Memory Foam Mattress - are they good?

[PavlovtheCat]

We are buying a new bed/mattress etc.

I have seen on Groupon a Silentnight Memory Foam Mattress for £219, and wondered if this is a good deal? (alleges 64% off).

I have heard mixed reports on memory foam mattress, and two sets of friends replaced theirs as they did not get on with it, but am considering whether it might be good for my back problem (lumbar disc and sciatica related). But, it's risky isn't it? Just wondered what your thoughts are, those who have one/have had one.

I have lay on one, but not for an entire night. It was a weird/odd feeling, but I guess we would get used to it? Or, would pocket sprung be better?

[McPheastOfStephen]

I've got one, and tbh it gives me back ache. I acquired an entire new bed off of a relative, so had no grounds for complaint, as it cost over £1000 .

[PavlovtheCat]

It's crazy what people spend before replacing isn't it? one of my friends had a super kingsized bed, with memory foam mattress, before deciding he could not get on with the mattress! then he bought a new mattress, and 6 months later bought a house with a much smaller bedroom that they could not fit the bed into

I have heard some of the complaints from people that don't get on with it being that it gives them back ache. But others have said it helps their back ache. I move a lot when I sleep (less so these days as it hurts to move, but generally I do) so I wondered how the memory foam would work so well if I don't stay in one place it won't be so easy to go into the 'right' position?

[DoesntTurkeyNSproutSoupDragOn]

They tend to be very very hot. At least 3 friends got rid of theirs because they couldn't bear how hot they were!

I have a Silent Night pocket sprung mattress which has a memory foam top layer. I like it. It is definitely warmer than a normal mattress though. I think it has eased the stiffness in my back as I no longer shuffle to the bathroom like a 90 year old when I get up in the morning :o

[DancingInTheMoonlight]

There are better mattress deals on Amazon. I am currently deciding whether to buy a memory foam mattress after heating mixed reports. Another issue raised by some friends is that it made the bed too warm?. They advised us to try a memory foam mattress topper first (some are about 40 quid) to see if we liked it. If we did and decided to buy the mattress the topper could go on the bed in the guest room..

[Noren]

I hate mine because sinking into it means my back isn't supported.

[PavlovtheCat]

oh too hot? no, i can't abide hot beds. I love cool when I sleep as I get quite hot these days myself.

I am going to check amazon, thanks for that tip dancing

[DoesntTurkeyNSproutSoupDragOn]

If you can't abide hot beds, I'd say memory foam isn't for you. My one with the top layer (an Amazon Black Friday week purchase) has the right level of warmth for me but I do wonder what it's going to be like in the summer. If we get a summer.

Trying out a topper first is a good idea.

[McPheastOfStephen]

I also get too hot. But as I said, it was given to me so no grounds for complaint. Plus I can't afford to change it.

If I'd had the choice, I would have had a firmer sprung mattress.

[PavlovtheCat]

good idea to try a topper. this amazon black friday thing which completely passed me by, was that a one off? will there be more? hopeful

[PavlovtheCat]

noren that is useful to know, if you sink into it, it might not be good for me, I need to be able to roll out of it and have some support for my back.

[noisytoys]

My memory foam topper is more forgetful foam these days it's all lumpy where it has been slept on too much

[DorisIsWaiting]

Mine has gone saggy to the point we now sleep on the non memory foam side (much better!)

[PavlovtheCat]

so, two votes straight after each other against the toppers too...

[EauRougelyNight]

I chuffing love mine. I used to get a really sore back but had no problems since I got the memory foam mattress. And I don't find it too hot despite sleeping next to DH, the human radiator. We've had ours for a few years and it's still the same as it was new.

I don't sink into mine that much, it's quite firm. Maybe it varies from brand to brand.

[Thumbwitch]

I had a 2" thick memory foam topper when I was pregnant with DS1 and getting hip pains - it was waaaay too hot and it did my back no favours at all. I had sciatica and other back issues, nothing major but lots of niggles, and I found after 3 nights on the topper that I had to get rid of it again. I tried it again after having had DS1, but it was just as bad.

A friend who also has sciatica and other back/pelvis issues tried a topper as well - she didn't mind the heat but also found her back got progressively more sore each night.

IMO the problem for me was that my back needs to lengthen out over night, as it tends to compress quite a lot during the day, and gets quite a strong lordosis - a firm mattress allows this to stretch/relax out, but the memory foam just held it in the shape in which I went to bed, which meant no stretching out/relaxing and starting the next day with an already compressed back, so it just got worse.

Definitely too hot for me though. Since moving to Australia, we've bought a pillow-top mattress for our kingsize bed and that's too fecking soft and hot as well, despite it being a grade firmer than the Sleep Machine said I needed. I sleep on an ordinary firmness mattress (used to be an orthopaedic mattress but that is a little too hard on the sciatica) and that's lovely.

[DoesntTurkeyNSproutSoupDragOn]

Pavlov, Amazon are doing Lightning Deals at the moment (no mattresses today though :))

My mattress with the foam layer is lovely and firm - I can roll out of it no problem. It is a lot higher than my old one so less standing up to do after the roll too :o

As I said, it is warmer than normal though so a topper would be good for you to try out.