Sprung Bed For Bad Back?

[Scarlett]

I have to get a new mattress as my current one (pocket springs plus memory foam top) is sagging all over the place and I now wake up with back ache every day. It was a "medium" but became soggier since I changed my bed base to slats- which obviously offer less support than a divan base. I now need to get a new mattress but don't know whether to get a "firm" or "medium firm". The firm one has fewer springs and the softer one has more- makes no sense to me. I was looking at the Mlily Harmony ones. If it's too hard I know that will cause problems too as I can't sit on hard surfaces. Very grateful for any ideas!

[tonyav]

Might be a good idea to go to a bed shop and try a few out, Scarlett.

[jennyjoan]

I paid £1000 some years ago for a bed but last year bought a memory foam bed like £200 - best wee bed ever and nice and low too.

[Tuvok]

I have a foam mattress - not a memory foam one - I'll never go back to springs.

[jennyjoan]

Tuvok - altho I said memory foam it probably isn't - just a regular foam bed - it's been great from the first night.

[Tuvok]

You said yours had springs - mine is all foam.

Its actually my second foam mattress and would you believe I got it from Lidl.

[Calicogirl]

We've got a Hybrid mattress from Leesa here, it's got springs, then something they call recovery memory foam then a top foam layer and it's awesome. We've got just a normal memory foam one at the other place and it's nothing near as nice. They also do matching pillows but I don't like those, I like really squishy pillows because I'm a front sleeper.

[KARL]

I am fascinated by Tuvok and jennyjoan's responses - for decades I have had to endure ridicule from people over the beds in our house. Our beds are a form of how they describe theirs.

It all started more than 40 years ago when my wife and I bought our present home. We stretched to the limit to make an offer and got it, there was basically no money left. I built our 2mx2m bed from wooden boards and sheets of plywood, with two drawers underneath. The size was utterly unheard of, but that was what we wanted but no mattresses would fit so I bought to measure the firmest foam (two pieces) I could get.

Over time the foam became softer and softer, foam does that, so we were now "bottoming" every time we moved. After once replacing the foam, on the next due replacement I found much firmer foam - some refer to it as Frostex. It is in fact a composite of what for all intents and purposes are all sorts and colours of scraps/leftovers in a "broth" of new foam that has set together. When I got it delivered I got cold feet, surely much too firm I thought so I laid down on it on the floor to test how it felt. I woke up 15 minutes later, had instantly fallen asleep - knew straight away I had hit upon something special.

Our sons were brought up on the same and we still have all the originals in use decades later. One lot of visitors actually asked me why it is that they sleep so well on our bed - they (he in particular) suffer from back pain and over the years they have spent a lot of money on beds/mattresses. I explained that the reason is that our bed is flat and firm. The only time I have had hints of discomfort in my back on waking up (or any other time, actually) has been when I had spent more than one night on a sprung bed/mattress. I would not consider using a sprung bed unless it was exceptionally firm and then only for a few nights (springs soften with time) - not much choice if staying at a hotel.

I find particularly absurd the tendency of manufacturers and retailers to suggest that the thicker/higher the structure, the better the sleep. The top of our original bed/mattress, still in use, is about 40cm off the floor - this was just a bit too low when my wife was recovering from hip replacement surgery (we put something under the mattress for a few weeks), otherwise it's a delight.

Incidentally, the fellow who sold me the foam asked what I was going to use it for. When I told him he in effect told me I was mad. When our son moved out he was appalled at the bed in his rented accommodation. I bought him a sheet of thickish plywood, some foam and he stored the landlord's sprung mattress. When he subsequently moved to unfurnished accommodation he bought a pine frame and carried on with the rest on top of it. He is about to move into his own home - his bed frame, plywood and foam are going with him, the new sprung "double" (actually 150% of a "single") that came with the house he will leave for visitors. All you need is 4-6cm thickness of foam, a bed cheap as chips with magical comfort thrown in.

[Scarlett]

Karl that's so interesting! I wish I could try your bed out for size, but I don't know anywhere I could find that sort of foam and lie on it. I have had just foam mattresses in the past but find that I make a body size dent in them eventually, and that causes more back pain. Perhaps you should go on Dragon's Den?!

[jno]

I've never even sorted out what kind of mattress I need, let alone what somebody else might. But Eve give you 100 nights to try one of theirs out, and Ikea give you 90 nights. Would that be long enough to know if a mattress worked for you?

[gingejbee]

I've never slept on anything but a slatted base and a 100% latex mattress (mine's Dunlopillo) - they are pricey, but worth every penny.

[Rosie29]

Scarlett - 2 month ago I bought a Simba bed I a box mattress which is without doubt the best mattress I have ever had. Like Eve you can have it on a 100 day trial and I found mine to try lying on in John Lewis.
It has 5 layers but basically it is 2500 small pocket springs on top of a really good memory foam base. You can Google it to read the details and reviews.
It does recommend that the slats in the bed should be no more than 3 inches apart. Mine were wider and I had to have extra ones fitted.
I was in doubt as I had heard memory foam was too warm but so far I have had no problem.
When it is delivered and out of the box it has to settle for a few hours before use.
I love it ! Good luck in your search. X

[KARL]

Scarlett, this is the sort of stuff I have (mine is the blue/greenish colour):
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=composite+foam&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiz26v0ht_iAhVkrHEKHam2Aw4QsAR6BAgFEAE&biw=1301&bih=639#imgrc=cAFV9JDleIvMmM:
If you locate an upholsterer, he/she should be able to point you to a source where you can see, feel and try it out, but would likely not him/herself have suitable stock for you. There is in fact no point in buying any more than 6cm thick or so because under normal bed conditions it won't compress by more than about 2-3cm on a hard and flat surface.

[jno]

Rosie, sorry if this is a silly question, but what's the point of a memory foam base? I thought the reason for memory foam was that it moulded to your body, which it wouldn't be able to do at the bottom of the mattress?

[Rosie29]

Hallo jno - sorry I'm so late replying to you. No - not a silly question at all - it dòes sound weird I know.
The description I have here says - on the bottom a support base - then Visco memory foam - then 2500 conical pocket springs - then a layer of " Simbatex" for "cool gentle support " - and on the top a " hypoallergenic sleep surface for freshness and temperature control "
I am copying from the blurb which I know sounds daft but I can only say I am delighted with this mattress.
Sorry again not to have replied before.