serious question about beds

[Deja Q]

They say people with neck pain, back pain, spinal issues, et al, usually prefer soft beds.

But then I read all the articles about the $200 memory foam toppers for mattresses. Aren't those hard?

I recall trying out a bed made entirely out of memory foam. It's like sleeping on a brick filled with quicksand.

What sayeth you on this topic?

[Haole Girl]

1. Bought a Tempurpedic bed this year

It is worth every single penny! It's firm, but not too firm. Now, if one of us climbs into bed later than the other it doesn't wake the other person up. It's also very toasty in the winter! Haven't survived a Summer in it yet, and I am a little concerned it might run up our air conditioning bill, but that is a small price to pay for less pain.

If you couldn't tell, I highly recommend them! We bought the Grand bed.

Funny side note: I was telling my husband yesterday that I could live with losing our house and other possessions, but we are taking the bed if that ever happens! :-)

[vadawg]

2. lol we got one as well. wife loves it, i can sleep anywhere so makes no difference to me

[Dappleganger]

17. That reminds me...

if you live in a warm climate the Temper-pedic gets HOT. We live in FL so it was not a good fit.

Not good for us menopausal women, hehe.

[AwakeAtLast]

3. It holds its shape, but when you lay on them they mold to your body

I have only used the toppers (definite recommend for the price!), but I would imagine a whole mattress of the stuff would be awesome!

[Pierre.Suave]

4. I will put in another vote for the tempurpedic beds

they are incredibly comfortable, I also have one and strongly recommend it to anyone.

[GOPisEvil]

8. How are they in the summer?

I've heard that if you tend to be warm when you sleep the Tempurpedic will be horrible.

[Pierre.Suave]

18. well, speaking as the human furnace...

I am fine if I sleep with only a sheet over me, or a very light blanket if required.

[GOPisEvil]

21. Thanks!

I may give one a look. My mattress now kills my back.

[Wapsie B]

5. Go sleep in a Westin or Embassy Suites.

They've both got terrific mattresses. Best way to find out what you really like is to find a hotel with good beds.

[Deja Q]

6. I'll need to find a hooker too - I'd NEVER go to a hotel alone...

:hide:

[Heidi]

7. Why wouldn't you go to a hotel alone?

It's nice to treat yourself. I very much love sleeping with CMW and The Wiley and Excellent Boy Cat Named Ginger, but I must admit that CMW's clients have afforded me some very, very nice travel experiences, including some lovely hotels, restaurants and drivers. (CMW isn't a big fan of business travel but -- excepting the takeoff from and landing in Agno -- I enjoy it quite a lot.)

ETA: If you fill up your day with stimulating experiences, a hotel bed with perfect, fresh, high-quality sheets can be the best treat in the world. Really.

[Deja Q]

10. No logical reason to do so.

Or, for me anyway.

I just prefer staying home...

[Heidi]

11. I guess I don't understand how a prostitute would be your only justification

for staying in a hotel. Sex isn't the logical only reason to stay in a hotel. Surely you know this.

[Deja Q]

13. Sorry - been watching "The Graduate" and got the wrong idea again...

There are plenty of legitimate reasons, none of which requiring nefarious activities... it's just more fun to be outré... which reminds me, I need to take my prozac...

[Dappleganger]

16. Staying in a hotel alone is HEAVEN

dh has sent me on several occasions just to have a little time to myself away from the family noise. It was strange at first but I got used to it FAST.

[Dappleganger]

15. Have done this just to try out the mattresses.

They are 'ok' but I wouldn't buy one myself.

[Wapsie B]

20. For me they're perfect.

But that's why they make different ones.

[shanine]

9. I vaguely recall something

about gases or chemicals that release for a time out of the memory foam??

[Kali]

12. firm is usually recommended for back problems

[Dappleganger]

14. I've had double cervical fusion and have multiple back problems.

We've owned a tempur-pedic (the real thing) and after awhile it actually began to hurt my back and neck. What works best for ME is a high-quality featherbed topper on a high quality mattress (Stearns and Foster mid-quality). The S&F gives me the support and the topper gives just enough cushion so things don't hurt. I do use a good temper-pedic neck pillow. The topper needs to be fluffed every couple of days to retain its support (it tends to shift and sink).

Temper-pedic materials (and the knock-offs) over time compress and become too dense, ultimately causing more harm than good. IMO it's more cost effective to use high quality toppers and change them out every few years rather than changing out the entire mattress.

The way our bed is set up is this: S&F mattress-allergen mattress pad-fitted sheet-Pacific Coast Featherbed http://www.pacificcoast.com/jump.jsp?itemID=276&itemType=CATEGORY&path=1%2C2%2C6&KickerID=187&KICKER (we use the down-on-top version) inside of a protector then wrapped inside of a flat sheet. We sleep on top of all of that and it feels awesome!

[old mark]

19. Mazttress stores let you try them. Go to various stores, try several

and see which is best for you, then buy it at a box store or wherever is cheapest.

mark

[bluedeminredstate]

22. We have a Tempur-pedic

My husband loves it. He's had a cervical fusion and has bad hips and knees and lower back. I'm not in love with it. I think it's too hard and there are plenty of nights I go down and sleep on the sofa because the matress makes my lower back throb. The one thing I love is that the matress does have controls and I can move the head and foot of the bed up and down. That's great for lounging. For sleep, I'd try something else unless you like a firm matress.

[yellowdogintexas]

23. we have water bed with memory foam topper (not $200 either). Works great

and we no longer have to heat the water bed. Both of us have back issues, and I have fibro and arthritis.