Foam Mattresses

[Clark Addison]

Does anyone have experience with foam mattresses, like a Tempur-Pedic? My wife has some back issues that cause various problems, and her physical therapist told her she needs a new mattress. She is excited about what one of these foam mattresses might be able to do for her. I am less than excited about paying $3,000 for a mattress. Does anyone have one of these? If so:

1. Are they really better than an inner-spring mattress for back problems?
2. I noticed that they have some on Costco.com for quite a bit cheaper ($1k-$2K). Tempur-Pedic makes a big deal about being different than other foam mattresses, and that theirs is the only one that is NASA approved, but I don't know if this matters to us as we aren't planning on going into space anytime soon. Plus Costco has that nice return policy that we all know so much about.

Any other info about mattresses, bad backs, or physical therapists that get kickbacks from mattress stores is appreciated.

[Babs]

Did the PT actually suggest a memory foam mattress, or did your wife come up with that part?

[Clark Addison]

Did the PT actually suggest a memory foam mattress, or did your wife come up with that part?

The PT suggested a "firm" mattress. I said that I didn't think the PT knew what she was talking about, and that, according to what I've seen, the conventional wisdom to treat bad backs with a firm mattress is not supported by any evidence. This argument didn't thrill my wife.

Our current mattress admittedly isn't in great shape (though not terrible, it's a 7 year old mattress, probably a bit on the bottom end of quality), so we went out and tried a couple out yesterday. The place we went to focused on foam mattresses, so that's really all we tried, and the guy at the store was, of course, extolling their benefits. She actually really liked the $7K one that moved around and massaged, but I think you need to be 70 years old to get one of those.

[Babs]

I'll defer to our resident experts on the point, but it's my understanding that you absolutely want a firmer mattress for a weak back. I have trouble understanding what that has to do with memory foam, but then I don't know much about them.

I've never tried a foam one, but my brother and his wife had one and said they ended up regretting the purchase because the way the foam conforms to your body makes you really hot. I don't know, though.

fwiw, Consumer Reports evaluated mattress types this month. For 5.95 you can buy the set of articles and reviews online:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/bed-bath/mattresses/mattress-ratings/overview/store-ratings.htm

[Surfah]

Those memory foam mattresses make me feel claustrophobic. I also feel like they'd be difficult to have sex on.

[FMCoug]

We have a firm mattress with one of those memory foam toppers from costco. The foam is only about 3 inches or so ... best of both worlds.

We love it.

[cougjunkie]

I also feel like they'd be difficult to have sex on.

If you bought one maybe you would know how Gidget feels.

[hostile]

We just bought a Tempur-Pedic a few weeks ago. So far I am happy with how I sleep on it. It is significantly more firm than our previous mattress. I have no idea how it compares to what Cosco offers. I do think a firm mattress is better for back issues.

[FMCoug]

We just bought a Tempur-Pedic a few weeks ago. So far I am happy with how I sleep on it. It is significantly more firm than our previous mattress. I have no idea how it compares to what Cosco offers. I do think a firm mattress is better for back issues.

Guess I wasn't clear. Costco sells toppers you can put on any mattress. So we have a firm matters that we have added that too.

[falafel]

Guess I wasn't clear. Costco sells toppers you can put on any mattress. So we have a firm matters that we have added that too.

Costco also sells complete foam mattresses. We bought one a few years ago, after sleeping on a regular mattress with a memory foam topper. The topper + pillow top mattress was the best thing I'd ever slept on. I thought the whole foam mattress would be even better, but sadly it was less comfortable. It was definitely more firm than the pillow top + topper (duh - I should have known). I ended up deciding that I don't like firm mattresses.

We bought a new mattress last year and definitely decided to go away from the memory foam thing. The costco one we have (now in the guest room) was only like $500, so perhaps a $3000 one would be significantly better.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'd get a water bed, best year of my marriage was on a water bed. Plus it is always warm when you get into bed.

[Surfah]

If you bought one maybe you would know how Gidget feels.

True.

[RobinFinderson]

We bought our mattress just before we got married, and we are still using it. Fourteen years.

[pellegrino]

We bought our mattress just before we got married, and we are still using it. Fourteen years.

going on ten for ours, but it's dying slowly. It won't make it another year.

[DU Ute]

We bought our mattress just before we got married, and we are still using it. Fourteen years.

You two need to spice things up a bit. After 14 years that mattress should be toast.