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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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

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Neck pain on a new mattress

steven of fort worth, writes:
Hi,
We just got a Simmons Beautyrest World Class Spirit(plush) which has latex.  It seems soft and my neck has been hurting though that is work related.  Could this matress contribute to the neck and shoulder problems?  What would you recommend instead?  Thanks!

Hi Steve,
When you get a new mattress, the angle if your body is likely to change. For instance, in an worn mattress, your butt is lower. In that position, you're likely to use a thicker pillow. In a new mattress, with your body more level, that same thicker pillow is likely to throw off your neck's alignment with your spine.
It's usual to need a new pillow after buying a new mattress.

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I'm in need of new mattress

Karen of Newton, writes:
Hi Peter, I know I'm in need of new mattress (it's 10 plus years old) but now I'm experiencing neck and shoulder soreness and "rice krispies" in my neck. Do you think this is due to my pillows or the mattress? I really want the Sealy Beachside but was planning on waiting until I get money back from my tax return. Do you think a latex pillow will help?

Hi Karen. It sounds like arthritis. I have that in my neck also. The key is the pillow. And it's more the thickness of the pillow than the material it's made of. Latex pillows are very comfortable and long lasting. But what you want is to have your neck aligned with your spine as you sleep....like the way it is when you're standing up. A pillow that is too thick or too thin will trow off the alignment. Latex pillows are more pliable. I find that tucking the pillow up into the crock of my neck helps with the alignment and subsequent pain. The Beachside is a great mattress. I just sent one to mom.

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A simmons mattress out the door

Janell of Martinez, writes:
We are looking for a good mattress. We saw two we liked but we are hesitant about spending $4000.00 until we do research. Mancini offered us a Simmons NxG 400, for 3500.00 out the door and another company offered us a Sealy Luxury Series Black Label mattress for 4500.00. Do you know which one will be the better mattress? We both have back and neck pain. We like a mattress medium to hard. More one the medium side. Thank you,

Hi Janell. Neither one is worth the money. You're over spending. And I love that "out the door" expression...like it's worth something.

Delivery available everywhere in the contiental US.
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You'll find discount pricing on our website: www.ccmattress.com
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"2007-2008 Neighbor's Choice Award"

Also available:
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Neck pain on a Sealy Posturepedic Reserve plush mattress

Steven of West Orange, writes:
I'm getting alot of neck pain with my Reserve Plush mattress. I weigh 240 so my waist sinks deeper than my shoulders/legs/neck. Would I be better off with a Reserve Firm/Cushioned Firm? Would another brand be better suited to handle my midsection weight? Thanks

Hi Steven. The plush model is not what what I'd recommend for a fellow your size. You would definately be better off with the cushion firm. You may also need to get a new pillow. Neck pain comes mainly from not being aligned with your spine. If your head is too high or too low, the alignment is thrown off. Commonly, people sleep with too many pillows.

Delivery available everywhere in the contiental US.
NO SALES TAX outside of NJ.
You'll find discount pricing on our website: www.ccmattress.com
Voted "Best Mattress Store in New Jersey"
"2007-2008 Neighbor's Choice Award"

Also available:
Sealy "SpringFree" Latex Pillows....Sealy "Pro-Guard" Protection Plus Mattress Pads
High quality sheets and comforters

Upper back pain and from my shoulder to my neck

Cindy of South Milwaukee, writes:
I got my new mattress on Friday and immediately loved the soft snuggly feeling. By day for I'm having upper back pain and from my shoulder to my neck.
I'm a side sleeper with typically my arm stretched out underneath my head. Do you suppose the pain the from the matrress or the feather pillows that flatten out when I sleep. I did have this problem with my previous mattress but it seems pretty bad these past 4 days.
A co-worker told me to give it at least a week. I have 30 days to exchange the mattress for an equivalent or higher cost item.
Thanks, Cindy

Hi Cindy. Take your arm out from under your head. Pull your arm in front of you so that you can touch your other shoulder with that hand. Then take your pillow and pull it into the curve of your neck. Write back and let me know how that works for you.

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Denver Mattress memory foam w/ Swedish coils

Paul of arcola, writes:
We were looking to buy a memory foam mattress and I did some research. I have migraines caused from sore neck muscles after I sleep. I can only sleep in bed on my side and only for about 5-6 hours. Anything longer I am so stiff and sore, a headache will be coming soon if I don't get up. Our old bed is a pillow top king size Sealy and is almost 8 years old and sags like crazy. We went several places and finally ended up at Denver Mattress Co. We tried several bed and like the Lincoln and was under the impression it was a total memory foam mattress. When I got home I jumped online to look for some reviews on this mattress but could not find any. Then I noticed it has Swedish Individually Wrapped Coils under 4" of memory foam. A few places said this would be better for my sore neck problems. I can't blame the salesman, I told him my problems and he pointed us in this direction. I guess my question is will the mattress last and does it sound right for me? What is your review on this mattress? I wish I had found this site before we bought one.
thx, Paul

Hi Paul. The reviews on memory foam as a whole are pretty poor. They aren't very good on Simmons' individually pocketed coils either. The Simmons coils aren't tempered. You'd have to call the Denver people to find out if theirs are.Tempered steel is more resilient.
As far as your neck problem is concerned, that's better addressed with the right pillow. In choosing a mattress, you'll need to be sure that you spine is perfectly aligned and that your neck follows the same alignment.
And what's up with the "Swedish" thing? Buzz words that are non-descript are always a red flag for me.

www.ccmattress.com

Kingsdown mattress causing neck pain

rachel of new york city, writes:
Hi:
two weeks ago I  purchased my 110 lb daughter a kingsdown with a plush top , 605 coils, full size  bed . she has always had backproblems, carries a heavy back pack etc. However, since sleeping on this she has complained of neck pain. The salesman said the problem was that she is using too many pillows, that this bed is softer than the last she had (a simmons backsaver).
She likes my husbands and mine backsaver bed that we have had for over 10 years - it is bouncy, firm but not hard,
The salesman said there is no such similiar bed made anymore.
We looked around the store and spotted the isle manor, no plush top,  785 coil posturpedic, (about the same price)...he suggested we try and get my daughter to sleep on fewer pillows rather than swap out immemediately. The posturpedic is a harder bed. I felt she would be more comfortabe in it...he says no. I also felt that the fabric on the posturpedic seemed less hot.  The salesman kept saying that she would have the same shoulder problems with this bed.  Any thoughts?
thanks for your help.
Rachel

Hi Rachel. Your mattress has an interlocked coil system. The one you bought your daughter has an individually pocketed coil system. Part of the reason her bed feels so soft is the boxspring. If you push down on yours and hers, you'll feel that difference. The Posturepedic isn't exactly the same as what you and your husband have, but it's a lot closer than the Kingsdown. Using the same pillow as before and now sleeping in a much softer mattress is absolutely the reason for her neck pain. A firmer boxspring will help correct your problem. You can test that theory by putting the mattress directly on the floor for a couple of nights.

www.ccmattress.com