I'm faced with a sleeping dilemma regarding back and hip pain. I can't sleep on my stomach. Hurts like hell and doctors object to it anyway. I can't sleep on my back. Even with a pillow propped under my knees, my lower back begins to hurt (I have L5-S1 herniation). If I prop two pillows beneath my knees, the back feels okay but circulation under my knees becomes impeded and I suffer discomfort (damn, being me is a full-time job).
This leaves me with my side, my right side. That's the best. However, at around 4 in the morning I wake up and the nerves around my hip pointer are frazzled. The pain keeps me up.
I can't sleep on my left side. All that weight on my heart makes me worry I could crush my vital organ.
Mind you, I have a 3-inch memory foam topper over my Sealy mattress from Costco. It helps, but it's no cure-all.
So I've been considering a Tempur-pedic mattress, which would cost me $3,000 (California King) or so. A non-name brand would cost me about a third of that or a little less.
The problem is this: Sampling the mattress at the store is not the same as sleeping overnight. What I need is a Tempur-pedic Hotel to test-drive one of these things. This was my wife's idea. She said there's no way we're spending money on a new memory bed unless we can try it for an extended period.
Also I'd like to know if these less known brands use the same material as Tempur-pedic, as they claim.
Any suggestions? I can already hear the mockery on its way.
Ive had a bad back for 20 years, have tried all kinds of beds. Currently use a Sleep Number bed. Yeah, its a fancy air mattress, 2 actually, so you and your wife can dial in different levels of firmness from 0 to 100 in steps of 5. Its also costs a few grand, but they'll let you try it for 30 days. You can order posturpedic foam topping layers for it too.
Posted by: Ed S | January 31, 2012 at 05:25 PM
A piece of foam from a foam store plus a memory foam cover from a fabric store or a department store would be way less expensive and extremely soft. That's what we did and it worked out very well.
Posted by: A. Black | January 31, 2012 at 07:36 PM
I bought this 12" memory foam mattress from Amazon over a year ago - wife and I love it. $499 and free 2 day shipping across the country (Prime member) - some of the best money I've spent.
Queen 12" Therapeutic Memory Foam Mattress with 5" 5LB Viscoelastic Memory Foam
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000EPMODC/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1328068239&sr=8-1
Takes a bit for the foam smell to disapate and this type of mattress needs a firm base, don't put it on a boxspring.
Cheers,
Gregory
Posted by: Gregory Mosher | January 31, 2012 at 07:59 PM
Have had tempurpedic bed for 10 years, back then you could try for 90 days with no further obligation. Also back then the non name brands were inferior. For me, this bed was everything they advertised it to be. Also back then, tried sleep mumber bed and for me it was inferior in comfort to the tempurpedic....too bouncy.
Posted by: mpJ | January 31, 2012 at 08:19 PM
Of interest:
http://travelswithpain.com/2011/10/26/hotels-with-tempur-pedicr-and-sleep-numberr-beds/
Posted by: Paul | January 31, 2012 at 08:22 PM
Hey Jeff... Here's a hotel where you can try out the Sleep Number bed:
http://www.radisson.com/los-angeles-hotel-ca-90007/cafiguer/rooms
May you have restful sleep in your future!
Posted by: David | January 31, 2012 at 09:46 PM
Following up on one of the other links above, you can buy "The Marriot" Bed. All foam core.
http://www.shopmarriott.com/productGroup.aspx?category1=MarriottBed&category1Name=The+Marriott+Bed&itemID=MAR-124
It's made by a company called Jamison.
http://jamisonbedding.com/home
I've been wanting to get an all foam (not memoryfoam)) mattress for a while. Tried one about 10 years ago (when I bought my latest) but couldn't afford the hefty price tag at the time. Prices seem a bit more moderate now that foam seems to be having more popularity.
I do recall when I tried it in the store, it was amazingly comfortable. It was an unusual sensation feeling no pressure points, just smooth even contact all over.
Posted by: JB | February 01, 2012 at 05:55 AM
Got bad stenosis in my neck and various upper back ailments... I do hatha yoga and it's been miraculous FYI. Gentle and relaxing, not a power workout.
I could use a new matress, but I need a philanthropist!
Posted by: dorpmuller | February 01, 2012 at 08:28 AM
With a memory foam mattress, which is want I want, what else do I need to complete a bed? I'd like to put a wood platform under it and nothing else.
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | February 01, 2012 at 08:34 AM
Plus one on getting the REAL tempurpedic bed, you spend 1/3rd of your life on a bed, might as well get the best and not risk an imitation.
I'm not a pro, but I think putting just a wood platform under the mattress might wear out your mattress faster.
Posted by: Shawn | February 01, 2012 at 11:17 AM