Why Does My Mattress Hurt My Lower Back

When In Doubt Go Medium

Research is limited, but in one study, researchers assigned new mattresses to more than 300 people with low back pain. They used either “medium-firm” or “firm” mattresses for 90 days. Those in the medium group reported the least amount of discomfort.

You might consider getting a memory foam mattress . The foam molds to your body. The downside: Some memory foam mattresses keep in heat and the material might have more chemicals.

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You Wake Up With Back Pain

While it may seem obvious, morning pain is one of the first signs that you and your mattress may no longer be friends. If you feel fine when you go to bed but wake up groaning and clutching your lower back, your mattress could be a contributing factor. A problematic mattress can contribute to spine misalignment, which in turn leads to morning pain.

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Is Your Mattress Causing Back Pain

Back pains are caused by a lot of different reasons. Old age, a stressful work schedule, and specific illness can contribute to it. However, there are times when back pain arises suddenly without any apparent reason.

Well, studies have shown that inappropriate mattresses can cause one to wake up feeling pains in the body. If you arent sure about the cause of your back pains, heres how to find out whether your mattress has anything to do with it.

Can A Mattress Cause Back Pain 11 Warning Signs

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.

Can a mattress cause back pain? If you constantly wake up with a stiff, sore back, you may wonder if your mattress is the culprit.

If your mattress is old, isnt a good match for your body, or is otherwise not ideal for supporting your favorite sleep position, it could be contributing to back pain. Lets take a look at some signs that your mattress may be a factor.

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#reason : Your Mattress Cant Give Enough Support

Another reason for creating back pain is that your mattress cant provide you adequate support to your back, spine, hip, and other joints of your body.

Solution: Choose The Mattress That Provides Perfect Support

Support is an essential part of all kinds of sleepers such as heavy sleepers, light sleepers, side & back sleepers, stomach sleepers, etc. The memory foam mattress that gives you a lack of support can cause lower back pain. You must choose a mattress for the right support. If you are a heavy sleeper like over 200 lbs, you must sleep on a mattress that has high-density base foam. It will give you the highest support and prevent sinking and safe your spine and back.

Most memory foam mattresses use multiple layers for different purposes such as top foam layers for comfort or feel, the base support foam layer for providing adequate support, etc. When you choose a new mattress that has high-density support foam, it will give you more support than others. If you feel your mattress sinks, you should change it quickly and get a good high-density supportive mattress. So, I recommend you choose a mattress that will give you enough support. You can check my researched list of top-rated highest supportive memory foam mattresses.

Ways Your Old Mattress Is Causing Back Pain

• Article medically reviewed and fact-checked by Dr. Dimitar Marinov .

If youve recently developed back pain then you might be wondering if your old mattress is whats causing your back to ache.

But can an old mattress really cause you back pain?

A mattress thats more than 5-7 years old can cause back pain especially if the mattress exhibits visible sagging, body impressions, or indentations greater than 1.5-2 inches in depth. If your back pain is worse in the morning and tapers off gradually then your old mattress could be the cause.

The rest of this article explains in detail how an old mattress can cause you to experience back pain, how to tell if your mattress is the root cause of your discomfort, and how to stop your old mattress from causing you back pain.

Alternatively: if youre ready to replace your old mattress and you have back pain, then I highly suggest checking out my list of the best mattresses for back pain because the article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Dimitar Marinov and includes my #1 complete mattress and adjustable bed solution for customizable comfort.

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Dont Sleep On A Mattress Thats Too Soft Or Too Hard

Goldilocks was onto something when she picked Baby Bears just right bed.

A mattress thats too soft will cause your back or hips to sag and your spine to fall out of alignment, which can lead to significant pain. A mattress thats too firm will put too much pressure on your joints, especially if you sleep on your side or your back.

Thats why if you want to reduce your back pain in bed, you need a mattress that offers support but that also contours to your body to provide pressure relief and relieve pain.

That being said, theres no one-size-fits-all-best mattress for back pain. Plus, there are plenty of different materials to choose from. So be sure youre investing in a mattress made from suitable materials for your unique needs.

Changes In The Mattress Structure

If there are visible sagging, body impressions, and/or indentations in your mattress deeper than 1.5-2 inches then these changes in the structure of your mattress could be a signal that your mattress is the root cause of your back pain.

In particular, if the integrity of the lower support core has been compromised then this is a strong indicator that your mattress is causing your back pain because the support cores primary function is to uphold your body weight and maintain good posture.

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Can My Mattress Sagging Cause Back Pain

Tags: mattress

Back pain can be a issue not only from a physical health point of view but it also affects your sleep which can then have an affect on your mental health.

The NHS and Mayo clinic have laid out causes, cures and preventions of the symptoms of back pain. Both agree that it is vitally important to visit a doctor in case the pain occurs for more than a few weeks without getting better or is servere in nature. However, if your back pain isnt a medical issue, can a mattress cause back pain?

Sleeping On Your Stomach

Dr Smycz said that your sleep posture is an additional factor to back and neck pain. Stomach sleepers, take note!

Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position to sleep in because you have to turn your head, which puts a strain on the neck and upper back, said Dr Smycz. Sleeping on your stomach compresses the solar plexus, and digestion is affected as well. It doesnt allow you to properly rest and repair throughout the night.

So whats the ideal sleeping position to avoid back pain?

The ideal sleep posture is lying on your side, explained Dr Smycz. When lying on your side, imagine a line going all the way from the neck through to the spine. You want that line to be straight. A nice, supportive mattress will keep that spine aligned.

We know that side sleepers often prefer a softer mattress, but its important to find a firmness level that correlates to your weight. The best mattress for side sleepers is a memory foam mattress.

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Choose Sleep Positions That Support Pain Relief

How you sleep plays an important role in managing back pain, as certain positions place more strain on the back than others. Generally, back sleeping and supported side sleeping are regarded as most ergonomic, while stomach sleeping tends to be most associated with pain. Whichever position you prefer, here are tips for staying comfortable.

Side Sleepers

Side sleeping is the most common position, especially among women. While it can place some strain on the body, ensuring your hips and shoulders are supported can make it comfortable.

Ideally, side sleepers should bend both knees in slightly and place a small pillow between their legs to prevent hips from twisting and placing stress on the back. If your legs are too straight, this can exaggerate the curve of your lower back, but if your legs are drawn in too tightly, your back may round and both can cause pain. Getting the best mattress for side sleepers is also important to consider for comfort and support.

Your neck pillow should be the right height to keep your neck and spine straight and even, generally higher than pillows needed for back sleepers. Your chin shouldnt be drawn in to your chest or leaned too far back. Think natural standing position.

Conditions that may see more relief from proper side sleeping include osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis and foraminal herniated disc, as the position can reduce pressure on spinal joints.

Back Sleepers

Stomach Sleepers

Tempurpedic Mattress Causing Lower Back Pain

HomePainBack PainTempurpedic Mattress Causing Lower Back Pain.

Rob writes:

Hi Peter,We are interested in purchasing a new king mattress. Out current mattress is a Tempurpedic 100% memory foam that we purchased new from Tempurpedic in 2012.

The mattress is comfortable and we sleep through the night, however when we wake in the morning, our lower back is very sore & tight and remains that way throughout the entire day.

It is getting progressively worse, I can no longer sleep in the bed.I am 44 years old, 6’0″, 195 pounds , my wife is 5’8″, approx. 150 pounds. What type of mattress would you recommend for us?

My brother has a standard inner spring mattress with a separate 2-3 inch foam or latex mattress topper.

Shall we go with a firm inner spring mattress with an additional topper, if so, what mattress & topper would you recommend.Thank you, Rob

Ever-Eden 2″ soft Talalay latex topper.

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How To Tell If Your Old Mattress Is Causing Back Pain

If you have recently developed back pain then you should most definitely go and see your doctor to confirm the root cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

And whilst Im certainly not qualified to diagnose your back pain, my research indicates that theres a fair chance that your mattress/bed is the cause of your back pain if one or more of the following conditions are true:

A Memory Foam Mattress That Adapts To Your Body Quicker Than Most

Amerisleep

• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
• Trial period: 100 nights

Thanks to its Bio-Pur memory foama proprietary foam thats more responsive and adaptive to movementthis mattress contours your back and neck, promoting proper sleep posture and relieving pressure points. When you have back pain, soft spots can be detrimental to your comfort, but this mattress bounces back in seconds, alleviating sinking and misalignment that can contribute to aches. The Amerisleep AS1 also keeps you cool throughout the night by allowing air to quickly pass through its open-cell design.

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Should You Worry About A New Mattress Causing Back Pain

Getting a new mattress is exciting. You anticipate sliding between the sheets and sleeping blissfully on your brand new bed. But then you struggle to get comfortable at night and you wake with morning pain or stiffness. What gives?

Your body needs time to adjust to a new mattress. Many of us adopt poor posture over the years, and a bad or old mattress can compound the problem. Its normal to feel some initial discomfort or soreness as your body adjusts.

Sleep on your new mattress for at least a month. If your pain doesnt improve, and especially if it worsens, your new mattress may not be the right fit for you.

Want to try out your new mattress without the hassle? Casper mattresses come with a 100-night risk-free sleep trial and an easy return process for more snoozing and less stressing.

How Can You Tell That Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain

Theres a good chance that your mattress is the cause of your back pain if you wake up with back ache that dissipates throughout the day only to return the next morning you wake up in the night frequently, you toss and turn, and/or your mattress is more than 8 years old but you should always consult with your doctor to be sure.

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Look For Zoned Support

Some mattresses like the Level Sleep mattress offer zoned support or zoned firmnesses so that you can experience more support around your lower back and greater pressure relief around your shoulders and head.

This can help to promote better posture and reduce pressure more effectively when compared to a mattress that has the same amount of support/firmness across the entire surface area of the mattress.

It Could Be Your Sorry Old Pillows Fault

If your pillow is too thin or soft, your back will bend downward at an awkward angle. Conversely, if its too thick, your spine might bend unnaturally upward. Both situations can cause pain.

If your head is supported at the correct level, the muscles in your neck and back will be able to to completely relax. Pressure on your discs and muscles will be diminished and, as a result, your back pain reduced.

Most of us westerners are acclimated to traditional soft pillows containing down or polyester fibers. Traditional soft pillows will collapse under pressure and can not support your head consistently throughout the night. In fact, many find themselves using two pillows or folding their pillow in half in an attempt to support their head at the proper level. Fiddling with pillows in the middle of the night is not conducive to good sleep!

We are huge fans of buckwheat pillows due to their adjustable and malleable nature. The buckwheat hull fill is really uniqueit will perfectly conform to the space between your head and the mattress eliminating potentially pain-causing pressure points in your neck and back. Most buckwheat pillows are adjustable you can add or remove fill to dial in the loft so that your spine is straight rather than bent upwards or downwards.

Your old pillow is probably pretty gross anyway! Toss it out and treat yourself to a new one.

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Can Fillings Also Settle To Cause Mattress Sagging

Yes, fillings will settle, and they will settle faster than springs. However, the main support in any mattress comes from the spring unit. There are countless fillings used in the mattress industry including natural materials and man made fillings, mainly in the form of polyester fibre and foams. Natural fibres are best if you wish your mattress to avoid sagging over time. This is because they are more resilient and absorb moisture better than polyester for example.

Polyester pads are not necessarily a bad thing in a mattress, but they tend to break down easier when subjected to moisture that we all perspire whilst our body repairs itself through sleep.

Is My Sleeping Posture Hurting My Back

Do you experience back pain every day or frequently in the morning? Did you know, your sleeping position might be causing this problem. When your sleeping position interrupts proper blood circulation through the spinal cord, you may feel aches in the morning.

Also, misalignment of the spine due to poor sleeping position causes morning back pain. Are you aware of your sleeping position?

If you are either a back sleeper or a side sleeper, consider placing a pillow beneath the knees to avoid back pain. A stomach sleeper should place the pillow under the lower abdomen to get proper support. The support from the pillow is crucial.

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The Mattress Is Too Firm Or Soft

Mattress firmness describes how hard or soft a mattress feels when you lie down on it.

Dont make the mistake of assuming that all memory foam mattresses are soft.

Yes, memory foam typically sinks in further than the upholstered layer of a traditional spring mattress and even some latex mattresses, but memory foam can still be firm.

This is because the manufacturer can increase or decrease the ILD values of the foam to make it firmer or softer.

If your memory foam mattress is too firm then you might not sink far enough into the materials which may result in discomfort in your neck, hips, shoulders, lower back, and other areas due to the compression forces building up in your joints.

If your memory foam mattress is too soft, you may sink too far into the mattress and your spine could drop out of alignment which can lead to back pain.

Solution #1: Choose the Right Firmness

If youve yet to buy your memory foam mattress then its crucial that you choose a firmness thats going to increase the chance of you being comfortable in it.

However, its important to note that firmness selection isnt an exact science because the final comfort levels depend on multiple factors.

But heres a rough guide explaining which memory foam mattress firmnesses typically work best with certain body weights, body types, and sleeping positions although personal preferences can certainly override these guidelines: