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Mattress causing back pain - or is it me getting old?? Advice please.

(42 Posts)
PinkCosmos Fri 12-Apr-24 14:50:43

For the last couple of months I have been waking up with awful lower back pain and pain in my right hip. I am also waking up with the pain during the night. My DH is also complaining about hip pain upon waking.

The pain mostly goes away after I have been up a few hours. I have been doing exercises for back pain and sciatica

Neither of us have ever had back or hip problems in the past. If I am out gardening my lower back will ache the day after but that is about all.

I am 66 so I am wondering whether this is just old age or whether it is partly down to the mattress.

Our current mattress is a Silentnight Pocket Luxury 2800. We bought it in October 2019 so it is only 4 1/2 years old. I thought you had to replace your mattress every 8 years.

Prior to buying this mattress we tried one of the Simba/Emma mattresses. It was terrible. We sent it back as it was on a 1200 day trial.

I am happy to pay decent money for a new mattress if it is this that is the main problem. Or would I be wasting my money.

Has anyone had a similar experience and what did you do to resolve it?

Any advice will be gratefully received. Thanks

Up2u Sun 14-Apr-24 11:46:01

I had similar problem mattress is less than two yr old. Found it was the bed base. Is a metal frame and base and the base has metal frame with mesh and the mesh has dipped either side of the frame. Hence the aching

RosiesMaw Sun 14-Apr-24 12:08:40

Primrose53

Don’t know if anybody has noticed but nearly all mattresses in stores now have a built in topper as standard. We bought a new mattress about 9 months ago and just about every make has this. Like a thinner version of main mattress, same fabric etc.

The thing about an attached topper is that while you can “twizzle” the mattress round to even out the wear, you can no longer turn it.
Mine is a Hypnos with built in topper and although brilliant, I still miss turning it.

RedRidingHood Sun 14-Apr-24 15:26:16

I could have written your post.
I do have back problems - slipped discs, trapped nerves etc plus RA and OA but I then I started with hip pain.
I didn't blame my mattress at first but then we went on holiday. Stayed in two hotels with really quite firm mattresses and by the end of a week I was pain free. Back home and it went bad again.
Our mattress was very soft, it fely glorious to sink into but I suspect my back didn't agree.
We spent a LOT of money on a new bed with natural fibre firm mattress. I can't have anything with foam or gel or latex as I over heat.
While waiting for the new bed we slept in the spare room and my back improved.

However the new bed isn't helping. It's a super king which I highly recommend but my back is no better. We have a 90 day return agreement so I might swap it.

Norah Sun 14-Apr-24 17:17:42

I was having a bit of lower back pain, we upgraded our Simba mattress with new Simba topper. Works well. If anyone must stay over they need comfort also, so we upgraded the other 4 doubles as well.

PinkCosmos Mon 15-Apr-24 12:13:15

Thanks everyone.

I went into the loft at the weekend to find the Panda mattress topper. It wasn't there. I would appear that I have taken it to the tip grin. I can't believe I have done that. It wasn't cheap either

I agree that mattresses are a very personal thing. We are going away in a couple of weeks so I will see if the bed in the accommodation makes any difference. I don't know what kind of bed it will be but at least it will be a comparison.

I don't think I could cope with a knee cushion as I fidget about too much in the night. Also, there is no way a body pillow would fit in the bed with the two of us grin.

I tend to sleep on my front with one leg bent and an arm under the pillow. This is probably a terrible position for my back. I do toss and turn a lot in the night.

I agree about bad posture. Whilst my back has been painful, I have found myself leaning forward when I walk - like an old person!! I am consciously telling myself to stand up straight. I have never had bad posture in the past.

I have extra deep sheets as our current mattress is deep. I got them from Soak and Sleep or Rise and Fall - one or the other! I have a goose down duvet and 100% cotton sheets and duvet covers. I am not a fan of polyester. Because of this I have always veered away from memory foam. I am well past the menopause so maybe memory foam would be OK for me now.

brenda300 Sat 27-Apr-24 13:16:19

I have exactly the same problem, a topper made a difference and a second topper was even better. I do think it started because I’ve put about a stone on in weight although I am quite active, power walking, weights, squats. I’m almost 68

Nannynoodles Sat 27-Apr-24 13:41:46

I sleep with a leg pillow between my knees, from Amazon and only about £15 so worth a try, and it’s really helped me.
I notice if I don’t use it one night or go on holiday without it.
They are designed for side sleepers and stop the top leg dropping down twisting your spine, they do take a couple of nights to get used to but well worth it.

Nannynoodles Sat 27-Apr-24 13:43:58

Just notice you fidget, mine has a leg strap to keep it in place.

Primrose53 Sat 27-Apr-24 15:18:35

RosiesMaw

Primrose53

Don’t know if anybody has noticed but nearly all mattresses in stores now have a built in topper as standard. We bought a new mattress about 9 months ago and just about every make has this. Like a thinner version of main mattress, same fabric etc.

The thing about an attached topper is that while you can “twizzle” the mattress round to even out the wear, you can no longer turn it.
Mine is a Hypnos with built in topper and although brilliant, I still miss turning it.

Absolutely! When we chose our new mattress nearly all the brands had these built in toppers though. We twizzle it every few weeks but Like you I miss turning it. It is really comfy though.

M0nica Sat 27-Apr-24 15:26:42

It is amazing the effect a mattrass can have. Lats weekend we stayed 4 nights in a hotel. The beds were firm but not hard. On the first night I had difficulty sleeping be cause my hips were aching. On the remaining nights I took ibuprofen before going to bed, but on the 4th morning I woke up with a pulled muscle or something similar in my back and I have been hobbling around since.

I am now home and back in my familiar bed and that helps, and I am definitely recovering buy bending and lifting are still painful. Mattresses can make so much difference.

Charleygirl5 Sat 27-Apr-24 16:14:45

Freya the topper on my bed has never moved-everything else does! It has straps which were so easy to fit on the bed. My other topper is more like a length of foam but is so comfortable. It is heavier and not a lot would move it.

I do not think it is my mattress and topper giving me hip pain when I wake. My time has come to have a hip replacement to join my 2 new knees.

NotSpaghetti Sat 27-Apr-24 16:17:44

DamaskRose

I sleep on my back and wake up every morning with back pain. I have to have 10 or so minutes on my side before I get up. I’m also wakened during the night sometimes. On holiday last year I realised that I woke up with no pain. Unfortunately I don’t know what the mattress was but was considering a Simba/Emma one so thanks for review! I’m a few years older than you but I do think it’s the mattress (my current one cost over a thousand pounds and I’d happily pay that again to be pain free) rather than old age. I wish I could be more helpful re the name of the mattress, I may be going back to the same place this year and if so I’ll let you know!

I emailed a hotel once to say I loved their mattress and what was it please?
They did tell me and I would have bought one if it hadn't been SO expensive..

Suggest you contact them. It may be less than the one I asked about

NotSpaghetti Sat 27-Apr-24 16:22:31

Premier Inns sell a mattress but it is not The same as the ones you sleep on. It is same brand (Hypnos) but the Premier one is more expensive (and lasts longer) than the one they offer.

There is a Hypnos showroom in Castle Donnington (just near M1/A50).

Just beware.

Boz Sat 27-Apr-24 16:31:59

Just ordered a Hypnos mattress after waking up lasr week - sitting on side of bed and feeling a scratch on my thigh. To my horror a spring was sticking out. Took a long hard look at the mattress and saw it was falling apart. Now this is going to appall you as I realised it was 22 years old; it doesn't owe me anything, I guess. Checked with know-it-all daughter who told me to get a Hypnos and that she was disgusted with me for keeping a mattress for so long. I just never gave it a thought over all the years.

Primrose53 Sat 27-Apr-24 17:54:45

We went to Lanzarote once and the hotel was lovely, very plush and spacious and the beds were huge but as hard as rock.

In the morning there was a queue at reception requesting mattress toppers.

Oreo Sat 27-Apr-24 19:43:28

We have a Panda bamboo topper, it’s bliss.It has straps that you slip over the mattress corners and stays in place.