Need Mattress Advise - Back Problems Message Board

kiehn · 11-22-2002, 12:12 AM

My husband is disabled due to back injuries and pain.
I have arthritis in my spine & neck plus back & hip problems. We both wake up in awful pain each morning.
Our mattress is firm but fairly comfortable and only 3 years old but obviously we need something more suitable for our backs. Anyone have any good mattress recomendations or testaments.
Thanks in advance, Susie

out2lunch · 11-22-2002, 10:26 AM

I don't know which mattress would make a difference 'cause everyone says something different. I have a waterbed and some say it's bad and some say it's good. I've tried a mattress and still woke up very sore. The only thing I know that helps with the pain when I wake up is to keep a pillow under/between my legs and I have a special pillow that forms to my head/neck. I used to wake up with terrible headaches until I got my special pillow. You might want to change or add to your pillow collection before changing your whole bed. I hope this helps!!

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your friend, out2lunch

Tony111 · 11-22-2002, 11:11 AM

Hey kiehn,

I have been living with two failed back surgeries and have spinal arthritis for the last 13 years. After the 8th year my condition got so bad that I spent close to 2 years without much sleep. I would get maybe 1 or 2 hours of sleep per night if I was lucky. It got to the point that I didn't want to even go to bed anymore.

A couple of years ago we bought a Select Comfort bed and it was the best investment that I ever made. There are separte controls for each side. They also give you a 90 day free in home trial. You do not pay until you try it in your house for 3 months. If you do not like it you can return it and they will pay for it or pick it up themselves.

Good Luck
Tony

[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 11-22-2002).]

ali_moran · 11-22-2002, 11:24 AM

My parents had a custom made foam rubber bed made for them..my husband and i took a nap on it one day, and found out that is was wonderful!! My back actually didn't hurt as bad as it usually does from our bed...
We are now having one made for us and we should have it before christmas!! we are sooo excited about it!!
i wish i could help you to find on...but it is foam rubber.
I hope that can help you out a little.
:-) Alison

De Lou · 11-22-2002, 12:56 PM

Hi-

About a year ago we invested in the Tempur Pedic Mattress. I have MS and my hubby has real bad back problems. The first week of useing it I woke up feeling the worst pain ever. My Husband was ok with it for about 3 weeks. Since the time of getting it I injured my back at work. I went to a back specialist she corrected some of the problems in my back that were minor. I went back a few days later and she had to correct them again. I went through this for about 2 weeks. (the problems she was correcting were problems that would help the bigger problems that were going on thinking ok nect time I come in I can get to the root of the problem) Well finally she asked me some questions and one was what kind of matress I used. When I told her she said that that matress is in the same catogory as the old time water bed. Thinking right away that this is a cure all for backs. She said think back to the outcome of that old water bed mattress. Thats where this one will end up.

I have heard that the best thing is to try out mattresses at stores. A nice firm one that feels right. And with a good warranty that you can take it back if it does not work. My sister in law has very bad back problems and I believe they bought the select comfort if that is one that has air. She hates it.

I think a mattress is something that is so hard to decide what is going to be right for you. Maybe the tempur pedic will be good for you. Since we have bought ours they have newer bed frames where you can make them sit up. For a lot more money of course. But that might work becuase if we had the money maybe that would be my next step.

I can tell you that one of the best things is one of those pillows or any that you put in between your legs as this will alow the hips to stay in thier normal postion. Also the least amount of pillows under your head the better. I use a king size pillow and put it the long way down between my legs on real bad days and this seem to help a little.

I am sorry I went on and on like always but I hope you find some of this info helpful. I belive Tempur Pedic has a 90 day policy. They are very strict on this. You do not pay any money except for the delivery charge. If you do not have godd crdit they want all the money up front and then they will of course give it back to you. But heres a bit of advice. If you have room keep your old mattress. We gave ours away right away as that one was only a few months old. But you may find you liked your old one better. So do not let them take it becuase they ask you about that.

DE