Do I need a new mattress, a new bedframe, or both?
May 3, 2023 7:32 AM Subscribe
Has anyone else experienced a situation where they had trouble narrowing down the cause of their mattress-related back pain? I recognize that something needs replacing at this point, but due to financial reasons, I don't want to waste extra money by replacing something if it isn't the thing that is actually causing the issue.
I've been waking up with lower back pain (and occasionally neck pain) every morning for the past three weeks. Based on internet research, I suspect that something in my current bed setup is causing the issue.
The mattress sags in the middle, and I've also noticed that the entire bed seems to tilt downwards (towards the head of the bed) when I'm laying on it. I'm trying to figure out if I need to buy a new mattress, a new bedframe, or both.
1. From what I can tell, the mattress seems to be sagging, straight down the middle. Even if I lay the mattress on the floor, I can still feel the indentation in the middle. (I have periodically rotated the bed according to the manufacturer's guidelines, for the past year.) I am currently communicating with the mattress company to see if this falls under the guidelines of a warranty repair or replacement. (The mattress is currently one year old, and it has a 25 year warranty.)
2. The mattress was advertised as "medium firm" but it is actually more of a "firm" mattress. This has caused me back pain and joint pain, on and off over the past year. The joint pain went away when I added a 1.5" mattress topper, but the back pain has gotten worse in the past few weeks--presumably because the mattress topper made the middle indentation even more pronounced. I occasionally get neck pain, and the only way to avoid the neck pain is to sleep on the bed facing away from the headboard, in a curled up fetal position. Obviously this is not ideal for the longterm.
3. I'm currently sleeping on an eight year old Tarva bedframe from Ikea. I suspect that the age of the bedframe may be causing some overall alignment issues with my bed setup. However, when I inspect the bedframe without the mattress, there doesn't seem to be any visible structural defects. Nonetheless, this seems to be the only logical explanation for why it feels like everything is tilting towards the head of the bed, whenever I lay on the mattress.
Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.
I've been waking up with lower back pain (and occasionally neck pain) every morning for the past three weeks. Based on internet research, I suspect that something in my current bed setup is causing the issue.
The mattress sags in the middle, and I've also noticed that the entire bed seems to tilt downwards (towards the head of the bed) when I'm laying on it. I'm trying to figure out if I need to buy a new mattress, a new bedframe, or both.
1. From what I can tell, the mattress seems to be sagging, straight down the middle. Even if I lay the mattress on the floor, I can still feel the indentation in the middle. (I have periodically rotated the bed according to the manufacturer's guidelines, for the past year.) I am currently communicating with the mattress company to see if this falls under the guidelines of a warranty repair or replacement. (The mattress is currently one year old, and it has a 25 year warranty.)
2. The mattress was advertised as "medium firm" but it is actually more of a "firm" mattress. This has caused me back pain and joint pain, on and off over the past year. The joint pain went away when I added a 1.5" mattress topper, but the back pain has gotten worse in the past few weeks--presumably because the mattress topper made the middle indentation even more pronounced. I occasionally get neck pain, and the only way to avoid the neck pain is to sleep on the bed facing away from the headboard, in a curled up fetal position. Obviously this is not ideal for the longterm.
3. I'm currently sleeping on an eight year old Tarva bedframe from Ikea. I suspect that the age of the bedframe may be causing some overall alignment issues with my bed setup. However, when I inspect the bedframe without the mattress, there doesn't seem to be any visible structural defects. Nonetheless, this seems to be the only logical explanation for why it feels like everything is tilting towards the head of the bed, whenever I lay on the mattress.
Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.
Best answer: when I inspect the bedframe without the mattress, there doesn't seem to be any visible structural defects. Nonetheless, this seems to be the only logical explanation for why it feels like everything is tilting towards the head of the bed, whenever I lay on the mattress
Have you got a spirit level? Can you place that on various parts of the frame, while the mattress is on the frame, to see if the frame is actually level?
In addition, can you have somebody stretch out on your bed/put enough weight on it to simulate your weight, and check again? Has anything changed?
The Tarva is not the world's sturdiest frame so you may not need a structural defect - it might just bend a bit under weight. Have you tightened the screws since you've bought it? They can loosen over time.
Is your floor actually level? May not be obvious standing up but may feel more pronounced when you're horizontal.
A mattress that is sagging won't support you well even with a brand new frame and the world's best slats. Is your current mattress still under warranty? If so, use that to get one that doesn't sag. That may not fix all your problems but probably some of them.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:05 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Have you got a spirit level? Can you place that on various parts of the frame, while the mattress is on the frame, to see if the frame is actually level?
In addition, can you have somebody stretch out on your bed/put enough weight on it to simulate your weight, and check again? Has anything changed?
The Tarva is not the world's sturdiest frame so you may not need a structural defect - it might just bend a bit under weight. Have you tightened the screws since you've bought it? They can loosen over time.
Is your floor actually level? May not be obvious standing up but may feel more pronounced when you're horizontal.
A mattress that is sagging won't support you well even with a brand new frame and the world's best slats. Is your current mattress still under warranty? If so, use that to get one that doesn't sag. That may not fix all your problems but probably some of them.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:05 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Yep, get a second person to help you. One of you lays on the floor and watches for movement under the bed (possibly with their phone camera out), the other person lays on the bed in a normal sleep position.
When this happened to me, two things were happening: First, the bed wasn't correctly supporting the mattress, so the support boards were visibly deflecting under the weight. Second, the spring mattress was wearing differently/faster than normal because it wasn't supported correctly (which likely voids any warranty it might be under).
You say the bed frame appears to be in sufficient condition. What about the slatted bed base specifically? Is it installed correctly? Might the slats have slipped out of place when you moved the mattress? I had an IKEA bed that I moved several times (not the same bed as my previous sagging bed), and I noticed that after the last move, the pins that held the slats in alignment had fallen out, so I needed to take more care to make sure the slats were spread out correctly.
posted by katieinshoes at 8:14 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
When this happened to me, two things were happening: First, the bed wasn't correctly supporting the mattress, so the support boards were visibly deflecting under the weight. Second, the spring mattress was wearing differently/faster than normal because it wasn't supported correctly (which likely voids any warranty it might be under).
You say the bed frame appears to be in sufficient condition. What about the slatted bed base specifically? Is it installed correctly? Might the slats have slipped out of place when you moved the mattress? I had an IKEA bed that I moved several times (not the same bed as my previous sagging bed), and I noticed that after the last move, the pins that held the slats in alignment had fallen out, so I needed to take more care to make sure the slats were spread out correctly.
posted by katieinshoes at 8:14 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
the mattress seems to be sagging, straight down the middle
This happens to me, a mattress with even a tiny bit of sag in the middle that most people wouldn't notice, causes strong lower back pain. Flipping doesn't help because my butt is exactly centered top-to-bottom. New mattresses were only good for a year; I tried foam, latex, and innerspring.
I fixed this by switching to an air mattress with separate middle setting and a thin foam top (fortunately also the cheapest option.) The middle is set very stiff and the top/bottom is at a moderate setting.
posted by flimflam at 8:25 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
This happens to me, a mattress with even a tiny bit of sag in the middle that most people wouldn't notice, causes strong lower back pain. Flipping doesn't help because my butt is exactly centered top-to-bottom. New mattresses were only good for a year; I tried foam, latex, and innerspring.
I fixed this by switching to an air mattress with separate middle setting and a thin foam top (fortunately also the cheapest option.) The middle is set very stiff and the top/bottom is at a moderate setting.
posted by flimflam at 8:25 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Yeah, double check the support slats, for starters. We had an Ikea Malm bed frame for a while, and those slats were always sliding out of position. Eventually, I ditched the slats completely and put down 5/8" plywood as a solid foundation for the mattress.
Make sure you're using a good quality moisture-proof mattress protector, as well. Sweat, skin oils, etc. can wick into the foam in your mattress and cause it to collapse. When a mattress fails and develops body impressions or a sag, it's almost never a failure of the springs, but rather the foam has collapsed and lost its ability to return to its full, supportive volume.
Another reason to use a good quality mattress protector is that most mattress warranties will not cover sags, body impressions, etc. if the area in question is visibly stained, for the reasons above. I used to sell mattresses, and I'd tell customers "Buy it here, or buy it from Amazon, but get a good mattress protector and use it from day one." It's that important.
posted by xedrik at 8:46 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Make sure you're using a good quality moisture-proof mattress protector, as well. Sweat, skin oils, etc. can wick into the foam in your mattress and cause it to collapse. When a mattress fails and develops body impressions or a sag, it's almost never a failure of the springs, but rather the foam has collapsed and lost its ability to return to its full, supportive volume.
Another reason to use a good quality mattress protector is that most mattress warranties will not cover sags, body impressions, etc. if the area in question is visibly stained, for the reasons above. I used to sell mattresses, and I'd tell customers "Buy it here, or buy it from Amazon, but get a good mattress protector and use it from day one." It's that important.
posted by xedrik at 8:46 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for all of the helpful responses! A couple of you mentioned having someone else lay in the bed while I analyze the bed's alignment and positioning. I'm in a weird situation right now where I don't have anyone who I could easily ask to come over and help me do this, but hopefully in a couple of weeks' time I can have someone stop by and help me to troubleshoot this.
@fake - Last week I tried partially propping up the mattress with a small sheet of plywood, but it didn't really help, and it just made the mattress feel more uncomfortable. Maybe I need to use materials that are narrower and softer, to pinpoint the exact area of the sag. At any rate, I will see if propping up the headboard end of the bed frame does anything to help the tilting situation.
@koahiatamadl - I don't own a spirit level, but last weekend I used a level app on my smartphone to measure various parts of the bed frame. The measurements were fairly close to each other, but not exactly the same, which leads me to conclude that there may be some general unevenness in the bed frame's alignment. I also went around and tightened some of the screws last weekend, but it didn't seem to make that much of a difference. I'm currently working with the mattress manufacturer to see if my mattress qualifies for a warranty repair or replacement, so fingers crossed on that.
@katieinshoes - Come to think of it, the slatted bed base itself may be causing some of the issues. Last time I took the mattress off the bed, I noticed that some of the slats seem to be warped ever so slightly. They are held in place correctly (as far as I can tell) but I can feel them shifting around at night sometimes.
@flimflam - Thanks for the suggestion! I will keep this in mind as I continue to research mattress options.
@xedrik - Good to know about the slats! As I mentioned previously, they are probably not as secure as they should be. A plywood foundation sounds like a good idea. I have been using a mattress protector on the mattress since day one.
posted by carnival_night_zone at 8:57 AM on May 3, 2023
@fake - Last week I tried partially propping up the mattress with a small sheet of plywood, but it didn't really help, and it just made the mattress feel more uncomfortable. Maybe I need to use materials that are narrower and softer, to pinpoint the exact area of the sag. At any rate, I will see if propping up the headboard end of the bed frame does anything to help the tilting situation.
@koahiatamadl - I don't own a spirit level, but last weekend I used a level app on my smartphone to measure various parts of the bed frame. The measurements were fairly close to each other, but not exactly the same, which leads me to conclude that there may be some general unevenness in the bed frame's alignment. I also went around and tightened some of the screws last weekend, but it didn't seem to make that much of a difference. I'm currently working with the mattress manufacturer to see if my mattress qualifies for a warranty repair or replacement, so fingers crossed on that.
@katieinshoes - Come to think of it, the slatted bed base itself may be causing some of the issues. Last time I took the mattress off the bed, I noticed that some of the slats seem to be warped ever so slightly. They are held in place correctly (as far as I can tell) but I can feel them shifting around at night sometimes.
@flimflam - Thanks for the suggestion! I will keep this in mind as I continue to research mattress options.
@xedrik - Good to know about the slats! As I mentioned previously, they are probably not as secure as they should be. A plywood foundation sounds like a good idea. I have been using a mattress protector on the mattress since day one.
posted by carnival_night_zone at 8:57 AM on May 3, 2023
Best answer: Does the bed have slats? you can easily add additional slats in case the existing ones have sagged.
Sleep habits and stress can contribute to back pain; exercise, stretching, and building a strong core can help.
posted by theora55 at 9:55 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Sleep habits and stress can contribute to back pain; exercise, stretching, and building a strong core can help.
posted by theora55 at 9:55 AM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: @theora55 - Yes, the bed has slats. Others have mentioned the possibility of adding more slats, so I may have to look into that.
As far as I can tell, I have pretty good sleep habits. I don’t consume caffeine or chocolate, due to a strong caffeine sensitivity. I get 30 minutes of exercise, at least five days a week. I spend time in nature daily. I stretch twice a day (morning and evening) and I do core strengthening exercises once a week.
As for the stress…there’s not much I can do about it right now. Work, family, everything is just…complete and total garbage. I just have to survive until things get better.
I recently restarted therapy though, so maybe that will help.
posted by carnival_night_zone at 10:21 AM on May 3, 2023
As far as I can tell, I have pretty good sleep habits. I don’t consume caffeine or chocolate, due to a strong caffeine sensitivity. I get 30 minutes of exercise, at least five days a week. I spend time in nature daily. I stretch twice a day (morning and evening) and I do core strengthening exercises once a week.
As for the stress…there’s not much I can do about it right now. Work, family, everything is just…complete and total garbage. I just have to survive until things get better.
I recently restarted therapy though, so maybe that will help.
posted by carnival_night_zone at 10:21 AM on May 3, 2023
Best answer: If this was me I'd take the mattress off the frame and put it on the floor, stand the frame up against a wall, and sleep on the mattress for a few nights. If your bed frame is so flimsy there's some doubt, get a new one or live without it.
I've assembled commercial bed frames for people. Almost all of them are so flimsy that it's horrifying. It's also horrifying that the average person can sleep on something so flimsy it's going to hurt them and somehow think that was money well spent.
I could make a more solid bed frame than most of what you can buy out of thirty-six milk crates and a bag of zip ties. Everyone I tell this to says, "But it would be ugly." Then they tell me their back hurts in the morning.
So what I'm saying is, this is an easy fix, and get someone who knows something about structures to look at your next bed, if that's the problem.
In my experience, by the way, a soft bed is more likely to cause problems than firm one.
posted by AugustusCrunch at 10:58 AM on May 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
I've assembled commercial bed frames for people. Almost all of them are so flimsy that it's horrifying. It's also horrifying that the average person can sleep on something so flimsy it's going to hurt them and somehow think that was money well spent.
I could make a more solid bed frame than most of what you can buy out of thirty-six milk crates and a bag of zip ties. Everyone I tell this to says, "But it would be ugly." Then they tell me their back hurts in the morning.
So what I'm saying is, this is an easy fix, and get someone who knows something about structures to look at your next bed, if that's the problem.
In my experience, by the way, a soft bed is more likely to cause problems than firm one.
posted by AugustusCrunch at 10:58 AM on May 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
Best answer: yeah I would think the first step would be to just put the mattress on the floor and see what that does. I'm guessing it will solve the slope problem but not the middle-sagging problem, but at least you'll know.
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:05 PM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:05 PM on May 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Do you have a yardstick, a curtain rod, or something long, straight and rigid that you can place across the width of the mattress so it rests on either side and see if there’s a gap at the center? Place the phone on top of it and use the spirit level app. Also to see if the slats are sagging under weight, can you pile books, canned goods, paint cans, and other heavy items where you normally sleep and then check the slats underneath? Can you turn the bed slats over? Is your bed wide enough that you can sleep cross-wise at the foot of it for a change of pace?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:50 PM on May 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:50 PM on May 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Update: I contacted the mattress company, and they agreed to send me a replacement mattress. I sent them a ton of pictures and explained the issue in great detail, and after several back and forth emails, they agreed that the mattress is most likely defective, and therefore eligible for replacement under the terms of the warranty. In the meantime, I have been sleeping on the mattress on the floor, which feels more comfortable. No more tilting issue. There is still a bit of sagging in the lower back area, but I am able to mitigate this by placing a rolled blanket under my knees.
I am still in the process of troubleshooting the bed frame. In the meantime, I can at least get some rest by sleeping on the mattress on the floor.
posted by carnival_night_zone at 6:16 AM on May 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am still in the process of troubleshooting the bed frame. In the meantime, I can at least get some rest by sleeping on the mattress on the floor.
posted by carnival_night_zone at 6:16 AM on May 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
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For example:
Prop up the head end of the bed frame with some books under the legs until it feels level.
Prop up the sagging portion of the mattress with some bedding materials until it feels flat.
Sleep/repeat.
posted by fake at 7:54 AM on May 3, 2023 [1 favorite]