It Takes Time To Adjust To A New Mattress
Like a new pair of shoes, your body needs time to adjust to a new mattress. Many of us become accustomed to the feel of an old mattress and may develop poor sleeping posture. So when you transition to a new mattress, it may feel uncomfortable at first or even cause back pain while your body adjusts to it.
It can take at least a month to adjust to a new mattress. It may feel firmer than initially expected but will soften with use. Memory foam mattresses may take longer to adjust to than other mattresses due to the unique material.
You may find that your new mattress feels different to the one you tried in the showroom. Keep in mind that store mattresses are generally more worn-in due to the number of people lying on them.
If your back pain persists, it could be due to changes in your lifestyle. But if youre waking up feeling sore each morning, it could be a sign that your new mattress fails to provide the comfort and support you need and may not be suitable for you.
Two Ways To Tell If Your Mattress Is Causing You Back Pain
1. You feel pain when you wake up
Back pain can be caused by a variety of other factors, including stress. However, if you notice that you feel the ache after waking up from bed, your mattress is the cause. Going to bed each night should be the opportunity to revitalize, not an avenue to cause your body more stress. Monitor when you have your back pains, and youll be able to tell if your mattress causes it or not.
2. You find yourself tossing in bed more than sleeping.
Is your mattress the reason why you are not getting enough sleep? Do you find yourself tossing and turning in bed, spending more time awake than asleep? Naturally, your body is expected to hug the chance to relax after a tiring day. However, when you can fall asleep everywhere except in your bed, then your mattress might be the problem. Feeling increased ache when you lie in your bed so much that you cannot sleep means your mattress isnt helping your body.
Consider An Adjustable Base
One study found that switching from an innerspring bed to an adjustable bed resulted in a 32% pain decrease and a 73% increase in sleep quality amongst the participants who were suffering from chronic back pain .
And there are many anecdotal reports that sleeping on an adjustable bed with a suitable mattress can help to reduce lower back pain and ease the symptoms of conditions like GERD/acid reflux and sleep apnea .
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How Can You Tell If Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
If youre experiencing back pain, youre probably wondering how you can tell if its your mattress or something else. The truth is that a new mattress may help your back pain, even if your current mattress isnt necessarily the cause.
If your mattress is old or worn out, consider replacing it with a more comfortable, newer mattress that supports your body. If your mattress is new, though, there are ways to tell if your mattress is causing your back pain.
Does A Bad Mattress Cause Back Pain
Lower back pain can be worsened if you sleep on the wrong mattress. There is a possibility that this is not the case. Lack of support from a mattress causes poor sleeping posture and strains muscles, all of which contribute to low back pain.
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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.
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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Will My Back Adjust To A Firm Mattress
It can take around 2-4 weeks to fully adjust to any new mattress, so if you find yourself struggling, keep at it for a few weeks, and you might be surprised at how good it starts to feel. Ecosa offers a 100 night trial for their mattress, so if you find that a firmer mattress isn’t for you, you can get your money back.
Best Mattress For Back Pain
When it comes to the best mattress for back pain, theres no one-size-fits-all solution. Ultimately, the best mattress for back pain is one that provides you with the perfect mix of softness and support. It relieves pressure points and keeps your spine neutrally aligned.
But heres a reason to justify mattress shopping: Research shows that upgrading to a new mattress is likely to improve your sleep quality no matter what. The same study also showed that people sleeping on the cheapest mattresses saw less pain reduction than those who slept on mid- to higher-priced ones. Quality counts!
When in doubt, upgrading to a high-quality medium-firm mattress could be the best option for easing back pain so youll wake energized and restored.
The Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress with Zoned Support Max provides continuous ergonomic zones with gel pods designed to help give you perfect spinal alignment.
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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?
Layla Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam is the most popular type of mattresses. This is true because it is among the most comfortable materials for sleepers. If you are the kind of person that like memory foam, you will fell in love with the Layla Memory Foam mattress
There are hundreds of brands of mattresses out there, but Layla is one of the most popular and the most innovative. 1 proof of this is that they come with two firmnesses in one single mattress.
Do you like a firm mattress? Layla will offer one. If you are the sort of person who like variety in your life, chances are after some weeks you may prefer a soft mattress. In that case, no problem: simply flip it and there you will have it.
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Put The Mattress On The Floor
If putting your mattress on the floor resolved the sagging and helps to alleviate your back pain then you might simply choose to leave it there.
However, some of the dangers of sleeping on just a mattress on the floor without a proper base can actually include the manifestation or worsening of back pain due to improper support and the increase of pressure points.
Other drawbacks to placing your mattress on the floor include feeling too cold, getting bugs in your bed, and even voiding the warranty.
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.
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Cons Of A Firm Mattress
Firm mattresses may be a bit uncomfortable for some individuals such as side sleepers, petite sleepers, and some combination sleepers this is especially true for sleepers transitioning from a softer mattress since the adjustment is more drastic. Firm mattresses tend to cause aches and pains amongst side and combo sleepers because they dont adequately cushion the shoulders and hips. If a person has existing back problems, such as scoliosis, an overly-firm mattress can worsen pain by exacerbating the curve in their spine.
Best overall for back pain
Key features
- Trial: 200 nights
An award-winning foam and pocket-spring hybrid mattress thats worth considering if you suffer from back pain. It uses the brands specially designed HRX Supreme Foam, which stands for high resiliency extra foam, and isnt just jargon its extra durable and designed with different zones of density to align and support your spine . As per Gibsons advice, this mattress is described as medium firm, but the brand will provide extra layers of memory foam topping to soften it or firm it up should you require.
Five layers of alternating high-tech memory foam and pocket springs combine for a springy yet supremely supportive feel, so itâs no wonder Emma won a wide array of consumer awards for comfort. Emma offers a lengthy 200 night trial and a ten year guarantee.
How To Find A Mattress That Relieves Your Back Pain
If youve decided that your mattress may be the primary reason for your back pain, dont worry. This is an incredibly common problem, but its easy to fix. The first step, of course, is to find a new mattress. That may sound like its easier said than done, but this guide will help. There are ways to ensure youre purchasing the best mattress for your back pain, wherever it may be.
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How Can I Make My Tempur
If you find that your Tempur-Pedic mattress is not as comfortable as you would like, there are a few things you can do. First, try using a mattress topper to make it softer. You can also try sleeping on your side or stomach instead of your back. In addition, be sure to maintain good posture while sleeping and stretch before bedtime to loosen up your muscles and relieve tension. With these tips, you should be able to make your Tempur-Pedic mattress more comfortable.
How To Stop Mattress Sagging
While there is no way to completely stop mattress sagging you can do a few things to extend the life of your mattress. It is important to do all you can to alleviate back pain from your mattress.
- Using a topper can make a sagging mattress more comfortable but can also extend the life of a new mattress.
- Turning your mattress as often as you can, if you have a turn mattress, can even out the wear and tear over years and delay your mattress from sagging.
- Rotating your mattress does likewise and can be done on both turn and non turn mattresses. This may not be possible on certain zoned mattresses.
- Buy a good quality mattress with a reputable supplier is always recommended. Check out their reviews and make sure their warranty covers every part of the mattress.
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Is It Possible Sleeping On The Right Mattress Can Relieve Your Back Pain
Now that we have argued how your ill-suited mattress and poor posture is causing aching and pain in your lower back, well provide some advice on selecting a mattress that will cure and prevent back pain.
Recently, researchers in Spain studied people with long-term back pain and concluded that people who slept on medium-to-firm mattresses or 5.6 on a firmness scale to be precise, had less back pain than those who decided to sleep on a softer or firmer mattress.
Gerard Varlotta, the director of sports rehabilitation at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University Medical Center, in an interview with NBC News, said, There needs to be an equal distribution of pressure. Too firm of a mattress is not good. It doesnt provide enough contour to our bodies. Too soft is going to bend and cause problems as well.
Said that there are so many brands and models of medium-to-firm beds out there, its super hard to recommend which ones are the best. However, there is a material that has been proven to help back-pain sufferers sleep better at night.
Michael Breus, Ph.D., a renowned sleep expert, in this article, How to Pick Your Perfect Mattress, says latex is a good choice. In fact, he thinks latex is one of the best materials to be used in mattresses because the material is firm and provides better support compared to memory foam.
So Whats The Underlying Cause Of Back Pain
As we previously mentioned, there are potentially endless causes of back pain. However, the primary cause of back pain in bed is arguably a poor sleeping posture. Between the spinal vertebrae, there are small intervertebral discs that tend to rehydrate as you sleep. Research has proven that poor sleeping posture may prevent these discs from rehydrating hence leading to back pain issues. Connected to your vertebra are relatively smaller groups of muscles known as erector spine as well as somewhat larger muscle groups such as the trapezius. When you adopt a poor sleeping posture, these muscles are forced to assume awkward positions which can potentially result in prolonged irritations hence resulting in severe pains and aches on your back muscles.
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New Mattress Back Pain
Again, different types and qualities of mattresses are made of other materials. Some materials may not be suitable for your specific needs. In this case, sleeping on a bed that is not right for you can lead to long-term pain in your back, shoulders, hips, joints, and various other health problems in the future.
If you find any comparisons between your current sleeping conditions and those described above, it may be time to replace your mattress.
How Can You Make A Mattress Softer
If your mattress feels too firm, there are a few steps you can take to make it softer without sacrificing support.
First, if your mattress is brand new, just wait awhile. Theres a break-in period for new mattresses, and you may even feel some discomfort on a new mattress at first. It can take at least 30 days for your body to adjust.
If youd like to soften the surface of your mattress, consider adding a mattress topper. Toppers come in a variety of different materials from wool to down to memory foam. They add a layer of comfort that can help relieve pressure points and promote spinal alignment.
If your new memory foam mattress is too firm, consider raising the thermostat in your room. Foam responds to heat and body temperature, so a slightly warmer room can help a new mattress soften.
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