The Mattress Expert

Mattress causing back pain I never had before

Jennifer of Utah, writes:
Hi! I purchased a new Simmons Beautyrest Classic pillowtop mattress after my old hand-me-down mattress was sagging quite a bit. I wasn't really having any back pain, it just seemed time for a new one. After the first night on my new mattress my back hurt everywhere. The salesperson had said there may be an adjustment period and to give the bed a few weeks. After 3 weeks of sleeping on it, my back pain wasn't quite as bad, but still was enough I decided to trade in for something else. The salesperson said I really needed a firmer Spring Air Back Supporter if I was having back pain. I bought the Bradley Eurotop Spring Air mattress after laying on it for a while in the store. It's been 2 nights now and I can only lay in the bed for a few hours before my back begins to ache so much I have to get up. The pain is a burning sensation throughout my mid back above the lumbar area and just under the shoulder blades. I'm frustrated and am not even sure if it's the mattresses fault or if I'm still recovering from the first mattresses. Is it possible that my old mattresses was bad enough that a new mattress is straightening out my back and it's simply a painful process? I don't want to return yet another mattress, and I wouldn't know what to look for in a new one! Help!

Hi Jennifer, To some degree there can be a breaking in period. If you've gotten use to sleeping on a bed that has lost it's shape, it can be a bit of an adjustment to get use to being properly aligned again. The more out of shape and the longer you've put off getting a new one, can make the difference between a few days and a few weeks to adjust.
You also have to be careful, because salespeople use that to put you off from exchanging a mattress that may be wrong for you. The current pain you describe is common when the mattress is too soft. Buying a mattress isn't like anything else. For most items, when you get something new, you tend to get something different....just for the sake of not wanting the same old thing again.  That's not a good idea when buying a mattress. If you had a mattress that you slept comfortably in and it needs to be changed because it's getting out of shape, (which is a perfectly good reason),
then it's better to find something that feels similarly. Of course, there are other factors to consider. If you're getting older and need it a little cushier, or if you've damaged your back, etc. But buying a thicker, plusher pillowtop if what you had was firm, is almost always a mistake. Also, an expensive mattress means more padding. The more padding you have, the farther from the support you'll be. 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

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Shopping for a good queen mattress for under $1000

Hi there,
Great blog!  Could you please offer some feedback?  I
am in Los Angeles.  Looking for a queen mattress for a
grand or less.  I am a side sleeper and have a bad
back, like something fairly firm for support, but not
like a brick.
I found a bed that felt comfortable--Simmons
Beautyrest Devona.  It is a pillow top on a firm
mattress I believe.
The price is 960 including deliver, frame, box spring.
It seems like a fair price, but I am reading horror
stories online about Simmons and how they don't honor
warranties.
Thanks, Ryan

Hi Ryan,
   The problem is that the coils in the Beautyrest are not tempered steel. They tend not to keep their shape very long. If you back problem is disc related, the contouring support of a Beautyrest is wrong for you anyway. For the grand, you should be able to pick up a level 5 Sealy Posturepedic. Level 5 starts their higher coil count. The coils are double tempered. You'll find a fairly firm pillowtop at that level, as well as a cushion firm and plush tight tops. We call it the Cedar Rose, but you'd have better luck asking for a "G" grade Posturepedic.

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Princess needs the pea taken out of her mattress

Susan of pacific palisades, writes:
In the past 2 years I have bought and returned a s&f "silverdream" and then a miralux "opulence"..Both beds developed deep body inpressions within 6 months.
I am 5'1" 103lbs.  And turn frequently in my"sleep"....My husband is 5'9" 160lbs. and rarely moves in his sleep.  I have neck and trap muscle stifness frequently and sleep on my side or stomach...........what do I do now?  I think pillowtops are too mushy but don't want to get numb hands and hips from a firm mattress.  I am like the princess and the pea!  Help me find a bed that will be "just right"?

Hi Susan, You've spent a lot of money. And that's has been at the root of your problem. What makes a mattress so expensive is a lot of padding. The more padding you have the deeper the body impression get. I would also think that these really thick, soft mattress would hurt your back when you tried to sleep on your stomach. Top line bedding is a terrible value. Try the Sealy SpringFree Beachside latex mattress. It's plenty comfy, but not too soft. It's not too thick. It's a great choice.

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Sealy Reflexion Bellson latex mattress

BP of houston, writes:
I'm trying to price compare.  We visited Mattress Giant and found a latex mattress (new to us) we liked.  The saleman called it a "Sealy Reflexion Bellson Plush" latex mattress.  For a King Size set (with mattress protection spray, free delivery and a "stronger Giants Best Frame"), he'll sale for $2920 plus tax.  We don't care about the "mattress spray" stuff, but I can't find this same Sealy latex "Bellson Plush" listed anywhere to know if the price is too high or what other Sealy latex it compares to.  Help!  My husband and I are looking for a good mattress, helpful for our lower back with a little bit of cushion (yet still firm) feel.  Thanks for your expertise!

Hi BP, The "Reflexion" name was recently resurrected for MG. Their Bellson is the same as the Sealy SpringFree River Crest ultra plush. You should care about having them spraying  $10 worth of chemicals on your mattress. You'll want a mattress pad to protect the fabric. We sell that River Crest for $2399, send you the best frame, deliver it free and not charge you sales tax. It pays to shop around. The large mattress chains have the highest prices, but their advertising would have you believe otherwise. And if you like being lied to and cheated, wait until you get to the customer service part of it.

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Mattress in Italy

Andrius of Toronto, Canada, writes:
My wife and I were in a hotel in Italy and had the best sleep ever on their mattresses. I contacted them and was able to find out only that it was a Sealy Posturepedic. After literally dozens of calls and email messages to the Sealy Guest Purchases group and Sealy International in the US, the Sealy office in France, and their Italian counterpart, I was able to find out that a roughly equivalent mattress is the Sealy Posturepedic California model. Now Sealy North America tells me that they have no idea what the N.American equivalent model would be nor can they direct me to someone who can. I even found a PDF 'brochure' of the darn thing, but it's all in Italian and Sealy says they can't help. Do you have any way of  knowing if I were to send it to you?

Hi Andrius, Oddly enough, there is a way to further your investigation. It seems like a waste of time to try and find a precise match, since it isn't likely that you will or even necessary that you do, given that a level 3 or 4 Posturepedic will probably be very close to what you slept on, but you've gone so far in your hunt, it feels kinda like a game...a challenge to see it to the end...if possible. The link below is a for language translation. Enter it in Italian and it'll translate it into English. The translation may seem a little choppy as it will likely give you a more literal translation, not taking into consideration manner of speach. But hey, it's worth a shot. http://babelfish.altavista.com/
I'll do it for you if you send me the info. I know a little Italian...besides my dad.

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

SpringFree latex mattress with Java Platform bed

Thank you for the response.  I finally found one store in the area that had
the ultra plus and euro top models, of course after trying those the euro
top felt so much better than the ultra (though the large price difference
i'm not sure is worth it.  Unfortunately the closest bassett store is almost
two hours away, so that isn't much of an option.  I'm guessing either one
would work great, I'm just concerned about spending such a large amount on a
bed that might not last as long as advertised.  I know the warranty on them
is only 20 limited and have heard from people saying they should last much
longer, but the vera wang line comes with a 30 un-pro rated warranty.  I
honestly think the sealy is a better bed, but do you know if there is a
reason they have such a comparatively short warranty?  One last thing, on
your java black bed, since that is a platform can they still handle the
boxsprings or are they made to work without one?  It is a great looking bed,
but I don't want to compromise the quality of the mattress or warranty -Will the
Java bed invalidate any warranty that the Springfree will have?  I have seen
mention of where if you don't use the proper boxspring, you lose any claims.
nationwide delivery is almost included in that price?

Latex mattresses have been available since the 1920's. They have always been the longest lasting mattress made. Sealy produces a quality product and provides a reasonable warranty. They don't use the warranty as a selling feature. The warranty protects you against defects. It has nothing to do with how long the bed will last and doesn't insure that length of life. If a bed has a manufacturer's defect, it will show up in the first few years. If you buy the Serta and 25 years from now, if you were to have a complaint, you would be able to cash in on it. They'll tell you that it's just normal wear.
Don't go with the eurotop. This is the point in the sales process, where you are being seduced...if not by a salesman, then by the bed itself. Spend the extra money on something else you want.
The Java bed is made for a mattress only and provides plenty of support. If you're getting it, you won't need the boxspring.
The warranty will remain in effect. The usual voiding of a mattress warranty comes when you buy a new mattress for an old boxspring.

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Stop me before I buy another mattress!!

Linda of Baltimore, writes:
I have a Beautyrest Worldclass Escape II mattress that is only a year old but I wake up with terrible lower back pain. I have a herniated lumbar disk and this bed has worsened pain from the onset but it has gotten even worse over time. This bed contains 3" of memory foam within the mattress (not in the top layer) and I am thinking that the memory foam is the problem. I probably need something firm but firm mattresses don't have the comfort appeal I crave. When I test new beds I am always drawn to the pillowtops. I have recently been testing Sealy's new Springfree Latex beds and so far (although how can you really tell by laying on a bed for a short time)I like the Whistlewood Pillowtop the best. In your opinion, would this mattress provide enough support for someone with my problem? Is it possible to get comfort and support(firmness)both? Can you suggest any other mattress. I understand Beautyrest has a new line called Beautyrest Black that has stronger coils and latex comfort layers, any opinions on that? Also, Stearns and Foster is suppose to be coming out with a new line containing multiple layers of coils and comfort layers.Do you know anything about this? Thanks for your opinion.

Hi Linda, Your going to have to exercise a little discipline when you go shopping for a mattress. I'm not a fan of Mick Jagger and I'm loathed to quote him, but you can't always get what you want. That memory foam in the mattress you have is only part of the problem. The Beautyrest has individually pocketed coils that provide contouring support. Latex provides the same kind of support...and this type of support is wrong for your back problems. The S&F you asked about has an individually pocketed coil atop their interlocked coil. And while I think it's a great mattress in the cushion firm, I'm fairly certain it's a bad choice for you. Your back problems require the firm support of S&F's interlocked coil system. This is where the dicipline part comes in. Too soft a top will negate the benefits of the firm support. It's very easy to allow yourself to be seduced by the higher end ultra plush pillowtops, but the fact is, your back won't tolerate it. The model that will give you the most relief from pain will have "JUST ENOUGH" padding to be comfortable. The S&F level 4 cushion firm pillowtop would be the one I'd put you on to try first. You might not be able to get what you want, but if you try that one, you'll get what you need.

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

S&F, Stearns & Foster Highlands Christieland mattress

Judy of New Carlisle, writes:
We are shopping to replace a mattress that is at least 20 years old even though it has no obvious problems. Neither my husband or I had any back problems with this mattress but in April I hurt my back. I've had an MRI which indicated two bulging disks and one of them is compressing a nerve. The result is not back pain but an almost constant pain  in my leg which can hurt anywhere from my buttock to my foot. I can usually find a position that doesn't hurt when sitting or lying down.
I travel a lot for business and stayed at a higher level hotel with new bedding. My leg pain was so much better when sleeping on this bed, I decided I should probably get a new mattress.
My husband liked the Sealy Posturpedic and it felt comfortable. I really liked the Stearns and Foster Highland Series Christieland but wonder if it would be too firm. I have always had back pain whenever I slept as a guest on beds that were too soft or didn't have good support. The same thing happened on my own bed if I slept more than 7 hours.
I've read your blogs on Stearns & Foster and noticed in the Spring that you didn't yet have the Christieland bed. Have you had a chance to review it?

Hi Judy, I have a list of all the S&F collections, including the Highlands series, but Christieland isn't listed on it.
The mattress I would show you first is the S&F level 4 cushion firm pillowtop. It has a good feel for your disc problems. It is firm, but not too much so. You might also want to ask your doctor what he thinks about getting yourself an inversion table. I have one and it helps.

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Padding shifting in pillowtop mattress

Michele of Lindenhurst, writes:
Hi Peter,
Well I have had 3 Sealy mattresses and all were defective. This 3rd mattress is called English Meadow (Stearns and Foster). I had the Futura, and the Wallingford too. All three pillow tops that badly idented and 2 of them had shifted pillowtops. These beds are all uncomfortable to me. When I am sleeping I feel like I am rolling to my husband all the time. I have to prop my self up with a pillow so I am not rolling. I usually start out on my side and end up on my stomach. Well this English Meadow is going to be exchanged by Stearns and Foster. I don't know what to get I have been looking at the latex lines from Sealy. But I can not find them on Long Island. What do you suggest my lower back muscles are killing me (from the rolling thing). I don't like the memory foam, it's like wet sand. Another thing I forgot to mention is my current bed feels more supportive in the middle only (kingsize). We like the pillowtops but we don't like the body impresssions. Please help us out.

Hi Michelle, It's time to get away from the pillowtops. Padding in the pillowtop shifting is a most unusual occurance and it's happened twice to you. The Sealy SpringFree Beachside should be all the plushness you need to sleep comfortably. It isn't overly padded, but because the latex provides contouring support, it doesn't need to be. An since it isn't overly padded you shouldn't run into the shifting problem again. That contouring support will give excellent support to each muscle group and rolling together isn't likely to happen because of the independent suspension type of support.

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Latex mattress confusion

Libby of Greenville, writes:
I have been latex mattress shopping for a week now and I am totally confused. I am looking at three different latex mattresses in particular.  The S&F Island Resort, Springfree Meadows and Bassett pillowtop, I think it was called the Dream Maker, but not sure. The S&F also has a pillowtop but the Meadows is plush top. I know they are all actually Sealy products. Are there any major difference in the three except the price? I have been dealing with 2 different retailers and honestly have heard 2 different stories. Would appreciate any advice.  Thanks.

Hi Libby, The Meadows is and has been discontinued for some time. Be careful that you aren't buying factory returns from an outlet. Those will come with no factory warranty. Generally, you can't buy anything better than latex. The question becomes, which model is most comfortable for you. For most people, the plush tight top has the right feel...not too soft and not too firm.  The is also a firm and ultra plush tight top that are also popular. The pillowtops are were you have to question if it's worth the price. Generally, they aren't. They won't last any longer and are only worth it if you were that much more comfortable on them. There are only 5 models in the line. 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.