<p>I have scoliosis and now Cervical Radiculopathy. I am in constant pain in my back and neck and was wondering....would the school find it okay if i brought my own mattress to substitute the stiff springy disaster that is standard for most schools? I really need a memory foam one to ease the pain on my back....Is that okay that I bring one? Should I tell them ahead of time? Very scared....don't want to look like a huge dork lugging in a huge mattress on move-in day. maybe they'll let me come a day early to bring it?</p>
<p>If you were to get a note from your orthopedist, stating it's medically necessary for you to have that mattress, it would make it easier to grant you an exception. However, there is still the issue of fire-hazards.</p>
<p>And if you get a stiff, springy mattress you'll be lucky...most of them are thin and sway-backed!</p>
<p>Contact the school residential program dean and ask who you would need to speak with to get that type of exception. They will let you know who would be your contact person, what type of documentation you will need (if any) and what the rules/parameters of the replacement mattress will be.</p>
<p>Make sure you let the contact person know that you would like to avoid embarrassment and set up the mattress before the normal check-in date.</p>
<p>Since many schools have fall athletes check in a few days early (don't know about Miss Halls) to start pre-season practices, you might inquire if you can have your matress delivered (assuming approval here) during this time frame. Usually the athletes are busy during the day with practices, meetings and such, so you won't see a whole lot of traffic around the dorm.</p>
<p>Emmers, that is really sad. I hope you are receiving good care and treatment for the radiculopathic pain. Will it interfere with your participating in the mandatory sports/dance/theatre/whatever?</p>
<p>Not sure if this would work for you, but I got my daughter a 4" memory foam mattress topper (she also has scoliosis, though no pain from it) and it just went right on top of her school mattress. I got it here:</p>
<p>Serta</a> Ultimate 4-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper : Bedding & Bath from Overstock.com</p>
<p>I did not ask the school in advance - I just got it and put it on her mattress. I am sure your school would allow a whole mattress subsitute accommodation for you though, if you need it.</p>
<p>wow if it's for medical reasons i would try talking to the school. i'm sure they would understand, they knew before hand that you had scoliosis, right?</p>
<p>Why would the school need to know she had scoliosis?</p>
<p>Because you have a physical and any illnesses/conditions are part of the report. That doesn't explain why they would "need" to know, but I believe that they would know because of that. Besides, it shouldn't be a secret. The school should be aware of any conditions a student has so they are able to properly care for the student.</p>
<p>My D had her own mattress plus a featherbed on top. The school's mattress was painful to her back. We just asked where we should store the old mattress when we showed up with the new one! Most kids had featherbeds/toppers. We never asked if it was ok, but I can't imagine they would say no.</p>
<p>"Because you have a physical and any illnesses/conditions are part of the report. That doesn't explain why they would "need" to know, but I believe that they would know because of that. Besides, it shouldn't be a secret. The school should be aware of any conditions a student has so they are able to properly care for the student."</p>
<p>What report?</p>
<p>The health forms for schools are filled out in the summer before you begin school. They do not get filled out while you are applying. Hotchkissjin said "they knew beforehand that you had scoliosis, right?"</p>
<p>Of course any limitations/illnesses/conditions will appear on the health form/physical that gets submitted to the school in the summer, but my understanding from the OP is that she is a new student to the school and has not yet (probably) submitted the health form.</p>
<p>Ah, yes. I was thinking that the schools would be aware because of the history & physical, but that wouldn't be received until the summer. My mistake.</p>