It's time to find a mattress to help me get thorugh the night. But there are so, so many options -- it gets confusing and so, so expensive.

Perhaps we could put together a comprehensive thread describing our unique situations and how we've proceeded in purchasing a mattress:

- Symptoms
- Surgery done (if any)
- Mattress brand and model purchased
- When and where (store) purchased
- Approx Price paid
- Rate the mattress (does it help you get rest?)

I have a Select Comfort King Size 5000 series. It is a fabulous bed and I have slept comfortably on it for almost 9 years. I have the Tempurpedic pillows and have had for many years. The memory foam breaks down over time and it absorbs body oils and starts looking nasty after a couple of years. I know I'll be shot for heresy but I believe the Sleep Number is a better bed. I Have went through about 4-5 of the pillows and would not sleep on anything else. Pillows are cheaper than a whole bed and replaceable every 4 years or so. I would not want to buy a bed that will break down like the pillows do unless the mattress is different. I suspect not as it is the same material as the pillows. I paid about $1,500 just for the top mattress several years ago and put it in my water-bed frame. It fit perfectly as a California King. I have had 4-level ADR, shoulder repair, hemi-laminectomy. I sleep like a baby and wake up well rested. Spend the extra money. There is no substitute in life for good sleep. IMHO.

Terry Newton

At the real risk of heresy, Laura, after L5S1 ADR and continuing facet and SI joint problems, sleeps on a 3 inch thick piece of foam on a piece of plywood. She uses a pillow under her knees and says that it gives her the best rest of any bed she's had. Every couple of years we throw out the old foam and get a new one as the foam begins to break down.

I'd agree that spending the money for good sleep is worth it, especially as I suffer from chronic insominia, but sometimes the best solution isn't expensive.

- Symptoms

100% low back pain. Before surgery, I was at a 5/6 pain level at all times (even with prescription medication)

- Surgery done (if any)

L4/L5 and L5/S1 Prodisc (14-NOV-2006)

- Mattress brand and model purchased

Tempurpedic Celebrity (Queen)

- When and where (store) purchased

Online, approximately two years ago.

- Approx Price paid

$3,500.00

- Rate the mattress (does it help you get rest?)

LOVE the mattress. Even before I had the surgery, the mattress made a HUGE difference in my ability to fall asleep and sleep comfortably.

Now that I have had surgery (successful!), I still love the mattress, and definitely notice a difference when I sleep on a traditional mattress (harder to fall asleep, toss and turn, and wake up at least once a night).

David

- Lower back and butt pain
- ADR L5 S1 done
- Tempur-Pedic Deluxe Model (10" memory foam)
- November 2007 - Sleepy's (NY-Metro Chain)
- $2600 (Queen Mattress + Box)
- Immediately experienced less pain, longer sleep.

Now we have a "reasonably clinical" study on the best sleeping surface for spine patients!
________________________________________

Better Backs by Better Beds?

Randomized Trial
Spine. 33(7):703-708, April 1, 2008.
Bergholdt, Kim DC; Fabricius, Rasmus N. DC; Bendix, Tom MD, DrMedSci

Abstract:
Study Design. A "randomized"/stratified, single-blinded, parallel-group study.

Objective. To evaluate 3 structurally different mattresses relative influence on patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Summary of Background Data. In several advertisements, it is proclaimed that certain mattresses have a positive effect on LBP, and especially a hard mattress is commonly believed to have a positive effect.

Methods. One hundred sixty CLBP patients were randomized to 1 of 3 groups, having a mattress/bed mounted in their sleeping room for 1 month. The beds were: (1) waterbed (Akva), (2) body-conforming foam mattress (Tempur), and (3) a hard mattress (Innovation Futon). At baseline and after 4 weeks, a blinded observer interviewed the patients on LBP levels (0-10), daily function (activities of daily living, 0-30), and on the amount of sleeping hours/night.

Results. Because of dropout of 19 patients before baseline, the analyses were performed on 141 patients. During the 1-month trial period another 27 patients stopped ahead of time, which were accounted for by "worse case" as well as "no-change" analyses. Both the waterbed and the foam mattress seemed superior to the hard mattress, especially when using the probably most relevant "worst case" data. There were no relevant difference between the effects of the water bed and the foam bed.

Conclusion. The Waterbed and foam mattress' did influence back symptoms, function and sleep more positively as apposed to the hard mattress, but the differences were small.

http://www.spinejournal.org/pt/re/spine/abstract.000076...43!181195629!8091!-1

I bought my Tempur-pedic prior to my back surgery because of the pain. I loved it then and still love it after ADR L4-5. It is King size, $2400.00, Brookstone (online). I've had it for about 5 years. Even with a King size my two cats sometimes only leave a small corner to sleep in. They let me share the bed....crazy cat lady...I know!!

tempur-pedic
here and have no regrets. we have the queen size deluxe.
only regret is i didnt buy a king size tempur-pedic.
to pricey to change my mind now.
but they are awesome beds.
chuck

Hm, this is a very interesting topic as I've been thinking about how my bed might be affecting my back for about a year now. I take it the tempurpedic mattresses do the best job for us back pain sufferers?

I have a very very cheap queen sized bed (a $600 thing) because that was all I could afford about 5 years ago when I moved into my old apartment. I wanted to upgrade when I moved into my house last fall, but I can't afford it. So far, it doesn't seem like it's causing extra problems, but I certainly worry that it might.

It's a shame you can't necessarily take a nap on the showroom beds to truly test the differences. http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif

http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Better-3-Inch-Elastic-Mattr...ref=pd_sim_k_title_7
people wondering about a bed should try thing like this. i hear its helped many spineys.
and then if you like the feel and sleep one could then think about spending the cash on a tempur pedic
chuck

I use simmons beautyrest worldclass. (firm or extra firm). it absorbs a lot of shock and doesn't shake around causing you to wake up.

look on craigslist for a used one in good/excellent condition and save yourself a thousand dollars.

I hate tempurpedic cause it's pure foam. Like sleeping on vinyl and gets you all sweaty.

ooo, thank you for the suggestions chuck and ZorroSF. I think I may invest in that matress pad before I go in for my surgery. I'm not sure how I feel about getting a used bed from someone though, but it's surely something I may consider if I get desperate for an upgrade. http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif Many thanks!

I still love my Sleep Number bed. It allows you to set your comfort level with air pressure. It also has a pillow top for the mattress which makes it 11" thick. We also use a temperature balancing mattress pad which keeps one person cool if they are normally hot and the other person warm if they are typically cold.

I melt in to the bed at night and wake up feeling well rested.

Terry Newton

I know exactly what you mean about used beds, an dI am in the same opinion. However when I moved to LA last year there was one that was hardly used at all cause it was in the guest bedroom. I spent $400 and got a $1800 bed in prinstine condition.

that's what a I meant to say.

Tempur-Pedic alternative
 

If anyone is considering a memory foam, Tempur-Pedic type of bed, I highly recommend purchasing one from:

Florida Foam and Upolstery Supplies Foam Products

It's made from the same materials as the expensive beds, but you'll save a ton of money because you aren't paying for the brand name. Plus they offer free shipping. Mine arrived from FedEx shrink wrapped about the size of a suitcase. Once I cut off the plastic wrap it grew to a queen size mattress in about 5 minutes. It was fun to watch!

I've had mine for the past 4 years and love it. The only down side is that you won't want to get out of it in the morning.

I have an easy, inexpensive solution for anyone experiencing the excrutiating night time pain that I used to have.... We looked into all different types of beds and got tested on a Sleep Number. We ended up replacing our mattress and box springs with a traditional name brand. No relief. We then replaced our metal bed frame. No relief. Out of frustration (and after passing out from pain one night while going down the stairs for pain killers), we put our mattress and box springs on the floor - no metal bed frame. That did it for me immediately. 6 months later, we've now purchased a platform bed frame, and ditched the box springs - putting the mattress right on the numberous wood support slats. You might want to try that simple solution (put your mattress/box springs on the floor) before you spend any money, expecially if you don't have the cash sitting around for a new bed. My suggestion for the day!

Bed choices and cheap solution
 

Everyone has different choices as to what is a comfortable sleep situation. Years ago I purchased an 8" thick piece of foam (Before tempurpedics came out) It was pretty comfortable. I liked it but hubby was not thrilled. We had it in a Water bed frame. Then we got a conventional mattress and it was fairly firm. He liked it but I did not... The foam mattress became our guest room mattress and was put on a regular box spring with a piece of plywood under it. My mother said it was the most comfortable mattress she had ever slept on. The foam does break down after a while so it is gone now.

We have since gotten an pillow top mattress it is about 5 yrs. old and too firm for my taste so what I had done before surgery about 2 yrs. ago was to get a memory foam topper (at Costco) That works great for me and I have tried taking it off and have now put it back on the mattress. The problem is my husband did not like it on his side. So, solution was I cut the thing in half and only have the memory foam on my side of the bed. We do need a new mattress but for now this is a good less expensive solution.

we have a cal king tempur-pedic. took some getting used to but we love it now. my wife can NOT sleep without her tempur-pedic pillow either. i use a pillow that i describe as a waterbed pillow. has a bladder in the middle that you fill up with water and it supports your neck. i can't go without it. before we spent the money on the mattress i found a hotel that uses them and stayed 2 nights. fell asleep first night and didn't wake up for 14 hours. dead to the world. the second night was just as good. just my 2 cents.

Tempur-Pedic
 

We bought a king sized Tempur-Pedic about 2 months ago...very pricey but we love it...I'm a side sleeper and can finally get a good 6-7 hrs sleep....worth every penny!!!

I hope it's OK to ask, but some folks may want to know what these mattresses cost?

Tempur-Pedic cost
 

It was $4500 but I got a script from my Doc and did not have to any any tax...a penny saved is a penny earned as they say.