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Help choosing a mattress for side sleeping, lower back pain

MeganB asked
30th October 2017

I am trying to choose a mattress (with base) and am getting totally confused by the various options out there. I am 5’11”, 11.8 stone. I am a slide sleeper and have occasional lower back pain related to disk issues. What would you recommend? What should I be looking for in a mattress?
My current mattress is a Sleepeeze Concept Backcare 1000 which has been very good when sleeping on my back, but I sometimes think is too firm when sleeping on my side (back doesn’t feel straight). Current bed base is slatted bed frame, which I think is not ideal (feels like the mattress sags).

1 Answer
JohnRyanLtd
answered 6 years ago

Good morning Megan,

Thank you for your enquiry.  Side sleepers should not sleep on anything too firm as this can cause pressure pains in the shoulders, hips and knees. For this we would recommend a soft to a medium feel in the upholstery layers.  In the past chiropractors recommended a firm mattress for back pain but the support you need is in the spring tension. At you body weight we would recommend a medium spring tension.

Spring TensionWire diameter (Gauge)Weight Range
Soft1.2mmBespoke Tension (Please Call)
Medium1.4mmUpto 16 stone
Firm1.6mm16 stone plus
Extra Firm / Orthopaedic1.9mm20 stone plus
BodyweightSpring tension
Upto 16 Stone / 50-101kgMedium (1.4mm)
16 Stone / 101kg UpwardsFirm (1.6mm)
Available in Bespoke Products (Please Call)Soft (1.2mm)

You should be looking at a soft to medium mattress with a medium spring tension.  All our Origins range have a medium tension in the springs with the Origins Comfort 1000 the softest in the comfort layers or the Origins Pocket 1500 which has a medium feel.  The Artisan range has more options with the Artisan Luxury being the softest.  The Artisan Naturals is the true medium in this range but I wouldn’t recommend that you go any higher in the range than Artisan Tailored Pocket 2000 as this is the firm side of medium.

If the slats on your base are not less than 3″ then it would be fine with any of our mattresses.  If the gap is wider we recommend a piece of MDF or plywood to stop the mattress trying to settle in the gaps which can cause damage to the new mattress.

Hope this answers you questions but if you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact us on 0161 437 4419.

Kind Regards
Michaela

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