Best Mattress For Lower Back Pain And Sciatica
Puffy Mattress
- Type: foam
- Height: 10 inches
Like back pain, sciatic pain may benefit from a medium-firm mattress that supports the spine and joints. The Puffy Mattress offers firm core support with thick layers of cushioning foam that cradle the body and keep your spine aligned, even as you move throughout the night.
The mattress is backed with a lifetime warranty, and you can test it out at home with a 101-night trial.
shows that even mild lower back pain is associated with sleep disturbance. People dealing with lower back pain often have problems falling asleep and experience shorter sleep durations and poor sleep quality in general.
Thats likely because of a couple factors:
- Difficulty getting comfortable. Accommodating lower back pain may mean trying out new sleeping positions, which can delay sleep.
- Greater awareness of the pain. With fewer distractions at night, lower back pain may be more noticeable than usual, making it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Some medications that may be prescribed for back pain, such as opioids, can also
Mattress Features To Look For To Relieve Back Pain
When shopping for a mattress to help relieve back pain, some features are more important than others. With so many products and a bevy of marketing hype, it can be tough to parse out what really matters. Youre most likely to get the most satisfaction out of your purchase by focusing on certain key considerations:
- Mattress Type: the materials and design will play a huge role in the performance of a mattress. The contouring, bounce, firmness, temperature regulation, and motion isolation of a mattress will be different for each mattress type, so it is critical for shoppers to think about their priorities and choose a mattress with components that will best meet their needs.
- Zoned Support: weight from the body is not distributed evenly instead, certain areas tend to require more cushioning. A zoned mattress takes that into account and offers reinforced support in those areas.
- Quality Materials: a mattress made with excellent materials is much more likely to provide the performance, reliability, and durability that people with back pain need.
- Firmness Level: firmness is a key driver of mattress comfort and is largely a matter of personal preference. At the same time, the right firmness level can play a big part in whether a mattress offers sufficient support, and that will depend significantly on a persons body weight and sleeping position.
Best Adjustable Mattress For Sciatica
Saatva Solaire Mattress
- Type: Memory foam and latex
- Height: 13 inches
Key features: Reviewers say this air adjustable mattress is a favorite for them and their partner. It allows you to adjust each side of the bed with a remote that has 50 different firmness settings. The company says the mattress also absorbs any motion to help you not feel your partner moving throughout the night.
Some customer reviews state that the mattress helped relieve hip and back pain starting the first week they slept on it.
Considerations: If you prefer a traditional memory foam mattress without the frills, this may not be the mattress for you. Its also pretty tall, so it may not work well for shorter sleepers.
- Type: Polyurethane foam
- Height: 13 inches
Key features: This mattress has three layers of perforated, breathable polyurethane foam. It also has a layer with gel pods designed to relieve aches and pains, which may be a good choice for sciatic pain. People dealing with back issues state in their reviews that their pain dissipated after sleeping on the mattress.
Considerations: According to reviews, some customers found the mattress too hard for their liking. Some felt too warm throughout the night despite the cooling gel. Luckily, Casper offers a 100-night risk-free trial, so you can try the bed and make sure it works for you before committing to it.
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A Flippable Mattress That Gives You The Best Of Both Worlds
Layla Sleep
Use code FORBES to receive 10% off.
- Materials: Memory foam, support foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 120 nights
Laylas mattress has a four layer construction, including a 4.5-inch layer of support foam thats specifically aimed at keeping your back aligned. This layer also combats the sinking feeling that you get with other memory foam mattresses, so you dont feel like youre dropping too far into the mattress when you sleep. The mattress is flippable, with both a soft and firm side, but back pain sufferers will likely feel the most comfortable on the firm side.
Reviewers say they no longer toss and turn at night after switching to the Layla Memory Foam Mattress. Many also say that while they prefer either the firm or soft side, its nice to have options.
The Best Mattress For Low Back Pain Sufferers
Chronic low back pain can make sleeping a nightmare, so you want to get just the right mattress, but how do you know which one that is?
This question is especially important for those with pinched nerves. One of the most common questions I am asked is How can I sleep with a pinched nerve? The answer is the proper mattress.
Traditional spring-type mattresses are flat and similar to a plank of wood. Springs that are stiff can cause the body to lie unevenly on the surface, leaving your lower back with little or no support.
For those with low back pain, the best mattress will be memory foam or high-quality latex foam. Of course, the perfect bed will be based on your preferences, with some people enjoying the feel of latex foam and other memory foam, and preferences as to layer thickness and firmness will be a personal choice that will depend on your weight, sleep style, and other choices.
Some have stated that memory foam beds are too hot since they are made from materials that trap body heat. Others dislike the idea of sleeping on beds manufactured with chemicals. There are memory foam beds that are made from natural materials, such as soybeans or bamboo, that will eliminate those concerns.
Remember that the best mattress in the world is no replacement for comprehensive chiropractic care. There are different chiropractic treatments depending on the root cause of your pain.
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The Mattress Recommended By The Chiropractic Association
In 2018, the American Chiropractic Association endorsed the Casper Wave mattress. Casper is a fairly new company that was founded in 2014 but has been named one of the most innovative companies in the world. Casper not only designs and manufactures mattresses, but they have their own research laboratory in San Francisco, California, that does research and testing on a variety of ergonomic designs and materials.
The Caper Wave mattress is made from 5 layers of premium foam that encourages proper spinal alignment. This recommendation from the ACA does not mean that this mattress is good for everyone, such as those with certain health issues, but is a general recommendation for a good quality mattress that supports spine health.
What Women With Back Pain Should Consider When Looking For A Mattress:
Firmness. Though you’ll definitely want something that’s more firm than soft, exactly how firm should be determined by your body weight, says Carleara Weiss, PhD, and a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “For example, medium firmness seems ideal for people weighing approximately 130 pounds and satisfactory for back and side sleepers under 230 pounds.” The higher your body weight, the more firm you may need your mattress to be, thought it really depends on the individual, as sleep preferences differ from person to person .
Where you experience back pain also impacts what kinds of firmness you should look for. “The general concept when thinking about buying a mattress is that low back pain can be alleviated with a mattress that is on the firmer end of the spectrum rather than softer or squishier,” Dr. Hanke explains. If you don’t wake up with low back pain and you like a softer experience, you can prob get away with a less-firm mattress.
Stomach sleepers put pressure on their neck, in addition to the lumbar area, so they may prefer a firm mattress since it’s ideal for spine support and helps alleviate neck tension .
For side sleepers, Weiss also recommends a medium-firm mattress. “Shoulders and hips are pressure points for side sleepers. A medium-firm mattress would be ideal for this sleep position while still flexible to the body curvature.”
Warranty: Forever
Price: $1,199 for a queen
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Casper Original Mattress Review: A Firm Feel That’s Ideal For Back Sleepers
Thanks to its Zoned Support and medium-firm feel, the Casper Original is a budget-friendly option that helps keep your spine aligned.
Casper didn’t invent the idea of the mattress-in-a-box, but the mattress retailer definitely put the concept on the map. Thanks to influencer marketing and social media ads, Casper became the trendy new way to buy a mattress.
And now, with over 175 online mattress players in the retail space, Casper is still one of the top direct-to-consumer choices. But shopping for a mattress online can be tricky. That’s why I put the Casper Original— the company’s most popular model — to the test. Here, I break down all the features of the mattress and who it’s best suited for.
- Zoned memory foam makes it softer where you need it
- Sleeps cooler than other 100% memory foam mattresses
- Excellent motion isolation
- A little too firm when sleeping on my side
- Feels more like you’re sleeping on top of the mattress, rather than sinking into it
- Not enough support for anyone over 230 pounds
Looking for a new mattress? We’ve got recommendations for the best overall mattresses, the best mattresses for side sleepers and the best mattresses for back pain.
Sleep On The First Page Of Search Results
DreamCloud might be a little on the nose for a mattress company, but despite sounding like a Silicon Valley startup, the companys mattresses are great for people with back pain. Innerspring, individually wrapped coils that adapt to your body help you get custom support, while the gel memory foam relieves stress on your pressure points, helping you wake up refreshed and pain-free. Theres also a 100-day free trial if you end up wanting to go back to your alley mattress full of shame and crumpled dollar bills.
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Should You Choose Firm Or Soft
This is pretty much the same as when we talk about comfort and support.
Just like a mattress shouldnt be too hard, it should never be too soft.
A mattress should be as neutral as it can be, to ensure both your body and spine stay in a neutral position.
If your mattress is too firm, you risk pinched nerves and lack of blood flow.
Have you ever woken with your body feeling like pins and needles? If so, theres a great chance your mattress is too firm.
And if your mattress is too soft, this can create a sagging effect, similar to a hammock.
When this happens, you can find yourself with back pain, due to your spine not being correctly aligned.
Hopefully now you understand why we want a mattress to be as close to neutral as possible.
What you want is a mattress that is soft in all the right places, but not too soft overall.
You also need a mattress firm enough to be supportive without being too rigid. Casper Mattress Versus Tempurpedic
Best Flippable Mattress: Layla
The Layla is a unique memory foam mattress infused with gel to help keep you cool. Featuring both a soft side and a firm side, it can be flipped to suit your preferencea rarity for online mattresses.
For side sleepers, keeping the spine from sinking into the mattress is essential, and Mattress Advisor found that the Layla offers solid spinal alignment and support. Reviewers gave the Layla high marks in responsiveness and pressure relief, two areas that are sure to keep your hips and shoulders happy. If you’re not a memory foam fan but like the idea of a flippable bed, then check out Layla’s newest model, the Layla Hybrid.
Who it’s best for: The Layla memory foam mattress is for people who like to switch things up. The soft side works best for side sleepers and the firm side works best for back sleepers. Both sides are a good fit for couples who require motion isolation, a key advantage of memory foam mattresses.
How it feels: If you prefer to sink into your mattress and feel the foam all around you, the Layla is a good choice. You’ll sink into the soft side and you’ll sleep more on top of the firm side.
- Mattress Type: Memory foam
- Firmness: Soft and firm
- Trial Period for Returns: 120 nights
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Casper Mattress Design And Construction
The Original Casper Mattress is an all-foam bed meaning the construction of which is fairly simple. Its three layers of foam materials with a nice softcover to top it off. With this bed, you get about 11 of memory, poly, and proprietary foam. The proprietary foam contributes to the overall soft neutral foam feel of the bed.
- Support foam This is the base Casper layer that creates the support system for the mattress.
- Memory foam The middle layer is a zoned layer of memory foam, which means there are more supportive pieces in certain targeted areas, like the middle section where a sleepers hips and trunk would be.
- Open-cell foam This top Casper layer is perforated to pull in airflow .
- Recycled polyester cover Its also fitted well so that it wont bunch up under your sheets. We think the cover is easy to remove, but we dont suggest putting it through the washing machine. Just because its removable doesnt mean its machine washable.
The memory foam in the middle is the Zoned Support layer. Dont worry if you dont know what that means thats what were here for. Essentially, a zoned layer is more supportive in certain targeted areas, like the middle section where a sleepers hips and trunk would be. For the Casper Mattress, the zoned layers are fIrmer down the middle of the bed and softer towards to head and foot. The Casper Wave Hybrid mattress has a zoned support framework as well, albeit its much more advanced.
Best Overall Mattress: Saatva Classic
The Saatva Classic mattress offers all the features side sleepers need without sacrificing the decadence of a luxury brand.
It’s completely customizableyou can choose between 3 different firmness levels, heights, and sizesand is made with high-quality, eco-friendly materials. Mattress Advisor recommends side sleepers go with the luxury firm mattress, the median firmness level, for the right combination of support and suppleness.
Saatva also has excellent customer service that’s unmatched by other online mattress brands. They make the process stress-free by providing at-home setup for your new mattress and removal of your old mattress at no extra charge.
- Mattress Type: Hybrid
- Mattress Advisor Score: 8.7/10
- Firmness: Plush soft , luxury firm , or firm
- Trial Period for Returns: 180 nights
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Is A Firm Mattress Better For Your Back
Personal comfort notwithstanding, the main factor you should consider when choosing a mattress is spine health. Your spine has three slight curves and all need support, even when you are in a horizontal position.
The perfect mattress holds your body in a neutral position, meaning that the spine is able to hold its natural slight curve, while the head, buttocks, shoulders, and heels are all aligned. You know you have found the perfect mattress when you feel no pressure points at all- almost as if you were floating on water or air.
For those who do not have back pain, a firm mattress is usually the best choice. However, if you have arthritis or other types of back pain, a firm mattress is going to make your back an even bigger misery to you than it is now.
Edge Support And Ease Of Movement
In addition to bounce, couples should also consider edge support and ease of movement. Edge support in a mattress measures how well the perimeter holds up under pressure, especially when you sit or sleep near the edge of the bed. The more support a bed has around the perimeter, the easier it is to get in and out of bed. It increases the usable surface area of the bed and prevents sagging over time.
Foam mattresses are often lacking when it comes to edge support, especially when compared to hybrid models. The Leesa and Casper mattresses are similarly rated in this category. The Leesa mattress sinks in along the edges, especially when sitting on the edge of the bed. This is most noticeable to those who weigh more than 230 pounds.
The thicker support core and profile of the Casper mattress give it a slight advantage, though the foam layers still compress under pressure. Again, this is most noticeable for people who weigh more than 230 pounds when sitting on the edge of the bed. Those who weigh less should still feel supported when sleeping near the edge.
Ease of movement indicates how well the mattress facilitates changing positions. Not only does ease of movement make a mattress better for sex, but it also makes it better for combination sleepers who shift positions throughout the night.
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What Is Your Sleeping Position
There is something else to consider when looking for a mattress and that is your preferred sleeping position.
Stomach sleepers should try to avoid this position as it puts a lot of extra strain on the neck and lower back, but if you cant sleep any other way, choose a very soft pillow but a firm mattress.
For back sleepers, you should first try a medium to firm mattress and a firm pillow. You should also keep extra pillows to put under or between your knees if you have back pain but like to sleep on your back.
Side sleepers are the most popular group and for better spine health, you should try to sleep on your side as much as possible. If you have hip pain or low back pain, try sleeping on your side with a flat pillow between your knees. If you have shoulder pain, try a firm pillow but soft to medium mattress. Side sleepers will probably prefer a medium-firm mattress, but some might even like a soft to medium mattress.
