What’s The Best Bed For Lower Back Pain

Back Pain Pressure Points

If there is an overly vital area to be attentive to when suffering from back pain, its the pressure points that an improper mattress can cause on your body. These points mean that there is extra push back to a specific area. This can cause misalignment throughout your body and your spine.

Once it has moved out of alignment, there is an increased amount of pressure placed on your spine. Thats one of the common causes of back pain. Thinking about it that way may just help you answer the question, Is a firm mattress good for your back? from a whole new angle.

With this said, its essential to ensure that you arent sleeping on a bed that places too much pressure on your spine. This is also true for any major joints. Thats whats going to allow your body to rest in a relaxed state. The chance of pressure points forming along the spine as well as the lower back is diminished dramatically when the appropriate product is picked.

Pressure points are capable of causing long-term deformations and pains along your spine. This isnt something that you can likely afford as it can quickly turn into a chronic condition.

Best For Sex: Puffy Lux

Firm mattresses are great for helping to spice up your sex life. Since theres little to no give, you can easily move around without feeling like youre sinking in quicksand. The Puffy Lux is receptive to movement with the help of responsive coils while keeping pressure off of your lumbar region .

Cooling is also an important feature to look for when shopping for the best mattress for sex, and the Puffy Lux dispels heat with ease .

• Mattress Type: Hybrid

Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress

• Type: foam
• Height: 12 inches

Stomach sleepers need a mattress that offers adequate spinal support and even weight distribution. With a choice of relaxed firm or firm, Saatvas Loom & Leaf Mattress is made with layers of high-density CertiPUR-US foam for contouring and pressure relief. A breathable gel cooling layer is concentrated in the lumbar region for maximum spinal support.

The Loom & Leaf Mattress has a 180-night home trial, a 15-year warranty, and free white-glove delivery service.

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Consider Your Partners Needs Too

If you’re sharing a king or a queen mattress, make sure you’re talking with your partner about the thickness they like, and the types of comfort preferences they have for their sleep surface. Maybe they’ll like the same memory foam mattress topper, or latex mattress topper you like…maybe they won’t! You may like a firm mattress, they may not like a firm mattress. To relieve back pain, you both need to agree on what you like.

A larger mattress, like a king size mattress, is a huge investment. A foam or latex mattress topper for a mattress that size isn’t going to be cheap either. Get the thickness level you want from your bed cover that works for both your body, and your partners body. If it’s just you that suffers from lower back pain, talk to your significant other about how a mattress topper is a great cost effective way to find relief.

If both you and your significant other are upset with the way your mattress feels when it comes to its ability to relieve back pain, consider the pros and cons of shopping for a new mattress altogether. It isn’t always needed, and sometimes the mattress topper has the materials you need for relief, but if you can agree on a budget, the pros of opting for a new mattress are hard to ignore.

Closing Thoughts For Back Pain Sufferers

Back pain is debilitating. Its even worse when your back hurts just after you wake up and you have to deal with it for the rest of the day. Relieve your back pain with a good mattress topper then, which will support your body completely and help you sleep well. You just have to make sure that you dont lose any sleep picking one out! Make sure to weigh the pros and cons of each topper, and consider things like the material it’s made out of and the thickness.

Gabe is the newest member of The Sleep Shop team. If you like the design of The Sleep Shop, give Gabe a thumbs up. Hes a digital marketing and design guru and the brains behind the design and SEO of The Sleep Shop. He also wont say no to testing a ton of mattresses either, and helps on almost every mattress review.

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What Else We Tested

I test a new mattress every two weeks. While I’ve tested dozens of models, I only considered 12 candidates for potential inclusion in this guide. Here are the beds we still recommend but that didn’t make the cut.

What else we recommend and why:

Under $1,100

Casper Original Mattress: The medium-firm feel of the Casper Original will appeal to a broad range of back-pain sufferers, especially hot sleepers since it has impressive heat dissipation. It was easy to set up and move around in our tests and features impressive motion isolation. However, the edge support was poor. Read our full review.

Bear Mattress: If you’re interested in checking out the cooling properties of Celliant fibers and want a firmer mattress, you might consider the medium-firm Bear Original. It’s made of CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certified foams, including a graphite gel memory foam that I found did a great job of cooling. However, it failed my motion isolation tests, and it wasn’t comfortable for side sleeping.

Under $2,000:

Puffy Lux Hybrid Mattress: I slept on the Puffy Lux while recovering from a back-pain spell, and I think it did a great job of facilitating my recovery. I also like that this mattress comes with a lifetime warranty, is easy to move around, and has great motion isolation. On the downside, it had a strong initial odor that took days to dissipate, the edge support is poor, and it will be too soft for many back pain sufferers.

Over $2,000

What Type Of Mattress Is Good For A Bad Back

What is the best bed for someone who has a bad back?

• Resort Sleep Queen 10 Inch Cooling Memory Foam Mattress
• Brentwood Home Cypress Mattress
• Live and Sleep Resort Ultra 12-Inch California King Size Gel Memory Foam Mattress
• Muse 12-inch Gel Cooling Mattress|King,Medium Comfort Level
• Swiss Ortho Sleep,13 High-Density,3 x Layered GEL MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS
• Muse 12-inch Gel Cooling

• 13 How can I sleep with lower back pain?

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Best For Side Sleepers: Casper Sleep Foam Mattress 2018 Edition

• Minimal movement disturbances to partner

• May be too firm for some

Sleeping on your side is tricky as you need adequate support around your waist to keep your spine in alignment. If your mattress doesn’t provide this support, you may wake up with a stiff, achy back.

One of the best mattress options for side sleepers with back problems is the Casper mattress, which has a special zoned design to give you support exactly where you need it. The Casper mattress is constructed from four layers of memory foam that balance support, comfort, and breathability. And theres a softer zone under your shoulders, allowing you to sink in as you sleep on your side, and a firmer zone under your hips and core to keep your spine in place. They use open-cell foams to keep you cool throughout the night, too.

The company offers a 100 night risk-free trial, so you have plenty of time to make your decision.

Firmness: Softer around shoulders, firmer under the hips, waist, and lower back | Thickness: 11 inches | Type: All foam, or Hybrid | Trial Length: 100 nights

• Free returns within 30 days

• Hypoallergenic properties

• Ideal for all sleep styles

• Compatible with any base

• Non-removable cover

If you sleep on your stomach, a plush mattress will likely cause back pain as you’ll sink into it throughout the night, causing your spine to be out of alignment. However, a mattress thats too firm will be uncomfortable, putting too much pressure on your stomach and ribs.

• Free returns within 100 days

• Hypoallergenic

Is A Firm Mattress Better For Your Back

A firm mattress also helps to prevent your lower back from compressing, which may allow you to breathe more deeply while youre sleeping. Firm mattresses are often preferable for those who sleep on their backs because they give a more firm and level surface for their bodies to rest on while asleep. Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, tend to do better on a firmer mattress.

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Some Parting Words Regarding Back Pain

You dont have to let the stress of shopping for a mattress keep you up at nightand you shouldnt have to deal with pain when you wake up in the morning. This list of The Sleep Doctors mattress picks will help you find the one that will keep your back pain in check, so you can take back control of your sleep.

Breus, Michael. 2019. Low Back Pain and Sleep. The Sleep Doctor , December 14, 2019. https://thesleepdoctor.com/2019/12/14/low-back-pain-sleep/?cn-reloaded=1

Cleveland Clinic. 2019. Is Your Sleep Position Causing You Back Pain? Health Essentials , August 29, 2019. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sleep-position-causing-back-pain/

Mayo Clinic, 2020. Slide show: Sleeping positions that reduce back pain https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/multimedia/sleeping-positions/sls-20076452?s=2

Casper Editorial Team, 2020. How To Sleep With Back Pain: 5 Tips for Relief. Casper , March 4, 2020. https://casper.com/blog/how-to-sleep-with-back-pain/

The Lancet, 2003. Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain. The Lancet , November 15, 2003 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-673614792-7/fulltext#secd8814777e1475

is an Associate Editor at Pillar4 Media and contributing editor to TheSleepDoctor.com who prefers to keep the room as cold as possible, no matter what time of year it is.

Another Organic Option Thats Ideal For Back Sleepers

Avocado

Cyber Monday mattress sale: Enter the promo code SAVEBIG to score $125 off Avocados hybrid and latex mattresses or code BFBLISS to save $3o0 on the brands Organic Luxury Plush Mattress. You can also get $200 off wood bed frames.

• Materials: GOLS-organic latex, pocketed support coils
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
• Trial period: One year

Many of todays mattresses are made from memory foam, which typically contains synthetic chemicals. If youre looking for something a bit more eco-friendly, consider the Avocado Green Mattress. Its constructed of organic ingredients, including a layer of organic latex sitting on top of more than 1,000 pocketed support coils. The mattress has a gentle-yet-firm feel and five distinct ergonomic zones that adapt to your pressure points and provide relief where you need it. The thoughtful construction also helps reduce motion transfer and distributes weight more evenly so the mattress can contour to your bodys natural shape. Its best for back and stomach sleepers.

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Is A Firm Mattress Pad Right For You

If you go for a softer solution, it might not be that good to your back. Its possible the alignment of your spine could become compromised, increasing the radiating pain in your lower back area. While a soft bed could feel a lot more comfortable, chances are that you wouldnt be able to resolve the issues with your lower back.

A medium firm mattress topper is usually the preferred solution as it tends to combine comfort with convenience and it promotes proper spine alignment. However, keep in mind that the thickness, as well as the density of your pad, would also be predicated on the mattress itself. With this being said, if you have an extra-firm mattress, topping it with a thick and super-firm pad is likely to make it rock solid, hence somewhat uncomfortable, regardless of your preference.

On the other hand, if your mattress is extra-soft, youd like to pair it with a firmer pad in order to promote serious spine alignment without sacrificing the comfort.

Your sleeping position is also of importance. A soft mattress topper is usually geared towards side sleepers while firmer options are more comfortable for people who tend to sleep on their back or front. However, when choosing a top rated mattress topper for back problems, you should avoid super soft and super-firm pads. Try to find the golden middle ground and get a medium-firm pad as its going to provide you with the proper spine alignment while not sacrificing comfort at the same time.

Best Cooling: Ghostbed Luxe

Many mattress manufacturers will utilize a variety of cooling materials to help regulate body temperature as you fall asleep. How many of these mattresses are actually cooling, though? In the case with the GhostBed Flex, GhostBed takes it a step further by adding its own cooling tech in each layer of the mattress. Cooling fabric, fibers, and foam are fused into everything, from the mattress cover to the base foam. This set the testing teams bar high, and when the Luxe was put through a trial run, it delivered a 9 out of 10 for cooling.

For sleepers with back pain, the Luxes all-foam makeup strikes a balance between excellent spine alignment and pressure relief .

• Mattress Type: Gel Memory Foam
• Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5
• Firmness: Medium-firm

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How To Find The Right Mattress For Your Back

There are two layers you need to consider when choosing your next mattress. The support system, and the comfort layer.

The support system

A spring or foam layer, the support system supports your weight and provides the spinal alignment you need for a restful night. A zoned support system is tuned to provide the right amount of support across your body. This allows the mattress surface to curve to your natural shape with even pressure across your body. Perfect for maintaining spinal alignment.

Support systems are rated by firmness, and we have to move past the age-old idea that extra-firm mattresses are best for solving a bad back. Choosing the right firmness for you depends on your body type. Softer mattresses are more suitable to smaller, lighter people, while people with a larger body type will feel more supported with a firmer mattress.

Choosing the correct firmness can help prevent back pain and speed up recovery.

A mattress that is too soft to support your weight will sag in the middle, distorting your spine and preventing complete recovery. Unsupportive mattresses also make you work harder to get comfortable, often leaving you feeling fatigued the next day.

A mattress that is too firm will not have enough give to support your spines natural curve. If your mattress is too firm for your body type, the zoning will be ineffective and the pressure uneven.

The comfort layer

latex

memory Foam

geltex®

hot sleepers

A Mix Of Foam And Bounce: Leesa Hybrid

Use promo codeWIRECUTTER

Who its for: The Leesa Hybrid is likely to appeal to back-pain sufferers, regardless of preferred sleep position, who want a foamy feel with a pinch of springiness. The foams density suggests it will hold up well for people who weigh more than 200 pounds.

How it feels: The bounce from the coils seems to mellow out the feel, making this hybrid just a touch softer than a typical medium-firm.

Why its great: The foam-innerspring feel of the Leesa Hybrid is more balanced than that of the Tempur-Adapt, our other hybrid pick in this guide, whose memory foam takes over the entire experience of the mattress. In the Leesa Hybrid, the 4-pounds-per-cubic-foot memory-foam layer and 1,000-plus individually pocketed coils support your spine and conform to your curves. Its sturdy but not rigid, said one of our back-and-side-sleeping testers. You can sit on the edges without sliding off, too. Unlike the Saatva Classic, Leesa mattresses are available at partner retailers, as well as at the brands Dream Gallery stores, so you may be able to try the Leesa Hybrid in person before you buy it. Within the 100-night trial period, you can return it for a full refund if you dont like it, though youre required to sleep on it for at least 30 days first.

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Why We Get Back Problems

About 80% of sleepers are likely to come across some type of lower back pain throughout their lifetime. Of course, it goes without saying that not everyone is actually affected in the same way by these issues.

However, this doesnt mean that you should stay uninformed about them. Some have the potential to get worse over time.

There are two types of back pain that are commonly observed: Acute pain that lasts for less than about six weeks and chronic pain which is less frequent but longer lasting. This is according to the reputable Mayo Clinic. The breakdown is followed by serious research and studies carried over periods of time and a lot of back pain sufferers.

With this in mind, there are also different causes for back pain . Here are a few common ones and some tips on how to prevent them.

Best Mattress For Sciatica

If you suffer from sciatica, you know the pain that comes along with the condition can make sleeping comfortably quite the challenge. Since your sciatic nerve runs along the lower back, through the hips and the buttocks, all the way to the calves, when it becomes irritated the pain is no joke.

So, how in the world are you supposed to sleep with pulsing pains shooting up your hips and legs? Aside from seeking the advice and treatment of a medical professional, one thing you can do is buy a new mattress. And not just any ol mattress, but one that lifts your spine into a neutral alignment all the way from your shoulders to your hips.

For people that suffer from sciatica, you know its more specific than general back pain, which we cover in our Best Mattress for Back Pain list, so I thought Id get you started on your journey by introducing you to some of the best mattresses specifically for lower back pain on the market. Though they differ in terms of construction, firmness, and price, theyre all designed to alleviate tension at the lower back for a cozy, pain-free sleep.

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