Finding the Best Mattress for Back Pain
Choosing the best mattress for back pain can be very difficult, I know I have been there. A few years ago I was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease, which is essentially arthritis in my spine. With this disease I suffer from a lot of lower back pain which made getting a good nights sleep very difficult at times. After more than a year of tossing and turning, I finally had decided to set out on my quest to find the best mattress for back pain, this website is a result of my findings.
Anyone that suffers from chronic back pain, probably understands the importance of a good quality mattress. Granted, there are a lot of people that offer a mattress buying guide, mattress reviews or tips on finding the best mattress for back pain, but i have found that the majority of those people do not even suffer from low back pain or neck problems themselves. When I first realized this, I was astonished to say the least. How on earth can someone recommend me the best mattress for back pain relief if they don’t have the problem themselves? Quite simply, they can’t. But being a sufferer myself, I know what you are going through, I know what types of physical and emotional problems can result from a lack of sleep. So without any further ado, lets talk about finding the best mattress for back pain.
What is the Best Mattress for Back Pain Relief
There is a lot more work involved in finding the best mattress for back pain than most people think. It is not as easy as just heading out to the local mattress store and picking the cheapest mattress that you can find. Mattress quality is a very important factor and some other factors include, firmness, back support, type of mattress, personal preference and of course your own sleep position, which I will be discussing later in this article.
Personally, I found the most back pain relief from a memory foam mattress. If you are not familiar with memory foam mattresses,
they are constructed of many layers of latex foam although some of them also have a specially designed foam core, that adds extra support for the back and neck. The nicest thing about a memory foam mattress is that it actually contours to your body while you are sleeping. Most coil mattresses do not offer this level of support for the user and therefore are not the best mattress for back pain. However, that is not to say that you can’t find comfort in a traditional coil mattress, if that is your preference.
The trick to finding a good coil mattress is to look at the higher quality mattresses. High quality coil mattresses often have more coils or springs, which eliminates the sagging and sinking we often experience in this type of mattress. You will want to go with a good brand and unfortunately, you are going to have set cost aside for a while, and focus on relief. That was probably the hardest thing for me to do. I wanted to find the best mattress for back pain without spending a fortune and in the end, it cost me more money trying to be cheap, than it would of had I just gone with a good quality mattress to begin with.
Sleep Positions for Easing Back Pain
Now that we have talked about choosing the best mattress for back pain relief, its time to look at one other aspect of sleep discomfort and that is sleep position. A lot of people, myself included, have horrible posture while sleeping. I was a stomach sleeper for most of my life, it was the only way I could get comfortable and it was just what I preferred. However, I found that because of my sleep position I was causing myself more low back pain and as a result, less sleep.
Many recent studies have shown that by correcting your sleeping position you can reduce back pain significantly. Now, you may already be sleeping in a good position and will not need these tips, but if not here are the best ways to sleep if you suffer from chronic back pain:
Side Sleeping – Sleeping on your side is one of the better ways to sleep. But you can improve on your posture even more by placing a pillow between your knees while on your side. This helps to align the spine in a better position and reduce discomfort.
Back Sleeping – Sleeping on your back is another good way to get through the night. However, it also has its problems and those can be corrected by placing a pillow under your knees while sleeping. This will elevate your pelvis and straighten your spine eliminating that back pain in the mornings.
Shopping for the Best Mattress for Back Pain
Well, there you have it. If you are suffering from degenerative disk disease, chronic back pain and/or low back pain, there are some mattresses that will offer you relief at night. Choosing the best mattress for back pain relief, or at least for your back pain, really comes down to what your personal preferences are, how you sleep and what you can afford.
If you are going mattress shopping, here are some things to consider:
- Shop at a well known, reputable mattress supplier.
- Test the mattress extensively. Lay down on it, change positions and give it a good test.
- Ask the salesman questions. Questions like how is the mattress made, what type of warranty and return policy does it have and what would they recommend as the best mattress for back pain are all good to ask.
- Set the price tag to the side and look at quality, support and comfort first.
If you have any questions about finding the best mattress for back pain, please let us know.