Mattresses

[fruitsalad]

I suffer with Arthritis in my lower back, hands and its starting to creep into my hip and knees as well, does anyone have any recommendations for a decent mattress, I am thinking of replacing mine, to see if it helps with my aches and pains.

[Buenchico]

I've been looking at the posts on the website of Versus Arthritis (which was formed through the amalgamation of two charities, Arthritis Care and Arthritis Research UK).

It seems that buying a decent mattress topper might be the way to go:
https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/your-experiences/hints-and-tips/getting-a-good-nights-sleep-hints-and-tips/

[KARL]

My wife has one replacement hip, the rest of her joints are by now pretty much shot although, mercifully, she has (so far) no back problems. At one point at least two decades ago I thought I was perhaps about to develop a bad back. We sleep on very firm mattresses (the give is akin to the firmest rear car seat cushion) which are on a rigidly flat surface. Both of us sleep very soundly and both of us attribute the absence of back pain to our mattresses. Avoid springs in any shape or form because they lose tone over time, some very rapidly. Our mattresses are made of composite foam, the type that has bits of different types and colours glued/moulded into a block which is then sliced into sheets. Ours are about 5cm in thickness. We do not like memory foam and have never owned anything like that. Our mattresses are now about 20 years old and are as good as they were when new. At first I feared I had made a mistake because they are so hard and immediately after delivery tried lying on one not intending to sleep, just see if I would get pressure point irritation - I woke up about 15 minutes later and was entirely reassured that this was good stuff. A visiting relative once asked me why one sleeps so well on our mattresses - this was over a decade after they visited us and he had asked this then but now had forgotten the explanation, I guess.

[Giggsie]

Sounds like ours Karl very firm I thought at first no way I can sleep on that but it’s brilliant. I now do not like sleeping away from home.

[jennyjoan]

I too bought a very hard bed years ago and it caused me more pain than enough - this is when I lived in my parents house.

When I moved I again bought another hard bed (thinking that things had moved on) - no it too hurt me,

So about 3 years ago I bought a new bed and made sure I got the soft and it has been good for me. That's my opinion only.

Buying a bed or mattress is very much trial and error.

[jno]

I recommend trying a topper as well