coils? My mattress is sitting on a rigid foundation with a layer of 1" Overstock latex over that to mimic a double sided mattress. As for the amount of foam I have over the plywood, it's a total of not quite 3 inches. That includes 1" of 44 ILD latex and 3/4"; of 55 and 45 high density HR PU foam. That's it. I also have the quilted mattress cover. With the innersprings and foam, the mattress is about 10" high. After I've added the toppers and fiber bed, it's about 13". Very cushy, but supportive. cloud9 wrote: I guess this vindicates my contention that you needed rigid support for your back! </p><p>The plywood solution is very interesting. How thick is it, and how much foam do you have over it? I'm also intrigued by your question: <em>"What I'm wondering is: Are the LuraFlex coils really even doing anything now? How is this a lot different than having an all-latex and foam mattress? I hope the layers will hold up just as well as they would if they were on the coils rather than a thin board." </em><BR></p><p>I think your innerspring is now functioning in much the same way that a box spring would-- providing some give to the plywood on top of it. Because you now have a solid surface over the coils you've pretty much elliminated the contouring factor and the support is more uniform. Does it differ from an all foam or latex mattress? I wonder. Most mattresses today have so much foam over the innersprings that I wonder how much <em>they </em>really differ from an all foam mattress. That's probably why for some of us, our old double-sided mattresses which are just springs with a little bit of mostly precompressed material over them are so much more comfortable on our backs than the new ones with all those layers of foam. </p><p>This really underscores the beauty of a zippered mattress system where you have the option of reconfiguring the components inside until you get it right. All mattresses should be built this way. |