The Mattress Expert

Anna - Stearns & Foster Latex mattress for herniated discs.

Anna writes:
 
First of all, your site is very informative and we are really hoping you
can help us. Our current mattress is over 11 yrs old, and causes both
myself and my husband to wake up tired and sore. We have been mattress
shopping and are having a difficult time deciding the best way to go. To
give you some background, I have had 4 back surgeries including a spinal
fusion, two disc surgeries, and bone removed to help widen my spine. (I
have a very narrow spinal canal so any herniation of my discs causes
pain with my nerves). I basically have degenerative disc disease from
L2-S1. I have a lot of scar tissue which causes me pain as well. In
addition to that I have neck pain which they say is frozen neck, as well
as fibromyalgia. My biggest problem is that my back is so sensitive that
a firm mattress is very uncomfortable. The latex S&F bed seemed to be the most
comfortable one we tried in the showroom, but everything you have
indicated seems to point away from latex for people with disc issues. We
are both back/side sleepers, and I especially turn throughout the night
because pain wakes me or I can't find a comfortable position. We have
tried tempurpedic and don't like it at all. I have trouble sleeping on
firm mattresses because of the pressure on my back and we both like the
feel of plush mattresses. Please help recommend something that may
benefit both of us and help me get a good night sleep. Thanks!!

 
Hi Anna,
It depends, mostly, on your weight and what you choose.
Latex with a hernitaed disc can be iffy. Generally, a herniated disc requires firm support.
If you are going with the firm model, you are likely to be ok with that.
You can always add a topper to soften the surface without sacrifficing the firm support.
If you are heavier and go with a softer feeling mattress, your disc problems are likely to be painful for you.
Personally, I have many back problems and am a larger fellow, to put it gently.
My orthopedist put it less gently, when he told me I have all these problems because my fat ass has been sitting at a desk all my life.
Normally, I would take offense to that, but he was only trying to be helpful...and I did tell him to give it to me straight.
But, I digress.
I have an all latex mattress. I puchased the plush and found it too soft for me. I flipped it over, which is the same feel as the firm and found it less comfortable than I like.
My wife and I now use it with a 2" soft latex topper, and it's just right.
Here are the links to the firmer latex models and the toppers.
http://www.themattressexpert.com/Stearns-Foster-Private-Vineyard-Villa-Firm-/
http://www.themattressexpert.com/Pure-LatexBLISS-Pamper-Natural-Talalay-Latex/
http://www.themattressexpert.com/Accessories/


Thanks, Pete
 
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Joe - A mattress for a difficult couple to please.

Joe writes:
Hi Pete,
My wife and I have both broken our backs while parachuting, but my wife seems to be having the most problems. She has L-5 issues, including herniation and a disc break. She is 5'4" and about 130 and well endowed. She likes to sleep on her stomach, but it is not recommended by her doctor. She usually has problems with leg numbness and "Someone hit me in the back right above my hips with a 2X4" in the morning.
I have broken my back and neck in various parachuting (military) accidents. I wake up at night with numb fingers and back pain between my shoulder blades, where a previous break occurred. I am 6' and 215. I also like to sleep on my stomach, but place a pillow under a shoulder/ upper chest to relieve pain.
We have a 8 year old piece of crap queen mattress with the plywood over the box springs right now. Initially the plywood helped, but no longer.
I did sleep on a hotel mattress, which after reading your site I found out to be a Sealy Posturpedic Reserve with what appeared to be a moderate pillow top. The hotel had finished construction less than a year ago, so I am fairly certain that is the model. Any ideas you may have will be well received.
Thanks, Joe
 
 
Hi Joe,
There's no getting around the physical damage you've sustained. There isn't a mattress made that will make the pain go away. All there is, "is the best you can do".
The best you can do will involve understanding your bodies. Each of your bodies have arches...which dictate what is your natural alignment, and they are different from one another.
Both of you require firm support. As a stomach sleeper, your wife torso cannot be allowed to sink into a mattress, as doing so will exaggerate the arch in the small of her back...quite painful.
Her situation is further complicated by needing to make room for her girls...for lack of a better term.
Your situation is easier than hers because men are built more in a straight line. There are fewer curves that need to be considered when aiming form maintaining your body's natural alignment.
Then, there's the comfort issue. If the bed is too firm, there is pressure point pain and restricted blood flow...making for a restless night's sleep.
Right now, it sounds like your mattress has lost its shape and you are sleeping misaligned.
To complicate the process of buying a mattress, you have to also understand that it's an upholstered product that begins to wear almost immediately after you start using it.
How it feels when new won't be the same a year later and won't feel the same as the floor sample did, when you get it.
Having the misfortune of suffering with all this damage makes you sensitive to the changes a mattress will go through over time.
Weight and shape are also factors to consider when choosing a mattress. If you don't want to have to replace this mattress every year, you'll have to adapt, overcome and conquer.
The enemies are: your physical problems that you can do little about, and the mind set of mattress manufacturing that is now selling a product to be more disposable than they used to be.
The best way to go about this is to start with a reasonably firm, well made mattress that will keep its shape. If you start with a mattress that you perceive as comfortable, you will see that comfort beginning to wane within months.
Adjust the surface feel of that firmer mattress with a topper. In extreme cases like your, it may take more than one.
Latex is the most resilient material available. A layer of soft latex will make that firmer mattress much kore comfortable and add years to the longevity of that mattress.
Given you special circumstances, you may want to add a softer layer to that...perhaps a synthetic down topper. These wear out reasonably quickly, so you can expect to replace them as you need to. 
Get back to me if you wish to pursue this coarse of action and we can go over where to start.
If you're just going out to get a comfortable mattress, you'll have every salesman in the country to help you with that.


Thanks, Pete
 
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http://www.goodbed.com/mattress-questions/29/good-firm-mattress-brandtype/

Rebekah - Memory foam mattress not working for us.

Rebekah writes:

Hi Pete,

I too wished I would have seen this blog sooner, we bought the comforpedic because my husband has back problems, and it was recommended, I on the other hand never had back pain until sleeping in this bed, we have had it for approx 5 months and my back is getting worse and worse, I was so convinced by all the fancy advertising that a memory foam mattress was the best, now I'm so tired of waking up with back pain I just want to throw it out the window and go back to a traditional mattress. Thanks, Rebekah

Hi Rebekah,
The back problems you're experiencing will only get worse and sooner or later, the damage will become permanent.
You really do need to get rid of that. In the mean time, flip it over and sleep on the underside.
Check out the Stearns & Foster Blisswood as a great value for a quality mattress.
Here's the link. http://www.themattressexpert.com/Stearns-Foster-Blisswood/

Thanks, Pete
 
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A mattress is a blind item.... 
...Making the purchase of one, entirely about trust. 
After sifting through all the mass media advertising hype and all the pitches you hear during many sales presentations, 
check with the Better Business Bureau and/or your state's Attorney General's office about any retailer you're considering. 
What you'll find from them and what you'll sense on your own is that we, at The Mattress Expert , are among the most trusted retailers in the business. 
We don't advertise that. You’re doing that for us...and we thank you. 

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Heather - Stearns & Foster Blisswood luxury firm Mattress

Heather writes:

Having such a hard time figuring out which is the "best" mattress for me! Have read so many prior comments and they've only made me more counfused. I'm plus size (288lbs), side sleeper with moderate to severe disc degeneration in lower back. Unable to sleep the night in my 7 -8 year old Simmons Back Care (what a lie!) set and have to move out to the recliner for relief. HELP! Leaning towards a Stearns & Foster but WHICH one? And what are the levels all about? Thanks!

 

Hi Heather,
The levels are that of expense. The higher up you go, the more stuff is inside. In your case, less is more...in terms of how well it will service you.
As a plus size person, a mattress will form a body impression more readily. The more padding you have in the mattress, the deeper the impression will become.
The starting model, the Blisswood, is where to go...and in the luxury firm tight top.http://www.themattressexpert.com/Stearns-Foster-Blisswood/
For greater comfort for your hip and greater durability, add a 2" soft latex topper.http://www.themattressexpert.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.prodInfo&prodId=14477
The combination provides extraordinary comfort and support. Latex is extremely resilient material. It absorbs much of your body weight, leaving less work for the mattress.
This is the best way to spend your money, for long term use.
 
 
Thanks, Pete
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Debbie - Stearns & Foster Blisswood Mattress

Pete,

  I got my mattress yesterday.  I woke up this morning without any back pain!  Thank you so very much

 Debbie 

Hi Debbie,
I'm very pleased to hear that and I'm happy for you.
Thanks for taking the time to write to let me know.

Thanks, Pete

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Brenda - Stearns & Foster All Latex Mattress

Brenda writes...

Shopping for a mattress and having a difficult time. Over the last 4-5 yrs we have bought the following mattresses and been unhappy:

1. Simmons Beauty Rest Bancroft (World Class) Firm (RC Wiley) -- too firm caused backaches
2. Traded in for Simmons Beauty Rest Bancroft Plush and it developed deep indents where hips were - over 2' so RC Wiley replaced.
 3. Marquis Torino Plush (latex mattress - RC Wiley) - also indented in a matter of months, replaced by RC Wiley.
 4. Vera Wang Beyond Radiance (also latex mattress frm RC Wiley).
 
 All the above were Cal King mattresses and all have been unsuitable - most breaking down. The latest Vera Wang is 2 yrs old and is deeply indented where husband sleeps (225 lbs). We both have numbness in both arms and back aches from mattress.
 
 Now to shopping for guest rm: Bought a Select Comfort I10 (top of the line) Number Bed Queen Size. The backaches are instant and wake up feeling bruises and battered every 10 min. The lower nrs. cause the backaches - the higher numbers the bruise and battered feeling and again, numbness. 
 
 We are in process of returning but have no idea where to go from here. Can you help? 

 

Hi Brenda,
You were on the right track initially. Could have gotten a topper to soften the surface of that. In the Simmons line, going to a "plush" means more than just a softer top, but also, a much thinner gauge wire for the coils...resulting in what happened to that. There are lots of latex mattresses out there that have very little latex in them. I don't know anythging about the Marquis Torino, but can promise you that the Vera Wang uses a polyurethane foam core....likely for the other too. 
My wife and I have been sleeping on latex for years...nice sized people, she and I...but we are talking about an all latex mattress.
Today, I'd have you look at any of the Stearns & Foster models you can find without a pillowtop....and you can't go wrong.
http://www.themattressexpert.com/Stearns-and-Foster-3749/

 

Thanks, Pete

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Chuck - Stearns & Foster Blisswood Mattress

Hi, I'm looking for a full size mattress set for my dad. He's 84 years old, 5' 8' tall, 140 lbs. He has arthritis in his neck and pain in his lower back. He sleeps on his right side mostly. I'm in area code 91350 and it needs to be available within 30 days. What do you recommend? 
Thanks,
 Chuck

 

Hi Chuck,
I would take a look at the starting model Stearns & Foster in a luxury firm tight top. We have it as the Blisswood. You can try it at Macy's as the English meadows or at Sears as the Hearthstone.
http://www.themattressexpert.com/Luxury-Collection/ Delivery is free, there's no sales tax  and there's another $100 off to be had if you order within the next few days.

 

Thanks, Pete

Order on Line or Call 

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 Sealy http://www.themattressexpert.com/Sealy-Posturepedic/ 

Stearns & Foster http://www.themattressexpert.com/Stearns-and-Foster-3749/

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Jennifer - Stearns & Foster Mattress

Hello, I can't figure out how to start a new thread, so I hope this is alright. I'm so terribly overwhelmed and confused after reading the posts here and your responses... I was just trying to figure out if anyone could tell me what my old Sealy latex mattress was so I could figure out what the new King size should be, and I ended up here. And got lost reading a ton of these. And now I feel like an idiot, but I'll ask the question anyway, since it seems I may have been on the wrong track. We had a Sealy Posturepedic latex foam mattress we purchased about 4 years ago. It says "cashmere" on it, but I guess that doesn't mean anything. Anyway, after sleeping on it, my husband's shoulder pain went away and we got better sleep. It's a queen. We want the same sleep in a king. However, since sleeping on that mattress he has problems with a bulging disk, so maybe that's not what we want afterall? We slept great on the queen (once we figured out the spacial difference coming from a king) and the king mattress we're on now doesn't provide decent sleep for either one of us. He's 6' and 220 lbs, so from the sounds of it he won't get the support he needs from latex to help his back? What would you recommend? Thank you for taking the time to answer all our questions!

 
Hi Jennifer,
The latex line has been re-introduced using the Stearns & Foster label.
When getting a king to replace your quuen, get one that is a little firmer to acheive a similar feel. The king has a greater area and tends to feel a litlle looser than a queen. '
You also have the bulging disc issue, which should have firmer than softer support.
The new line will be up on our website before long, using this link:
http://www.themattressexpert.com/Stearns-and-Foster/
Pete
 
 
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Cindy - Stearns & Foster Chestnut St mattress

Hi, I have pretty bad back pain and was considering the Stearns $ Foster Eureka Springs Luxury Firm (feels a little too soft) and the Stearns & Foster Chestnut St Firm Pillow Top (feels comfortable but I'm worried it might be too hard) What are your thoughts? Thank you! Cindy

 

Hi Cindy,
Both, are good beds. It's very hard to know what you'll be happy with, long term, from trying beds for a few minutes at the store.
Many stores offer a comfort exchange, but they are expensive to use.
The best thing to remember, under these circumstances, is that you can easily soften the surface of a mattress that is too firm and there is nothing you can do to firm up a mattress that is too soft.
Remember too, a mattress does soften with age and that most back problems react better to firmer than softer.
You might want to check our prices for those beds. Model names vary from store to store, but their Chestnut St. is our Blisswood and their Eureka Springs is our Kimberley.
http://www.themattressexpert.com/Stearns-and-Foster/
 
Thanks, Pete
www.themattressexpert.com
1-888-732-5923

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Nancy - S&F Abbey Lynn Mattress

I bought a S&F Abbey House King size mattress. Ours is now about 7 months old. Never had hip pain before -- I do now in the mornings. Bed was very comfy in the store. My husband's back kills him every morning as well -- he had only minor back pain before the bed --now it seems much worse. We already had this mattress replaced once because it sagged more than 3" in each of the areas we slept -- had this new one about 7 months and it is doing the same. Hope we don't have to wait until it permanently depresses more than 3" to get a new mattress under warranty -- it won't be a Stearns and Foster tho. Twice is enough. We need a comfortable good night sleep. This was not a cheap mattress!! Very disapointed.

 

Hi Nancy,

I hate being the bearer of bad news, but your problem is less about S&F and more about the model you chose. In every line of bedding, there are good choices and bad ones.

High end models and pillowtops are almost never a good choice...and yours is the top of the line pillowtop.

And to make matters worse, you probably over payed for it. The store that carries the Abbey Lynn model is thee most expensive mega chain in the country.

The king set sells for $2699 and I'll bet that wasn't the price on their tag.

The best spec that S&F has is the P grade...called Lucas Park at our stores and Patricia at their store.

That model without a pillowtop is one to look at if you're replacing what you have.

Naturally, the P grade tight top isn't as luxurious feeling as the one you bought, then again, you've already experienced what is common when you opt for a luxury model.

Pete

 

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Adjustable beds.

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