The Relationship Between Your Mattress and Your Pain

Could your mattress be causing the back pain you suffer occasionally or even daily?  It’s very possible.  One solution could be a mattress topper, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

Given that you spend a large chunk of your day in bed — as much as seven or eight hours if you’re getting the amount of sleep you should — it wouldn’t be surprising if a bad mattress causes discomfort.  A mattress that’s too soft can cause your back or other joints to be positioned unnaturally while you sleep.  A mattress that’s too hard can cause you to wake up stiff in the morning.

So, how do you know if your mattress is the culprit?  First, and most important, visit a doctor if your pain is an ongoing problem.  He or she will be able to determine if you have a medical problem that should be addressed.  With that ruled out, take the SleepBetter Zzzz Score Test to see if the type of bedding is appropriate for your sleep style.

The last thing to do is consider how you sleep and how you wake.  Do you frequently wake in the middle of the night feeling uncomfortable (at least) or stiff and sore (at worst)?  When you wake in the morning, do you feel tired even though you’ve slept for an appropriate amount of time?  If the answers to those questions is “yes”, then you might have a mattress or bedding problem.

If you can narrow the problem down to your mattress, the most obvious answer may be to replace it, particularly if it’s more than a handful of years old.  Guidelines for mattress longevity vary with the type of mattress, but if yours is getting uneven and too soft for your comfort, replacement might be a consideration.

If you’re unable or not interested in replacing your mattress, a fantastic option is to buy a mattress topper.  Toppers are pads that sit on top of your mattress (thus the name) and provide another layer of comfort.  They’re significantly less expensive than mattresses, and can make up for some of the shortcomings of your mattress.  Toppers used to be made of “egg crate” style foam, but the better ones today, like the ones made by Carpenter Co., are made of memory foam that can adjust to your preferred sleep position, help relieve pressure, and alleviate tossing and turning in bed.

In the end, if you’re more comfortable, you’re more likely to sleep better.

Need some recommendations on what type of topper, mattress pad, mattress, or pillow to buy?  Check out our Recommended Products page!