Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
| Sometimes I'm not sure if my aches and pains, and particularly lower back issues aren't related to other factors. I'm always ready to blame my mattress, it seems. The reason I say this is because my back is terribly fickle these days. One day my mattress (latex and coils) will feel just great the way it is. Then the next day my lower back hurts. I tweak the layers a bit or add a softer topper. But no matter what I do, it never seems to feel perfect. I'm talking about my back and sometimes other body parts. I'm beginning to think if I made a point of 1.) Exercising and stretching more 2.) Losing about 20 lbs. 3.) Going to bed earlier....my back might feel better all the way around. Then, hopefully, I can stop trying to configure my mattress to "cure" the aches and pains. Maybe I shouldn't give it so much responsibility! I'm realizing that we need some teamwork here for this 'perfect match' to work the way it should. <BR><BR>Off to the gym....I guess....:-) |
Re: Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
|
It really is hard to know what helps us have that perfect night of sleep. When I was working fulltime and on my feet all day, as well as mentally exhausted, it was a lot easier to fall into bed and quickly fall asleep. Of course, I was also younger and not menopausal. That right there can change the whole dynamics of a good night's sleep. Just like having small kids who want to share your bed.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Still, I can't help feeling I'm a bit obsessed about having even the slightest body impressions on my mattress. I'm not sure if that contributes to my lower back pain or not. It's not like I'm sleeping in a crater or anything! My mattress will be a year old next month. I honestly can't say that I've been 100% satisfied all these months. Or just when I think it's perfect and I'll never need to change the layers again...bam!...I wake up feeling sore. Or I toss and turn all night. I hate that feeling! Why can't it just feel good for ALWAYS?? Or is that the beauty of having a mattress with a zippered top that can be modified as necessary? If this was a big S mattress and my back was sore, I would be stuck with what I have, right?<BR><BR><BR><BR>Oh, well. My mattress guy had given me 4 small, thin sheets of foam that he layers to make a "lumbar pad". He had told me to try it either inside my zipped mattress under the quilted cover or directly under the mattress pad for more support in my lumbar region. I might have to do that. Also, I was just looking at the instructions that come with the mattress and it says to rotate it from end to end (not flip) to even out any body impressions. They said for a bed that isn't all latex, to do this every 3 months. With all latex, once a year. I haven't done it at all and it will be a year in October since we've had it. Oops. I hope I didn't damage it by not rotating it.<BR><BR><BR><BR> JCturboT wrote: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;BeddyBye,I know exactly what you are talking about-Some days I wake up and couldn't be happier with my mattress but other days I am thinking about sleeping elsewhere.I have two small children that love to wandering in sometime in the middle of the night and sleep with my Wife and I and that is when I typically wake up feeling anything but rested.I finish my sleep in one of the kids twin beds and wake up feeling fine.Now, this could be due to the fact that I have a the whole bed to myself (my guess) or it could be their beds are quite firm compared to mine.Just this past week I was on vacation and installed a paver walkway in my backyard.After 8 hours on my knees my back wasn't feeling all that great and woke up feeling a little sore.Was this due to mattress?Certainly not,but somehow I wanted my mattress to make everything normal again but that was not going to happen.But, that is the benefit of having mattresses such as ours-you can customize your mattress exactly as you see fit and are not locked in to what Sealy/Serta/Simmons/ect. had in mind.Just tonite I wanted to try my bed a little firmer so I switched my top medium layer for a firm layer.If I am not happy I'll switch it back to it's original set-up.That's what I like about a latex kit!Jeff |
Re: Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
|
You probably are expecting too much. No mattress is going to cure degenerating, herniated or arthritic discs, although it would be nice if one could! Maybe you should see your doctor to determine if something else isn't going on there that could improve with therapy. If you do have some kind of lumbar spine issue the wrong kind of exercise could actually make it worse, so it's a good idea to check it out first. Unfortunately aches and pains are part of ageing. I had a compressed disc injury when I was a teenager and I've had a weak back ever since. Now that I'm older it just seems to hurt all of the time. Part of the problem is arthritis, so too much back strain or environmental issues like cold or damp just makes it worse. I've resigned myself to the fact that I often have to tweak my bed to sleep comfortably. Sometimes this means more padding, sometimes it means less. I always keep a flat feather travel pillow handy to slip under my waist if I feel the need for more lumbar support. Other times I use a 1/2" piece of HR foam that I can fold over and tuck under my waist. I like these two materials since they are firm to varying degrees and provide more support than my memory foam topper alone. Right now I have a 1" memory foam topper on my bed. But sometimes when I really feel achey all over I pull out my 2" memory foam topper. And sometimes I have a good day--or night rather, when I don't need to tweak anything at all--but they are becoming the exception rather than the rule. |
Re: Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
|
Looks like this is what I'm going to have to do--custom configuring to suit my aches and pains. Arrrrghhh! I honestly don't think I have arthritis in my back at this point in my 56+ years. Only my fingers a bit. :) My dad did have surgery for severe spinal stenosis and congenital disk problems. He's full of osteoarthritis. So, I suppose it could happen to me! Yikes. My mom told me something the other day about taking care of myself NOW before I get old. She said she regrets not exercising more and building strength in her joints and muscles as a younger person. And, she only weighs around 115 and walks everyday. I should pay heed, right? In the meantime, I guess I'll continue to tweak my bed to fit however my body feels at the moment. Sigh.&amp;amp;lt;BR&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;BR&amp;amp;gt;&lt;BR&gt;<BR> cloud9 wrote: You probably are expecting too much. No mattress is going to cure degenerating, herniated or arthritic discs, although it would be nice if one could!&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; Maybe you should see your doctor to determine if something else isn't going on there that could improve with therapy. If you do have some kind of lumbar spine issue the wrong kind of exercise could actually make it worse, so it's a good idea to check it out first.&amp;amp;amp;lt;BR&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;BR&amp;amp;amp;gt;Unfortunately aches and pains are part of ageing. I had a compressed disc injury when I was a teenager and I've had a weak back ever since. Now that I'm older it just seems to hurt all of the time. Part of the problem is arthritis, so&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;too much back&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;strain or environmental issues like&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;cold or damp just makes it worse. &amp;amp;amp;lt;BR&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;BR&amp;amp;amp;gt;I've resigned myself to the fact that I often have to tweak my bed to sleep comfortably. Sometimes this means more padding, sometimes it means less. I always keep a flat feather travel pillow handy to&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;slip under my waist if I feel the need for more lumbar support. Other times I use a&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;1/2&amp;amp;quot; piece of HR foam that I can fold over and tuck under my waist. I like these two materials since they are firm to varying degrees and provide more support than my memory foam topper alone. Right now I have a 1&amp;amp;quot; memory foam topper on my bed. But sometimes when I really feel achey all over I pull out my 2&amp;amp;quot; memory foam topper. And sometimes I have a good day--or night rather, when I don't need to tweak anything at all--but they are becoming the exception rather than the rule. This message was modified Sep 16, 2007 by BeddyBye
|
Re: Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
|
A little info about my setup-Bed:SleepEZ 13000 (4 layers) in 100% Natural Talalay latex.After two night on my firm top latex layer (38-40ILD) my body was craving something soft.So, I decided to go back to my original top comfort layer, a medium latex layer(30-32ILD) but, instead of the second layer of firm latex I put my X-tra firm layer (44ILD).I figure this would give me the comfort I want with the extra support my body is craving as of late.I'll post after a couple of days of this setup.Jeff This message was modified Sep 18, 2007 by JCturboT
|
Re: Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
|
Looking forward to hearing how it goes! One of my fiber beds should be here tomorrow(The Ultimate Cuddle Bed Plus from Costco.) If I decide to keep it, I'll report back on how it works. Sigh...<BR><BR><BR> JCturboT wrote: A little info about my setup-Bed:SleepEZ 13000 (4 layers) in 100% Natural Talalay latex.After two night on my firm top latex layer (38-40ILD) my body was craving something soft.So, I decided to go back to my original top comfort layer, a medium latex layer(30-32ILD) but, instead of the second layer of firm latex I put my X-tra firm layer (44ILD).I figure this would give me the comfort I want with the extra support my body is craving as of late.I'll post after a couple of days of this setup.Jeff |
Re: Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
|
Have you ever thought about an adjustable base? There is no miracle bed (as one member mentioned), but maybe the closest thing to one, is one your able to adjust. The reason I mention this, is everything medical draws a conclusion that an adjustable bed (not an airbed) can alleviate a lot of aches and pains. I haven't seen any flat beds in hospitals that I can remember. Any time your able to articulate your body position;(elevating your head and foot area) it can greatly relieve a lot of common problems people experience when lying flat. If you get a chance to look at these types of sleep systems, 'you should'. Unfortunately, a lot of mattress sales people don't have the proper training to demonstrate such beds. It may take some foot work, but they're out there. Call around first and ask questions about adjustable systems. A knowledgeable salesperson will answer your questions with confidence. They aren't cheap, but if your in pain, they are well worth it. Good luck This message was modified Sep 20, 2007 by Good_Sleep
|
Re: Adjustable foundations
|
I would echo this sentiment. I was at a Relax the Back store and the saleslady laid me down on an adjustable bed and raised the head a bit, and the legs a bit, putting me into what she called the "Zero G" position, and it really was comfortable. When she laid me back down flat I felt like I was being bent over backwards. Flat felt positively unnatural! What turned me off was the price and the weight. If you think moving a mattress is hard, wait till you have to move about 300 lbs worth of steel adjustable base to the third floor of an apartment building. I don't know if they are worth a hoot, but there is such as thing as an adjustable euro slat foundation. Not as fancy as a Leggett & Platt (the name in adjustable beds), but maybe worth a look if the cost and weight are show stoppers? Here is some info on adjustable beds from someone we know. http://www.flobeds.com/adjust/index.htm This message was modified Sep 19, 2007 by haysdb
|
Re: Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
|
I honestly think you've got an excellent point. Whenever I have stayed in the hospital, and particuarly when I was in there for a week twice with knee surgery, I always adjusted the bed so my head was just a wee bit elevated. I never slept on it totally flat. Some of that could be because hospital beds are so narrow and hard. Anything to make it more comfortable!<BR><BR><BR> Good_Sleep wrote: Have you ever thought about an adjustable base?&nbsp; There is no miracle bed (as one member mentioned), but maybe the closest thing to one, is one your able to adjust.&nbsp; The reason I mention this, is everything medical draws a conclusion that an adjustable bed (not an airbed) can alleviate a lot of aches and pains.&nbsp; I haven't seen any flat beds in hospitals that I can remember.&nbsp; Any time your able to articulate your body position, (elevating your head and foot area) it can greatly relieve a lot of common problems people experience when lying flat.&nbsp; If you get a chance to look at these types of sleep systems, you should.&nbsp; Unfortunately, a lot of mattress sales people don't have the proper training to demonstrate such beds.&nbsp; It may take some foot work, but they're out there.&nbsp; Call around first and ask questions about adjustable systems.&nbsp; A knowledgeable salesperson will answer your questions with confidence.&nbsp; They aren't cheap, but if your in pain, they are well worth it.<BR>Good luck |
Re: Am I expecting too much from my perfectly good mattress?
|
You can take a look at the 'mattress genie" with a Google Search. It's on sale at multiple places online including amazon.com. Looks like a king size unit only costs $149 which is cheaper than most mattress toppers. This gadget goes under your mattress and inflates in a wedge shape that will lift/flex your mattress to elevate your head (guess it would also work at the other end of the bed too. If either of us suffered pain during sleep I would try this (cept it wouldn't work with the weight of our waterbed mattress plus we love our mattress) so take a look if you care to - this looks like a pretty creative little gadget to create a "poor man's" adjustable bed that you can put in your rv or take to your hotel room when you travel. Jim |