I’ve been sleeping on an IKEA mattress which has a memory foam layer plus a Panda memory foam topper. I have 5 compression fractures from about 3 and a half years ago at T11, 12, 13 and L1 and 2. The mattress has been fine till the last few weeks; I’m now finding my back feels worse in the mornings and I’ve just spent 3 nights away in Premier Inn type hotels and my back has been much better! I think there’s too little support from my current one. I’ve recently had a REMS scan and was told I also have a degree of scoliosis.
I’m interested to hear what mattresses others have and any recommendations? I know we’re all different but would be good to know a bit more before I start looking for a new mattress! I’m pretty active - walk the dog daily, garden (which isn’t great for my back but needs doing!) and do strong and straight exercises (mainly standing Pilates and very light weights) daily. I had 2 years of teriparatide and I’m now on Raloxifene. I’ve had no further fractures, fingers crossed that continues.
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Nuthatch
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Finding the perfect mattress is a nightmare to be honest. I’ve had all sorts. From normal ones bought in bed stores to the ones delivered to your door in a box, to a large sheet of plywood under the mattress. One thing I have learned is that too hard for me is no good at all even though they are marketed as orthopaedic.
Right now I’m using a Tempur mattress and it’s fairly good. It replaces a regular mattress we bought from John Lewis but which became uncomfortable. The Tempur was fine for a while then I started to get back pain - I have herniated discs and all sorts of nasties - nothing to do with my osteoporosis though but painful and annoying nonetheless.
Like you we went on holiday and the very comfortable bed there had springs - coiled springs so I looked in to buying one but we had a perfectly good Tempur one that I had not long bought and no way could I get rid of it - so I moved into the spare bedroom which had a spring mattress.
My back felt better for a few weeks - I liked the ‘ bounce ability’ that springs gave me. In the end the joy of the springs wore off and I moved back to the Tempur mattress and it was ok.
I’ve since started with a new physio who did some acupuncture and that has made a huge difference to my back pain, I can get out of bed without the agonising nerve pain I was having.
I think all I can say and I know it’s probably not practical but my answer seems to be to have access to a spare bed which is comfortable - in my case it’s medium firmness but bouncy (the Tempur has no bounce at all) then you can do what I did and move from one bed to the other.
I also have one of those pillow things that you put between your knees which is really good - it keeps your hips / legs at an good angle - although I sometimes just use an ikea feather filled cushion which is just as good.
Good luck with your quest for the perfect mattress, it’s not easy.
Thank you - I suspected it wouldn’t be easy! That’s all really interesting though. I don’t want to spend hundreds on a fancy mattress if the benefit wears off after a while. Annoyingly we don’t have a spare bed other than a sofa bed in the living room - I do find that quite comfy but only use it when we have guests. It’s a bind lumping all the bedding downstairs! I use a pillow between my knees and have a couple of wheat bags that I put in the small of my bag - heated up in the winter. Maybe I just need to stay in a hotel every few days!
Hi - I recently, after much research, invested in a DEMKO bed system. They also do just mattresses which are totally natural. Both offer a great deal of back support. As I say I did weeks of research into this - asked my Osteopath & an Orthopaedic consultant if the system offered made sense. Both confirmed it did on the face of it. The mattresses got good reviews on WHICH & the reviews for Demko on trustpilot are excellent both for the mattress & also bed system. I dealt with a chap called Tamas at Demko who couldn’t be more helpful despite weeks of questions.. Am 2 weeks into using it now. The first few days were settling in but now I wonder how I ever slept on anything else. I am looking forward to seeing my Osteopath next & see if he sees any improvement. Hope this helps - good luck with your search.
ps - in the scheme of things the bed system is a similar price to an expensive mattress. There are also no chemicals in any of the mattresses, most others have chemicals, which led me to Demko in the first place
hi! I’ve got a Relyon bed which I find is really comfortable. The top is quite soft but under that it’s got support. I can’t lie on my back for long as it puts pressure on my fractures. Even sitting in my chair I don’t like direct pressure on my back.
I recently got a mattress from Latex for Less. So far so good, it has a firm side and a medium side. No chemicals but you would need help with it, it is just a twin xl but it weighs 90 pounds. Whoops, just remembered you are in the UK and I'm in the US. You might look into a latex one though.
After 20yrs with my 150cm wide latex mattress I moved downstairs to the smaller bedroom & ordered a doble Emma pack with base & mattress. I miss my latex 😢. I hate the Emma & will see if I can return it under the 100-day thingy. 100% natural latex for me is the best of the best with my kiphoescoliosis etc.. Problem is they weigh a tonne & are not cheap, at least here in Spain & it's tough to find a slatted base on a canapé (I forget the English word) whose pneumatic springs will take the weight & I SO want that space to stash linens underneath!
I would definitely go for a 100% latex mattress for any back problems, worth the price & they last forever! Plus, they are ideal for articulated bases should you need one in the future.
I totally agree with your comments about Premier Inn mattresses. They are the most comfortable I have ever slept in. I know you can buy them so that is defo on my list. Would be interested to hear what you went for in the end.
Hi I agree all the comments. All my beds in the house are now Hypnos. Expensive but a great investment and considering the importance of sleep its money well spent. Glad also to hear you are on Raloxofene, I am nine days into taking this medication and so far so good. After the horrors I went through with bisphosponates, I am relived that I can tolerate this.
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