Can Mattress Cause Back Pain
Millions of people suffer from back pain every year. Many people experience back pain at some point in their lives, and it is not always easy to determine the source.
Back pain can be caused by a variety of things, but the most common culprit is often the mattress on which someone is sleeping.
In many cases, this pain can be traced back to the mattress on which they are sleeping. Also, Check out the Best Mattress for Spondylolisthesis.
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Your Back Pain Fades After Waking
If stretching and a good hot shower alleviates your morning aches, they might be related to your mattress. But if your back pain is an all-day kind of thing, there may be other causes.
Even if you suspect your mattress is to blame for your sore back, its important to chat with your healthcare provider if your back pain persists throughout the day and is more than just a morning nuisance.
Is Your Bed Too Old Take Our Test
If you answered yes to a few of these questions then these tips may help you choose a better bed?
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Discovering The Truth About Your Mattress
You may be in love with your bed, but that doesnt mean it is in love with you back. Research has discovered numerous signs which indicate that a persons bed is to blame for their back soreness, especially in the morning. Pay close attention to how you or your partner behaves throughout the night. If you have any of the following sleep-disturbing signs, it may be time to replace your mattress.
- You wake up frequently during the night for no apparent reason.
- You toss and turn a lot or cant get comfortable.
- You feel increased pressure on parts of your body when laying in certain positions.
- You feel swallowed up by your bed.
- Your bed feels flat and unforgiving on the curves of your body.
- Your waking back pain goes away after about 20-30 minutes.
Back pain can be caused by several things, but if your bed is to blame then it should be very easy to tell. Your back pain may not be caused by something serious. In fact, studies show that about 56% of people who sleep on a medium-to-firm mattress have less back pain in the morning than their softer-mattress-having counterparts.
In general, sleep experts advise people to get a new bed ever 8 to 10 years. It may be that your mattress has served you well for a very long time.
However, it may also be time to replace it for something better if its causing you pain.
Can It Possibly Cause Sciatica
If you know anyone that has sciatica, youll probably hear them complain about it constantly. Its quite painful. Sciatica is a painful, tingly or numbing sensation down the side or back of the legs that runs down the sciatic nerve .
Its caused by degenerative disc disease and sleeping on a bad mattress can accelerate or exacerbate sciatica symptoms. Therefore, indirectly, you could say that it can cause sciatica. It certainly wont help!
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Understanding Your Sleep Position
We tend to fall asleep in roughly the same position every night, and every sleep position has a different impact on your body. However, certain positions may account for some of your pain.
People who sleep on their stomach are more likely to experience back pain because this position pulls the spine out of alignment. Also, the twisting and contorting that stomach sleepers do to get comfortable can put extra pressure on the neck and lower back, which can even cause poorer circulation.
If you sleep on your stomach, try to train yourself to sleep on your side, usually by propping your trunk up with a pillow.
Annoying Health Side Effects Of Sleeping On A Bad Mattress
How do you feel after a bad nights sleep? From drowsiness to headaches, the short-term effects of a night of low quality sleep are usually easy to notice as soon as you wake up.
The long-term effects, on the other hand, can take slightly longer to develop. From a less effective immune system to weight and respiratory issues, low quality sleep can cause a wide range of negative health effects.
Your mattress plays an important role in helping you fall and stay asleep. A mattress thats too firm, too soft, not supportive enough or just plain uncomfortable can often be all it takes to prevent you from getting the quality sleep you need.
Are you concerned about the effects your mattress is having on your health? In this guide, well share 10 annoying and in some cases, potentially serious health side effects of sleeping on a bad mattress.
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How The Wrong Mattress Affects Your Back
Most people who experience back pain and stiffness should look to their mattress or more specifically their mattresss firmness level.
If your back pain comes when you first wake up, but you can stretch to get rid of it within 1530 minutes, then thats a major sign that your mattress is doing more harm than good. Also, if you find yourself waking up more frequently, or tossing and turning while trying to fall asleep, then that should also be an indicator.
Its important to note that even if youre not prone to back pain, you should replace your mattress every eight years.
Mattress Firmness Suitability For Back Pain
Mattresses can potentially be available in any of the following firmnesses .
Extra-Soft
Extra soft mattresses are typically best for side sleepers that weigh less than 130 lbs because they allow you to sink more deeply into the mattress materials to remove pressure on your hips and shoulders.
This means that an extra-soft mattress may be suitable if you have back pain thats primarily triggered by surface pressure such as sciatica or nerve-related back pain because the softer surface is less liable to create pressure points.
Soft
Soft mattresses are often preferred by side sleepers and lighter weighted sleepers under 150 lbs again due to the greater give afforded by the upper comfort layers that may also provide relief for back pain that is brought on through pressure points.
Softer mattresses are often best avoided by heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs especially if you sleep on your front because youre more likely to sink into the mattress and experience back pain due to spinal misalignment and bad posture.
Medium-Soft
Medium-soft mattresses are often enjoyed by side and back sleepers in the 130 230 lbs range, whilst front sleepers under 200 lbs who prefer more pressure relief may also feel well supported.
Medium
A medium firmness mattress is the most popular mattress firmness and is typically best suited to front, back, and side sleepers in the 130 230 lbs range .
Medium-Firm
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Can Sleep On A Bad Mattress Cause Lower Back Pain
A bad mattress can certainly cause lower back pain even if you were fit and healthy before sleeping on that one bad-quality mattress. We need sleep to relax our body and mind, but if the mattress is not letting you have that comfortable sleep, what is its use? In addition, you should be aware that it is not a myth that you can develop backache because of the mattress you choose.
Questions might arise: can sleeping on a new mattress cause back pain, or can sleeping on an old mattress cause back pain? The truth is, it does not matter the mattress is brand new or old enough. If it does not adapt and provide the desired sleep to your body, you must switch to a mattress that suits you more .
If you want to figure out that lying in bed makes your back hurt, you may notice a few things to conclude.
First, if you wake up with lower back pain, but it goes away after you stretch within 15-30 minutes, it is clear that the mattress you are using is doing you the harm.
Another indication is you not having a sound sleep. Not having a good sleep means you keep turning and tossing at night to find a comfortable position and try to be asleep.
If you experience such two general things, it is a clear sign of having back pain after sleeping in bed. After knowing so, you may want to replace your mattress then.
It is considerable to note that even if you dont face any back pain, it is still better to change a mattress after a maximum of eight years.
Does It Matter If Its A Turn Or Non
The main cause of sagging is simple wear and repetitive pressure being placed on both the springs and fillings. The great thing about a turnable mattress is that every few months, you can simply flip your mattress to sleep on the other side, thus spreading the wear and allowing your mattress to keep its shape for longer.
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Best Mattress To Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain
The largest nerve in the body is the sciatic, located in the lower portion of the spinal cord. The sciatic nerve extends through the glutes and attaches to nerve endings in the lower limbs. When something irritates the sciatic nerve, the pain can be debilitating. Treating sciatica can require a mix of physical therapy, exercises, medications, and muscle relaxers. One of the ways someone suffering from sciatica can remedy the issue, however, is with a different mattress.
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Sleep Tips For A Bad Back
Are you struggling to get a good night’s sleep because of your bad back? You may find that you:
- Lie awake with pain at night
- Toss and turn trying to find a comfortable sleeping position
- Wake with the same aches everyday
Up to 40% of the population suffer from a bad back, and as a result, have difficulties trying to sleep.
In this guide, we will focus on three changes you can make to help you sleep with a bad back.
We will take a look at your:
As with all our guides, the information supplied should not be seen as a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional guidance from your doctor if you need to.
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Swap Or Flip The Layers
Latex mattresses often have individual, non-fused layers that can be swapped around.
Similarly, some mattresses specifically come with dual firmness settings so that you can pick and choose.
For example, the Mend Adapt has a flippable comfort layer that allows you to choose between firm and soft as you see fit.
Can A Bad Mattress Cause Back Pain
Contents
Are you someone who wakes up in the morning with stiff joints and aches in your lower back, but you didnt have any the night before? Back pains are really confusing and inconvenient. Things get even more complicated if you cant pinpoint whats causing the pain in your lower back in the first place. Unless you have arthritis or an advanced age, your back pain is probably caused by your mattress. In other words, your mattress is causing your back pain.
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Your Mattress Is Saggy
Unlike a sinking mattress that enfolds your whole body, a saggy mattress droops where you need support the most usually right under your lower back. Mattress sag can cause spine misalignment, which can contribute to back pain.
Select Casper mattresses include Zoned Support which is designed to ergonomically align your spine, giving extra support where you need it most.
Are Soft Beds Bad For Your Back
A mattress thats too soft will cause your spine to fall out of alignment all night long, and a mattress thats too firm will cause joint pressure in your hips that leads to pain in your lower back.
Is it better to sleep on a soft or firm mattress for back pain?
Is a soft mattress good for back pain? The best mattress for back pain is one that promotes a healthy spinal position. When the hips and shoulders are in line, the muscles in the back can relax. A medium-firm to firm mattress offers the most relief from back pain.
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Signs And Effects Of A Bad Mattress
Lauren Fountain, Certified Sleep Coach
We regularly assess how the content in this article aligns with current scientific literature and expert recommendations in order to provide the most up-to-date research.
Sleep impacts nearly every aspect of your health and wellbeing. Without restful sleep, your body doesnt have the resources it needs to function properly. One of the simplest solutions for a good nights sleep is a comfortable mattress. If your mattress is failing to deliver the comfort and support you need, it may be time for a new one.
Many factors influence the durability and lifespan of a mattress. While all mattresses eventually degrade, a mattress constructed with high-quality materials tends to hold out for longer before developing sagging or permanent body indentations. Once these problems occur, your mattress is no longer able to provide adequate spinal support and pressure relief.
Recognizing the early signs of a bad mattress can help you avoid some of the uncomfortable side effects of sleeping on one.
Your Pillow Could Also Be A Problem
If your mattress is comfortable, but you still have unexplained neck or spinal pain, your pillow could also be at fault. Your pillow should be soft and plush enough for a relaxing rest but supportive enough to keep your neck aligned throughout the night. Avoid stacking multiple pillows or elevating your neck too far above your back and spine.
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How To Correct Back Pain Caused By Mattresses
We know some of the reasons why your mattress is causing you backache now, lets talk about correcting those back pains.
1. Change your mattress
The best way to correct your back pain and prevent further occurrences of sleepless nights is to change your mattress. If your mattress is too old, too firm, or too soft, youll continue to experience pains. Read the guide on how to choose a mattress, visit the store and get a good one.
2. Maintain a good sleeping posture
Your sleeping posture may also be causing you to have back pains when you sleep. Try to settle into a good posture, and ensure you are comfortable. That way, you can get rid of back pain caused by mattresses.
3. Exercise
When you wake up with back pains, try to do a couple of stretches before you go on with other businesses of the day. Help your spine to relax, and it would get more comfortable enough to relieve you of the pain.
4. Use a pillow
Pillows are a good way to support your body even better when you feel back pains of any sort. They further help you maintain a good posture, find a better position to relax, and a good way to sleep.
5. Use an adjustable base.
You could also opt to use an adjustable base under the mattress so that you can control the inclination of your bed to a good sleeping position.
How To Pick A Good Mattress For Your Back
Every one has different sleep preferences, which can make it hard to find the perfect mattress. Look for one that is not too firm or too soft. If the mattress is too firm, it will push on your pressure points and cause misalignment. Similarly, if the bed is too soft, it will allow your body to sink into the bed causing bad posture while you sleep, which can then lead to pain. The right mattress should make you feel like you are floating on air.
Financial times might be tough at the moment, but one should consider in investing in a good mattress. Think about it, you should be spending 7-9 hours on your mattress each night, which makes it an important piece of furniture. You want to invest in something that will give you better sleep and less pain, instead of going frugal and buying a mattress that is not right for your body.
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You Cant Find A Comfortable Sleeping Position
Tossing, turning, flipping the pillows weve all had those nights where we have trouble winding down and falling into a relaxing sleep. If this has become your nightly routine, your bed could be at fault.
Remember to rotate your mattress at least once per year, depending on the type you have, to manage weight distribution and reduce lumps and discomfort.
A Sleepers Guide To Mattress Shopping For Back Pain
The wonders of a good nights sleep are truly endless. A quality slumber not only promotes physical and mental health – but also protects your delicate spine over time. As sleep consultants, were often asked can a mattress cause back pain?
If one has ever experienced upper back pain and lower back pain before, it is only common to wonder if your mattress is the cause and whether investing in a quality mattress would help reduce back pain. If you often find yourself tossing and turning at night due to aches and stiffness, waking up with numb shoulders and feeling unbelievably tired in the mornings your mattress may be the culprit!
This leads us to the question What type of mattress is best for back pain?
The secret lies within your own unique body – it is essential to find a firmness level of mattress that is catered to your particular height and weight. The best mattress we usually recommend for a bad back is of medium-firm density. While it is important not to have an overly firm mattress for back pain, it is equally important to ensure that your bed is not too soft either!
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