Yes it could, and probably is. Most spring manufacturers engineer their beds to last around 10 years. There are variables that may cause them to last longer, or shorter. Primarily the stress on the coils. If you managed 16 years on a spring bed, consider yourself lucky!

If the pain leaves after you're up for awhile, and you have no other injuries or back related problems, the mattress is worn out, and should be replaced.

Hi, of course this certainly can be related to the mattress. 16 years is definitely toward the end of the expected life span for that type of mattress.

I like the analogy if your back feels good when you go to bed and you wake up with an achy back, it is your mattress, but if you always have a back pain you could just have a bad back. There are daily exercises and stretches you could do to help relieve some of that pain, if you are not already doing some. Good Luck.

Sometimes people come into our store or call in and talk about how they spent the night at a hotel and got incredible sleep. You could try the same thing. Call around to some local hotels to see if any feature a mattress. It's a bit pricey but Westin Hotels or W Hotels all have Classic Beautyrest mattresses in their rooms. If you stay a night somewhere else and you don't wake up sore, then bingo! This also works if you have another mattress in the house. That would be the more savvy way to start the process.