Greg Koch, a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and part of Houston SportsTalk 790’s “In the Trenches” show, is known for his high-powered offensive plays. Throughout his intense 11-year career in the NFL, he charged through back pain, broken bones, torn muscles, and more. Koch thought he would forever have problems with lingering back pain, but then he met Youval Meicler, the owner and founder of Texas Mattress Makers.
“He took the time to see how I sleep, where my back needed support,” Koch recalls. “I am a side sleeper. I laid on several beds, but I had no idea what I was looking at. He walked me through the whole process and I learned a few things about how I was sleeping and what kind of bed I needed. He made me a bed and I literally bounced out of bed that next morning.”
That's a big turnaround for someone who was facing yet another surgery, on top of years of prescription steroid injections, acupuncture, and pain medication.
“I’ve had 13 operations, every one of them in the off season because I was determined to play," says Koch. "Well, then I just hit a guy one day and literally couldn’t walk.”
Things got even worse after an unfortunate home accident in which Koch missed a step going down the stairs and broke his back. Epidural steroid shots and wearing a brace for four months followed, but his mattress, with its inadequate support, sure wasn't helping.
"It would take me literally five minutes just to get up and straighten up in the morning," says Koch.
He believed surgery was the only thing that would ease the pain, until a friend pointed out the problem could be his mattress.
Koch’s story is nothing new for the experts at Texas Mattress Makers, who have been making beds for close to 30 years in Houston’s East End. Every customer receives the same level of one-on-one treatment throughout their mattress selection experience. The latest in sleep technology is used to handcraft custom-fitted beds at factory direct prices, which are about 50 percent less than retailers. From exclusive top-of-the-line pocketed coils to graphite-infused latex, each bed is made with a certain sleeper in mind.
“We’re not in the business of selling mattresses,” says Meicler. “Rather, we’re in the business of improving your sleep. There is no one-size-fits-all mattress. We focus on understanding unique needs and providing tailored services.”
Meicler points out that most people don't know about coil count or different brands of foam, and only focus on how a bed feels. But when you're trying to alleviate shoulder, neck, or any other kind of pain, what you need for a good night's sleep might be different from what you thought.
With this level of expertise, it’s easy to understand why Koch and several other professional athletes count on Texas Mattress Makers to craft custom, handmade beds for their specific needs. For his part, Greg was surprised at how much a new mattress impacted his quality of life.
“Since I started sleeping on it, I’ve had no back pain,” he says. “The pain went away overnight. They custom-engineered something for me that has been a life-changer."
To get the right bed made especially for you, visit Texas Mattress Makers at 4619 Navigation Blvd. To see more of Greg’s interview, go here.
Former NFL player Greg Koch and Youval Meicler, owner of Texas Mattress Makers.
