Hi, I am an older (65 plus) very lightweight female (around 105#) with arthritic shoulder. Back/side sleeper. I was looking for a non-memory foam but not-too firm latex or innerspring or hybrid, and purchased a Luma (original) plush/soft. I already had a very soft 3" latex topper, so ordered the mattress without top comfort layer. Started having back pain when on the new mattress, and thought it might be too soft/not supportive enough. Removed the topper, and still had problems. I need to start from square one, and thinking I need something similar but firmer, probably from another company. Looked at Metta, but concerned about their lack of return policy. Maybe just a pocketed coil mattress to use with my plush topper? I’d rather not spend $3K, but will if I have to. Thank you.
Hi LucretiaMott.
Welcome to our Mattress Forum! 
I am sorry to hear that your new mattress is not a good match for your comfort/support needs.
You are on the right track but before deciding on another mattress or purchasing just a pocket coil, it may be wise to determine the cause or combination of causes that may be at play in your situation. One thing that first comes to mind is your being “lightweight” and a back sleeper. Would you mind sharing your height with us? This is useful in calculating your BMI to determine how much you are likely to sink in and “deviating” from a neutral spinal alignment.
Typically, petite people with a small frame do not need much depth of a comfort layer so thinner layers may be the answer. In some cases, even 2" of comfort layer may be too much. While back sleepers who are petite can do well with even only 1" of foam in the comfort layer, as we advance in age we generally desire a bit more comfort. Also, your arthritic shoulder pains (especially when sleeping on your side) might need some pressure point relief which means that you’d need to assess each variable systematically and in relationship with all other factors that need to be balanced for a good mattress match.
I am curious if you still have the Luma mattress or if you have returned it. You may be able to try one more experiment to get some additional data points connected with the length it takes your body to “unlearn any old and entrenched” sleeping habits that over time can become a way of compensating for an unsuitable sleeping surface and relearn new ways to adjust to a different sleeping environment.
Aside from this, the primary concern is to not sink in too deeply as this could negatively impact your alignment by having too much thickness, plushness, or a combination of both.
A few additional questions for you that may help you determine other possible causes. Have you had these pains with your previous mattress as well? What was the reason for changing your old mattress? Even though you still had pains when you removed the topper did the pain level decreased?
Phoenix
Update & missing info:
Very helpful info, thanks.
I am somewhere around 58" tall (just 4’10"-- and my 4 legged bedmate is around 6"!). I did not have the back pain with my beat up old mattress (and old box springs), just had the arthritic neck/shoulder. I was replacing the old mattress because it was very old and was obviously sagging in places, etc., like its owner. Good question about relative pain with/without topper. I didn’t notice any difference either with the old-old mattress or with the Luma after removing the topper. The Luma, even without the topper, felt like it was hammock-ing a bit, though it didn’t look that way from the outside when I was lying on it. I tried the Luma mattress for 3 weeks, switching several times between with and without the topper. I did that (possibly not helpful) quick and dirty “showroom” firmness test where you try sliding your hand under the curve in your back. I couldn’t get my hand through at all with the Luma (no topper), vs. a bit easier with old mattress.
Also, I spoke by phone with Ken from Arizona Mattress about the Ultimate Hybrid Pocket Coil. He said they were 5 weeks behind on orders, and suggested I place the order which could easily be canceled if I changed my mind in the next week or two. I did place the order along with a wood foundation.
Hi LucretiaMott.
You are welcome and thanks for the additional information.
I agree that age and the power of habit are important factors. It takes more time for a 65-year-old body to unlearn the entranced ways of a body trying to compensate for the gradual deteriorating and sagging of the mattress which often results in misalignment, muscle pains, and incorrect postures. It will take a little longer to “destress” the body and reteach it back to normalcy so going to a chiropractor may help a bit with this. A major factor that contributes to spinal alignment and curvature is the gradual change in the intervertebral discs. In an older body, the cartilage that separates the vertebra hardens and loses flexibility which typically results in the compressed total length of the spine and some degree of kyphosis (forward tilt). Even though this is normal with aging it will have the effect of prolonging any adjustment period (you to the mattress) needed when you get a new mattress and involves some discomfort. Whatever you end up getting I’d give it more time for adjustment than usual.
Congratulations on your new mattress from Arizona Premium which is one of the Trusted members of our site. I am glad that you reached out to them and asked for personalized guidance. While nobody (except you) can ultimately tell for sure if something will work out in the long term, Ken has over four decades of mattress building and customer matching experience and he would have dissuaded you from ordering something that he believed would be inappropriate for you. Fingers crossed that this is the one .:cheer:
I am looking forward to any updates you have once you have the chance to receive your mattress and to sleep upon it for long enough to give your body a bit of time to catch up with the new change.
Phoenix