Memory foam prevents deep sleep - anyone else experience this?

Mattress Talk Needs & Personal Preferences
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I’m really bummed because I really enjoy softness of the Wright mattress I have been testing. It’s one of the few mattresses i’ve tried that has not caused much pain in my hips and back. However, because of the memory foam, I can’t get any deep sleep on the mattress because it wakes me when move in my sleep out of the sinking hole. The issue is solved by using a 2 in soft latex topper, which allows me to move w/o waking up. But the topper for some reason causes me neck pain and I’ve tried a bunch of different pillows.

I’m at the end of the mattress trial and it feels risky to keep it given the neck issue. It also feels risky to start over again and try to find another soft foam mattress.
any advice?

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Hi pressurtepts,
What type of pillows have you tried. Adding that couple of inches of topper could be causing your head and neck to angle down and stretch your neck muscles in a manner your body is not used to. I know you mentioned you have tried different pillows, but have you added loft with those pillow/s.
It took me a while to get my pillow situation under comfortable control. My Pillow Post.

Even after all that, I just updated, hopefully for the last time, to a horsehair pillow, which works wonders for my sleep. I still think the key is in your pillow, from what you describe, it makes the most sense to me. Don’t give up on the pillow thing.
Norm

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Hi pressurepts and Welcome Back - it’s been a few months!

I would congratulate you on your new mattress, but it sounds like it’s not working optimally for you! I took a look at the Wright Mattress W1-27, is this the one you bought? It’s specifications:

11"
1.5" 4 lb/cuft ILD 10 ‘3below memory foam’
2" 3 lb/cuft 18 ILD ‘polymer reinforced zero g foam’
1.5" 5 lb/cuft 20 ILD ‘polymer reinforced zero g foam’
6" 1.8 lb/cuft ILD 30 base foam

I am concerned about the ‘sinking hole’ you describe that wakes you up when you move out of it; a new all memory foam mattress, with your lighter BMI, with the densities given, should be ‘bouncing back’ at this point in its’ life cycle and not leaving a
worn ‘hole’ if you’re body impression. I do agree with @Maverick that the neck pain could be resolved with pillows…the plush latex topper sounds like it’s allowing you to ‘sink in’ and ‘bottom out’ a bit on the top memory foam layer. If it’s at all possible to visit some local showrooms you might want to see how a more medium latex topper feels. Also keep in mind our recommendations for foams - we suggest any foam in a potential mattress has no more than an inch or so of lower grade foams (for memory foam no lower than 4 lbs/cuft for normal range weights, and 5lbs/cuft for higher range weights) and if polyfoam is used, with at least 1.8 lbs/cuft density, just to ensure you have support.

Using more suitable pillows or adjusting the firmness of your topper could be worth trying to see if this reduces the neck pain while still being supportive enough for your hips and back…but remember, only you can determine if a mattress is suitable for you and your sleep profile!

~ Basilio

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yes - these are the specifications. its not so much that its a “worn hole” but its just maybe the level of conformity. Its really frustrating. because its feels comfortable. But i absolutely never feel rested the next day when i sleep on it. I tried to get “used” to it. and i was so tired after 5 days i had to switch. the latex topper does negate the effect and i can get rest, but for some reason its not quite right for my neck. I really really don’t want to start over with another new mattress since this one doesn’t hurt my hips (like most mattresses do, tried a number of others). So trying to figure out what to do, the trial is pretty much up and i already extended it, but i feel like i need even more time. i don’t think i would get a firmer latex topper, because i’ve tried a medium in latex before and it was a little bit too firm.

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Hi pressurepts,

I totally understand…your mattress is almost there, you just need a bit of fine tuning…this brings us back to @Maverick’s suggestion on possibly pillows being the solution. A good pillow can definitely help with beck pain, like a shredded latex pillow; what is your current pillow situation like? What kind of polllws have you tried?

~ Basilio

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They are going to give me a little more time 1-2 weeks for more testing. the pillow im trying now is a pretty lofty down alternative pillow with fiber-fill clusters. I did try the easy breather from nest - which is a bit more substantial - but it was too much for my neck. The down alternative pillow is helping. but i fell like a really shallow gentle wedge might also help but i haven’t tried one.

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Hi Pressurepts,
I have tried so many pillows, and am familiar with a bunch more. I have a couple of “down alternative” pillows at home. For me 6’ 220, they offer zero support. We actually only use them for the decorative shams. When it comes to back and neck pain, and believe it or not mid to lower back pain, you need a substantial pillow that will cradle your head and neck. I have to agree with @Basilio and my suggestion of a more substantial pillow.
If you have never tried a Tempurpedic Procloud Mid or Hi. I would buy one on Amazon (since amazon accepts returns within 30 days) While I am not a big fan of TP mattresses, their pillows are pretty darn good. The Procloud series is a medium firmness, but it really cradles the head, where their contour neck pillow and Dual Breeze is more firm an may be too much pressure for some folks. The Procloud, allows your head to sink enough based on the weight of the sleeper and then allows your head to kind of float securely in place. Their softer MF pillows will be too soft.
A latex pillow could be good too (I like solid pillows, but shredded allows you to adjust the fill), latex does provide a little pushback, that I dont like, but my wife loves her 100% natural talalay! I found myself distracted as my head kept wanting to bob up and down.

I also tried the Brooklyn Bedding Shredded deconstructed memory foam and latex combo filled pillow. The pillow was very lofty, which I liked, but it leaned more toward the latex-y side than the MF side, great pillow but with a little push back. The malouf gel dough pillow is a great balance of what would happen if TP and Latex had child. Nice amount of sink, only a little pushback and quite comfortable, but it does push back a little, where the TP Procloud Mid or Hi just holds your head in place.

I am not going to recommend a horsehair pillow, like what I now use as it is a different feel altogether, I call it the sink and lock. Your head sinks in and is locked in place, no push back, no extra sink, it is as it it knows exactly what your head weighs and just accepts you in with a bit of authority.

Having said all that, not knowing you at all, but knowing pillows. I dont feel comfortable that that alternative down pillow is going to solve your issue as i just dont see it being supportive enough. Then again you know what’s best for you!

The nest easy breather is a great pillow, but they send it very stuffed and it is quite firm and hard.

What specific brands and models of other pillows, if you have tried others have you used?