I am a big guy. More than 6'1" and nearly 300 pounds. I have chronic back pain stemming from a few old military injuries. Combined with several extra pounds and sleep apnea, you can quickly see how much fun I am at sleep-overs.

I have disc herniation and compression in my L5S1 region and radiculopathy in my legs stemming from the damage. I also have damage to my right shoulder.

I had resorted to sleeping on our very nice reclining couch in the family room as my only way to not wake up in pain. If I laid flat, I would wake after only a couple of hours in too much pain to go back to sleep and I would pay for it for a day or so. But, my wife got to be a little sore about me never sleeping in bed with her, so we started looking at adjustable beds.

Aside from the obvious cost associated, it seemed that you had to pick between both people agreeing on a position, or a bottomless abyss in the middle of the bed between the two separately adjustable sides.

So I kept up my couch life.

Then I saw this.

Deciding, despite the expense, that it was worth a shot, we ordered it. (The big one, of course, for reasons previously stated) We figured we could turn it into some sort of an overpriced toy for my 6 kids if all else failed.

Now, I want to be clear, this isn't a miracle. At least not for me. Sometimes I need the stretching and decompression that comes with a 90 degree or more bend at the waist, and this isn't going to do that. But most days I sit at work, and that leaves me in a pretty good spot to just need 45 degrees or so.

On those nights, I can climb ungracefully onto this mound of dense foam (there is no way to gracefully mount this. Period. If you claim otherwise I need to see a video as evidence) and I can get into a comfortable position and sleep next to my wife (albeit, several inches higher than her) and I can wake up basically no worse for the wear.

I set it at the highest middle angle and the lower upper body incline. The higher upper angle made it hard for me to fall asleep.

On most nights, this is a game changer. Allowing me to sleep in my bed next to my wife and not wake up with pain. A feat I haven't been able to accomplish in more than a year without meds. As a bonus, my 2 year old thinks flopping on it is the most fun thing in the world.

It folds up easy and can be put out of the way. I will say that you want to wrap it in a sheet of some sort to protect it, and the grip material makes awful noises against a wooden headboard, so I keep one pillow behind me as a buffer.

But this has given me a large portion of my life back, and while it falls short of miracle cure, it is certainly worth what I spent for what it has given me back.

I recommend this to anyone suffering from similar issues who wants to avoid buying an adjustable bed.

Do I like this item? Oh, heck no!!! It's bulky and bumpy, and you can forget about ever again making your bed nice and neat!
But I didn't buy it for aesthetics. I bought it because I have osteopenia and sciatica. I bought it because I simply couldn't get to sleep and stay asleep without pains shooting all over my legs and hips.
THIS!! This has been a huge help!!! Took a while to get used to, especially sleeping on my back. But I stuck it out and it has been worth it. I can sleep. I can wake up without pain. I can walk so much further without pain.
So I had to make a decision ... bed that looks like hotel staff made it or pain-free night and days?
Eenie meenie miney moe.
This is worth every penny.

I went through an emergency surgery I'm the abdominal region and I was looking for the perfect pillow to help with the pressure of laying down, the ability to easily get up and the most support possible. After going through 30+ pillows to possibly purchase I was worried about making the wrong decision. I was hesitant about this pillow, durability, and longevity. I finally made the purchase and got the pillow and after using it for over a month straight during my recovery the pillow is still wonderful! It's still in incredible shape and the comfortably is still exceptional. I would highly recommend this pillow especially if you've just gotten out of surgery or planning to go into one!

I love this! My physical therapist recommended a zero-gravity chair for relief of symptoms and complications from my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder that cause my joints to be unstable and resulting in frequent dislocations. I have a lawn chair that is comfortable for a while, but is not good for a night's sleep. We shopped for a zero-gravity recliner, but I did not wan too invest more than $1,000 for a decent one. A regular recliner does not support my spinal alignment and I will feel worse. I was not sure about paying $125 or more for a wedge pillow system, so I tried the inflatable version for less than $50. I loved it, but it began to inflate after a few months. I decided to upgrade to the foam Backmax. I was unsure if I needed the Backmax Plus, I am 5'9" and it seemed the regular would be large enough, less bulky, lighter weight, take-up a lot less space, and was almost $100 cheaper.

I tried it on the bed, but I had it on one side and had to get on the bed from my husband's side - so I could not get in bed after him or get up for the restroom without disturbing him. Because of my joint instability, I need to get on all fours then roll over on the pillow to keep my joints neutral. It was also heavy and bulky to frequently move on and off the bed.I have placed my Backmax on the floor of our living room. I can watch TV or read, even when I am to fatigued or in too much pay to hold up my own posture! I used to hurt so much if I would lie on the sofa. If lying in bed causes me too much pain or I have insomnia, I now have a supportive alternative. I need a separate small pillow to support my neck, one the size of a small throw pillow or a travel pillow works well for me.

Pros:
Zero-gravity feel
Helps me relax when I have muscle spasms
Help support my alignment during and after my frequent joint dislocations and subluxations from joint hypermobility due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
The only way I can take pressure off dislocated ribs until I can get them to realign
Able to position myself to relieve the pressure of constipation or pelvic organ prolapse
Assistance with maintaining a neutral position
Excellent for a neutral position for sleeping when I go through periods that I would dislocate my shoulder or hip while lying on a regular bed
A place to relax when I have insomnia
Supports my posture while I read or watch television
Relief from heartburn and reflux

Cons:
I would give it 5 stars, but I am 5'9" and could use an extra inch of width and must separate the two large cushions to accommodate my length.
Also, the lower pillow will not stay flush with the top, it sinks over time.
Heavy and bulky, consider this if you think you will need to move have a loss of strength or mobility issues.
Bulky if you are sharing a Queen-sized bed and I would not bother putting on a full bed if you have a sleep partner.
Need to put in the middle of a full or twin bed. People with mobility issues may have difficulty getting onto the system and getting back up.
I am 5'9" and really should use the Plus for the length, even the width in the shoulders and I wear a misses medium or large top, but it is $100 more and much bigger. A medium or large size in between the two would be perfect.

Although the regular Backmax is not quite long enough for me, It was one of the only ways I have ever been able to completely relax. I did not the the few cons warranted exchanging it for the additional bulk, weight, and cost of the Backmax Plus. I may eventually splurge on the Backmax Plus.

If I have additional mobility issues in the future, I may not be able to get down to and up from the Backmax. At that point, I will be saving up for a zero-gravity recliner.

I love how easy it is to customize the system to my individual needs. I has made sleeping so much easier for me after back surgery!