What is the best mattress for arthritis and sciatica?
I have looked through your website and am now seeking advice as to which mattress you believe would be most suitable for my wife and me.
I am 5ft 9ins and weigh 13 stone.
My wife is 5ft 2ins and weighs 11 stone.
I have arthritis in my lower back and receive facet joint injections at my local hospital to help reduce the pain for a few months.
We have used memory foam mattresses for the past 8 years as they have helped reduce night time sciatica pains which I used to experience quite a lot.
We replaced our memory foam mattress with another just under 1 year ago.
For me, the memory foam works in so much as I sleep well and do not have any pain in my back when asleep.
However on awakening, I have pain all over my back and it feels as if I have had a weight placed on top of me all night.
My wife suffers from leg pains throughout the night and is therefore quite restless.
The memory foam mattress helps in that I am not disturbed by her moving around.
In the morning she also complains about pains in her back.
We have just come back from holiday in the West Country and our morning pain problems were much reduced after sleeping on the hotel mattress.
In my case, I had had facet joint injections just two weeks previously, so that may have helped.
We both sleep on our side and read in bed for an hour or so before going to sleep.
Our bed is a sleigh bed with slatted base and takes a double mattress.
Budget is not a problem however I must warn you that because of my back problems it may be difficult for you to meet our combined needs and therefore it may be necessary to take advantage of your 30 day return guarantee.
I hope this is not so but feel obliged to inform you up front.
.
Hi Alan.
We don’t see our guarantee as being something you need to feel you are taking advantage of.
It was put in place for this very reason.
If we did not think we would be able to help you we would not take your order.
Our guarantee is an assurance to all our customers (Current and potential) that you will not be stuck with something that is not suitable.
I (John) also have lower back arthritis, just recently diagnosed by X-Ray and even though I am not having the injections (yet) I am acutely aware of the associated and constant pain (akin to having a broken rib).
As a recommendation, and based on my trials and usage I would steer you towards our Artisan Luxury model with a single tension spring (1.42mm gauge (appropriated as a medium tension).
Our closest comparison: Artisan Luxury
Experience pure comfort from £1460
| John Ryan By Design Artisan Luxury | Vi-Spring Devonshire | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1200 GSM British Fleece Wool and Cotton | 600gsm British Fleece Wool |
| 2 | Hairproof Cambric Cover | 1700gsm Devonshire Fleece Wool |
| 3 | 1200gsm Pure Horsehair | NA |
| 4 | 500gsm Pure Wool | NA |
| 5 | 1200gsm Pure Horsetail | NA |
| 6 | 500gsm Pure Wool | 300gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton |
| 7 | 1476 Calico encased Pocket Springs [51mm] [1.42mm] | 1326 Calico encased Pocket Springs [54mm] [1.52mm] |
| Total GSM | 4600gsm | 2600gsm |
The upholstery level at just short of 5kg per square meter is more than enough to offer an additional element of support without exacerbating the pressure on your back but will also offer you all the comfort you both need.
If you have not tried calico springs before then a good exercise would be to try a mid range Vi Spring mattress at your nearest ‘good’ retailer – there is absolutely no way you will be entirely sure of how they will work for your back condition just by trying them for a few minutes in store, but I am quite confident that this type of build will be just right for you both.
Keep in touch and let me know your thoughts.
John and Ryan.
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