Sore Back - New mattress advice ?

S & K --

Try Relaxan matresses (do a UK Google for suppliers). They're similar to Dunlopillo, but about 1/3 the price. Come in a range of hardnesses. I'm using the stiffest one they make, and find that I now get a sore back if I sleep on anything else.

I am hoping that there will be some serious advice on this matter. Sleeping is a serious business,and deserves the best this topic has to offer.
My advice is to stay at some top class hotels, pehaps not in Britain, until you find that certain something. Then get out the credit card.
They might take trade-ins,
yours seriously,
Lomo

My experience is that very few people solve (or indeed improve) their back problems with a new mattress. If your current one is wonky and worn out then fine, get a new one. I'd suggest looking elsewhere to manage your back problem (with some professional advice perhaps). Just because you feel stiff and sore in the morning does not mean the mattress is the problem, just that it gets worse overnight when you are less mobile etc.

Bruce

I looked after my sister's flat many years ago and slept on her hard cotton futon. Once I broke it in, and it did the same to me, I loved it. Took about a week to get used to but it was worth it.

A lot of sense in Bruce's post though. Mattresses won't cure a back problem.

Deane

i also agree with bruce.

years of poor technique in the gym and bad posture left me with a bulging disc between lower vertebrae. i felt it most in the morning, very stiff and painful.

get a physio to recommend some floor exercises to strengthen the lower stomach muscles (the "6 pack" abs are more for aestethics). and, though i was cynical at first, acupuncture was very beneficial.

I too can recommend a Futon but it might not suit everyone.

A more controversial recommendation that I believe to be by far the most helpful would be to take some lessons in 'The Feldenkrais Method'.

Steve M

Steve

I use the mattresses from this company

sales@dorma-therminternational.com

They genuinely stopped my backache within days.

I have used them for 3 years and I now do not suffer the slightest twinge.

Regards

Mick

PS If you mention my name you will receive a discount.

Regards

Mick

I've had Dux (Duxiana) beds for years. They are exceptionally good.

G

I'd go for a session at a Chiropractors, chap at work does so quite often and swears by it.

I think the first session was about £60 but it gave him a lot of advice on things he could do etc..

Just a thought.

Paul

I've slept on a "Vi-Spring" for 20 years (actually a couple in that period) and they are supremely comforatable (and priced accordingly...........)
"Sealy" also make some damn good beds - I use one of their deluxe "Pillow Top" beds in Australia - fantastically comfortable.
I would advise you to have a chat to your local "Back Care Centre" who really do know their stuff and will only sell, good, back friendly beds and allow you to try and advise you properly etc.
Why not take a look in good old Yellow Pages?

Computers are supposed to work on 1's and 0's - in other words "Yes" or "No" - why does mine frequently say "Maybe"?......

Hi from a fellow (now ex) back-pain sufferer. back pain is a very common,but also very individual thing,& a cure for one person may not work for someone else,(maybe like hi-fi?)There are just so many discs,nerves,muscles,etc tightly packed into a small space that problems have knock on effects.So be careful in following advice as gospel.FWIW, chiropractors/physio's have worked wonders for me,so has exercise.
Mattresses,--don't get caught up in the "if you have a bad back, get a hard mattress" thing.It may or may not be right for you.However,I have got a "tempur-pedic" mattress,& for us, it's bloody marvellous.No springs,but a wierd,dense foam-like material.It's also great for allergy sufferers, as it doesn't harbour bed-bugs,& mites that normal mattresses do (apparently).And you don't have to flip the mattress once a month.They're about £1200,so serious dough,but I believe they do an extended trial in your own home so you decide over a month or two, not 10 mins in a shop with a sales rep over you(there's that home-dem hi-fi analogy again).I will never buy a conventional mattress again,no more pain for me. And no, i don't work for them.Give it a go, hope it helps, cheers, matt.

Good to hear that the Tempur-pedic mattress is a real product and not some strange come-on for a cult. I'd always found it a bit "Bose" in its marketing.
I toyed with making multiple applications for the sample block - then assembling a simple jigsaw bed. Now I finally see the price I feel remotivated.

What Bruce said. A mattress can make a difference but there are plenty of other reasons for an achy and stiff back when in bed. You can start to assess if the bed/mattress is contributing to the problem by shifting your mattress temporarily onto the floor or trying a (second) duvet between you and the mattress. I'd also be tempted by Lomo's suggestion!

I've had some positive reports about "memory foam" mattresses other than Tempur, and these generic alternatives can be much cheaper.

Finally, do either of you exercise to any extent?

duncan

Email: djcritchley at hotmail.com

Yeah,granted it is a whole load of dough for a mattress,but how much does it cost you to be off work for a couple of weeks .Don't know about bose style marketing,just tried it/loved it. cheers,matt

I too have recently purchased a "memory foam" mattress and am delightred with it. They are available in different "firmness" rating but apparently all give the same support!!

quote:

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Originally posted by manicatel:
Yeah,granted it is a whole load of dough for a mattress,but how much does it cost you to be off work for a couple of weeks

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At a stretch - enough for a pillow case.

Blimey !
Thanks to you all, for so many replies..!
I am in the building trade, but on the lighter side, so am an active person. When at home, I cannot sleep for more than a few hours without siezing up. However, when in London working (I am also fairly busy when at home, as we have trees and an old farm house to look after, as well as 2 kids)I sleep much better (ie without so much pain), though because of the noise levels, not for long periods - 3-5 hours a night, so maybe I stay more supple due to not trying to lie still for so long...
Maybe a good back person is my next move - so, my next question - any recommendations in central London - work is in South Kensington, but it's no problem to travel !
I did wonder about a Tempur type mattress, and also remember you, Mick (Parry) posting a similar question a few years ago - both might be good to look at after seeing a back person - a home trial in Spain might be less than easy to arrange.
And Adam - do they really pay you enough for a new pillow case every 2 weeks - I am in the wrong line of work...

Steve

The bed I bought is the type your are referring to, I have bought a double mattress made in Germany (£1100.00) which cured my back pain overnight and a single mattress for my son and his cost £300 and is made in Spain. It cured his back problem straight away. Evidently the Spanish ones are cheaper but basically the same.

They are both made with a foam and are lambskin lined.

Very very comfortable indeed.

Regards

Mick

At a stretch - enough for a pillow case

....bloody expensive pillow cases down in Salisbury......

Try popping up to Newbury, you can decent ones for a tenner in the market....

Cheers

Don

This sounds like a job for a springer !


Fritz Von Twenty years of futons and they put me on a day shift, look out kid it's *** The Son of a Preacher Man ?

N.B. Why does dry spaggetti always break into three pieces ? Your Kids'll love it !!! Bet you can't tickle yourself either ? Pink or otherwise innit:

We were caught out by the: a double bed is softer than the single bed syndrome. 1000 springs to the square inch do not make a comfy bed if the springs are too damn hard!

No back pains, but we haven't had a wink of sleep since we bought them. Don't spend any money without spending a night on the mattress of your dreams. (I nearly said: "Don't spend a penny")

We've tried overmattresses, doubled sleeping bags and who knows what beneath the undersheets. The beds simply have to go!

I'd have a big ceremonial bonfire in the garden if it wasn't against the local environmental rules! I hate these beds that much!

My brother swears by his futon. I'd swear if I had to use one.

Be very careful out there people!

Nime