Do you always find yourself tossing and turning at night? Or, have you ever woken up in the middle of the night because you are feeling hot flashes? In other words, your body feels hot, and you have to turn on your air conditioner.
It happens to all of us.
And it’s because we don’t have the best mattress for back pain. In other words, we don’t have the mattress that can soothe our back pain and leave us sleeping like a baby.
That explains why we wake up early in the morning feeling pain on our back only for the pain to disappear after 20 to 30 minutes.
Choosing the best mattress may not mean much until we have a disability. Back pain is the main reason why most people lose mobility as they age,
Believe it or not, we spend ⅓ of our life sleeping. Therefore, we need to choose a right mattress that offers:
- Excellent spinal alignment
- Quality sleep and comfort
- Relieve you from stress
Listen, if you want to choose the best mattress for back pain, you first need to understand the history of back pain. That’s the only way you will know whether you are going for an orthopedic solution or latex memory. Fair enough, let’s look at….
Table of Contents
7 Best Mattress For Back Pain Comparison Chart
| Picture | Mattress | Material | Heating | Firmness | Price |
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Polyester Material | Yes | Universal | Check Price |
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Memory foam | Yes | Medium-Firm | Check Price |
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Hybrid Mattress | No | luxury-firm | Check Price |
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Latex and Memory | Yes | Medium-Firm | Check Price |
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Hybrid Mattress | Yes | Medium/Soft | Check Price |
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Memory foam | Yes | Medium Firm | Check Price |
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Hybrid Mattress | Yes | Soft/Medium Firm | Check Price |
What is Back Pain/Chronic Pain
Back pain is also referred to as lumbago is a medical condition that occurs when the following parts are affected:
- Ligaments
- Muscles
- Nerves
- Bony structures in the spine
These four parts make up the structure of the back. So when you experience pain on the back, it is usually one or more of those parts a strain.
It’s always vital to know which part the pain is coming from before you buy a mattress. A good Chiropractor will examine you and identify the main problem.
Lower back pain, is usually associated with the lower part of the spine and the following sections are typically affected:
- Ligament muscles
- Nerves and spinal cord
- Disks
- Lumbar and sacral vertebral.
Both back/low back pain make people experience the following symptoms in the body:
- Muscle ache
- Shooting
- Pain when bending, standing or walking
- Pain coming from the lower part of your leg
- Pain when reclining.
One of the recommended remedies for easing these symptoms is buying a comfortable mattress. But when you experience fever, bladder problems or your condition doesn’t improve even after purchasing the mattress. It may be the time for you to seek medical attention.
What Causes Back Pain?
Here is the thing, the human back is a complex structure consisting of ligaments, tendons, disk, and bones. All these parts work together to support the back and aid your movements. The disc is cartilage that cushions your spine against injuries. It is a significant part of your spine.
Low back pain mainly occurs in an individual between the age of 30 to 50 years old.
When you grow old and start to age, changes in your body start will take place. Those changes reduce the fluid content in the vertebra, and there’s more irritation in disks. Differences can also arise to loss of muscle tone, which means that your back is prone to injury. Here are the most causes of back pain.
Strain Muscle
This is the number one cause of back pain. A strained muscle occurs when there’s incorrect lifting of the ligaments. In other words, when one part of the ligaments is overworked such that it causes awkward movements.
For instance, if you overwork, you’ll feel soreness and stiffness. This happens a lot in sports and workplace that involve too many activities. Or it may be that you are sitting too much on uncomfortable chairs and since most of have a poor sitting position, muscle strain is inevitable.
Structural Problems
Structural problems are simple physical changes happening in areas like the vertebra. The vertebra is a bone which interlocks together to make up the spine. The disks provide space between each vertebra.
If the vertebra or disk get injured, you will experience low back pain. A more severe case is when these disks tear apart or bulge. That means you will experience more pain because you will have little to no cushion on the spine.
If a problem like this persists, it may lead to compression of the nerve root. Most disc injury arises from abrupt injuries or a sudden twist on the back.
Now that you know the most common causes of back pain let’s see how a mattress can affect the back pain.
How Can A Mattress Affect Back Pain?
You’ve seen noticed that there are so many causes of back pain, sometimes it can be difficult to know the exact problems causing the back pain.
Most of most pain on your back come from having a poor mattress and few people ever notice this until they are 30 something years or having an illness.
Research states that choosing a poor mattress or a medium-to-firm mattress can affect your sleep quality. Most importantly, it can change normal routines like sex.
And 56% of people that sleep on either medium-to-firm or poor mattress experience back pain. Those statistics mean that a mattress can affect back pain.
Although mattress is an expensive purchase, most often, people don’t know when they are supposed to change their bedding.
It won’t surprise you to find that most people still sleep on the mattress that they bought 20 years ago. Chiropractor and doctors recommend that a bed needs to be changed after 8 to 10 years.
Besides sleeping on a quality mattress, you may need to change your sleeping position if you still experience back pain.
Before you plan on buying a new mattress or replacing an older one, you need first to adjust your sleeping positions. Sometimes, your mattress may not be the problem but the sleeping posture.
What I mean is that your sleeping pattern may not be aligned with your spine. Sleeping on the best mattress and keeping the right position can help you cure back pain.
People that experience back pain always has the following symptoms(any of these conditions, should be a reminder that you need to change the mattress::
- Waking up frequently in the wee hours of the night without any reason
- Tossing right and left to find a comfortable sleep position
- Feeling pressure on your spine when you lie on a particular location
- Your bed swallows or tucks you
- Waking up with pain on your back which goes away after 20 to 30 minutes.
Always pay attention to how you or your pattern behaves at night. Signs like those means that you need a buy a new or replace an old mattress.
Best Mattress for Back Pain: The Types of Mattress Known for Soothing Back Pain
When it comes to choosing a mattress, everyone’s comfort levels, and that should be a determining factor when investing in a bed. There are those who love the softer mattress, and they are those who prefer more firm.
Before you shell out your cash and buy a mattress for your back pain, you need to know different types of bedding that exist for back pain. This will make the selection process easier. Ready? Let’s take a look
Memory Foam Mattress
If you have been suffering from back pain, then at one time you might have heard a chiropractor say that you need to try to sleep on a memory foam mattress.
Well, this mattress is known for soothing pain and promoting a comfortable sleep. It’s because they have unique properties that relieve pains and encourages contour alignment.
Not every memory foam mattress is suited for a back sleeper. You have to consider firmness and softness so that you can choose the right bed. An important factor to consider in mind when buying a memory foam mattress is the density.
Here’s the general rule: a 5 PCF memory foam mattress is ideal to offer anyone with excellent spinal alignment and superior support.
Anything below 5 PCF like 4 PCF, or 4 PCF, will result in less support because they are low density and won’t be useful to soothe your back.
The right memory foam mattress will provide you with plenty of pressure point relief and less strain on your back.
Modern memory foam mattress has been designed with advanced features like targeted support and cooling systems which are great innovations to relieving pressure points in the lumbar regions.
Latex Mattress
If you experience pain on the back, the latex mattress is the ideal options for you in case you don’t want to go with memory foam. What you’ll love about latex mattress is that it is more responsive than memory foam and cooler
About 33% of people with low back pain says that a latex mattress has helped them easy pressure points. Materials found in a latex mattress are spongy and aim at providing you with maximum contouring capabilities.
Because of those reasons, a latex mattress is highly recommended for people with low back pain. However, not all latex mattresses offer excellent support. They are three types of latex mattress in the market.
If you want to have a great sleeping experience, you need to choose the right type of latex mattress, because that will determine if you are going to have a comfortable sleep or wake up at night
The 3 Types of Latex Mattress
- Synthetic latex
- Natural Latex
- Blended Latex
Synthetic Latex Mattress
These are the cheapest model on the market. Most of them are made from petroleum-by products. They cause environmental concerns, and most people don’t like them.
The beauty of having a synthetic latex mattress is that they give you a soft feel when you are sleeping. The only problems I have with them is that they wear fast, it can’t last you longer.
Natural Latex Mattress
These are the best type of latex mattress, made from the rubber tree. They are expensive than synthetic latex mattress. They are firm and last longer than the most mattress on the market. Be wary of companies that sell natural latex mattress at a low price, in most cases are of low quality.
Blended Latex Mattress
A blend means a mixture of two. In these case, manufacturers try to combine synthetic and natural latex mattress. Blended latex mattresses are durable and eco-friendly than synthetic. Best of all, they are cheap and softer than natural latex. A blend of latex and synthetic will work well to ease back pain in most of the time.
Innerspring Mattress
These are one of the worst mattress you will ever choose if you suffer from the back pain. If you have to select the innerspring mattress, consider the orthopedic solution because they provide full body support, unlike the standard innerspring mattress.
Most of the orthopedic solution has a pocket spring/coil system, which is perfect for distributing the pressure when you are lying down. Standard innerspring mattress provides less pressure relief, that means your spine will get out its alignment when you are sleeping.
Innerspring mattress tends to wear out fast because of their design, that means, you may start feeling uncomfortable after sometimes and experience less support. And this can make your back pain even worse.
If you have back problems and weigh more than 400 pounds, you may consider a mattress with more than 2000 springs because it will give you more support.
Not all innerspring mattress are created the same. If you love innerspring mattress, then you need to know the four different types of the innerspring mattress so that you can choose the right type than solve all your back pain problems:
Bonnell Coils
This type of innerspring mattress was manufactured in the 19th century. You will still find them in store, most of their shape resembles a twisted hourglass with knots at the top and the bottom. They come with simple design and cheap.
Offset Coil
They resemble the Bonnell coil, but the only difference is that they have flattened and hexagonal top and bottom. They are durable and provide more support than Bonnell coils
Continuous Coils
These types of innerspring mattress are made using a continuous wire that’s bend to resemble many S shapes. These coils are framed using a thick cord with the aim of improving its durability and design. Most continuous coils innerspring mattress sell at a lower price.
Pocketed Coils (Marshall coils)
They merely have pocket wrapped to allow independent movements and to adapt to pressure. Unlike other types of innerspring mattress, they have a complicated design suited for motion isolation.
In layman terms, I mean, you will be in position turn and twist without your partner knowing or feeling something on the mattress. These mattress are comfortable and supportive for back sleepers.
Air Bed Mattress
They are often used as a guest mattress, and they are fun mattress to have They come in different dimensions and have more air chambers. All you need it to inflate them and them with an electric pump and you will be sleeping comfortably. Most air bed mattress can accommodate up to 450 lbs of weight. When you deflate this mattress, you can hold little weight.
If you have back pain, air bed mattress may not be suited for you because they offer no support and his may further cause strain and curving on your spine.
Factors You Need To Check Before Buying The Best Mattress for Back Pain
Choosing a mattress for back pain can be tough especially if you don’t know what you are looking for. But when you have a checklist of materials to watch and the budget to have chosen a mattress becomes a simple thing.
If you are buying a mattress to soothe your back pain, here is what you need to consider, not only will you choose the right bed, but your back problem will be long gone.
The mistake you can make is buying a mattress that performs well for one full year, only to buy another mattress the second year because you started feeling pain.
Lower Back Support
Because pain radiates from the lower back, always buy a mattress that does not give you pressure on your waist.
A lot of people buying a mattress confuse between firm and support. If you know the difference, this can determine between choosing a good or a wrong mattress
But that doesn’t mean you can’t always have a soft plush mattress with excellent support; they are mattress designed to fill that need.
Keep in mind is that the mattress has to align with your spine and give you enough support on your back and comfortable sleep. If you bought a mattress in the past and you still experience pain, then you might have chosen the wrong mattress.
Firmness
Firmness refers to the initial feel on the mattress when you lay on it. Firmness may differ from one person to another because people feel different when they put on the same mattress.
The number one question most doctors get asked is, should you get a firm mattress? A general study done in 2016, proved that firm mattress that was recommended by Doctors caused lots of pain.
Today if you have to buy a mattress, go for medium-firm, it the ideal mattress for people having back pain. To be specific, 10 is the best firmness scale to air for.
That’s perfect level for many back sleepers because they get to experience a great balance between push-back support and softness. With this level of firmness, you will have pressure point relief and comfortable, good night sleep.
A critical vital factor to consider when choosing the firmness of the scale is your weight. If you are a heavy person, your body will put more pressure on the mattress. Therefore, you are looking for something that is more than 11 or firmer to compensate for your sinking.
For those that are light, you may want to choose a mattress that has a firm scale level of 7 to 10, that’s an ideal range that will offer you more support without feeling like you are on board. (change that).
Back Pain Pressure Points
This is a vital factor consider when you are buying a mattress. It is the number one reason people with back pain buy a mattress. You will start feeling pressure points on your back if you have an improper mattress.
By that I mean, there’s Unusually push back on your spine that may cause misalignment. Once a specific part is moved out of the alignment, a lot of pressure is placed on your spine. And because of that, your body may not be fully relaxed at night, making you wake up each night.
If pressure points are not healed, they can cause disability or any long-term deformations on your spine. Your spine is a central organ, and it’s something you can’t afford to leave to chance because if you don’t take it seriously, the condition can turn to chronic. And it will be too late to look for a remedy.
Budget
Budget is something that you have to take into consideration too. And when it comes to choosing a mattress, expensive doesn’t mean the best quality. There are lots of companies selling shitty product on the market.
Even some online stores inflate their prices online at 1000%. For that reason, it is reasonable to look for the features your mattress have. Likewise more features onto the mattress doesn’t mean that you have the best mattress. Some features on the mattress are of no use if they don’t help you have a comfortable sleep.
Here is a Guideline on How to Choose a Mattress Based on Weight
- Never go with the cheapest mattress you can find. To be clear, never spend less than $500 on a mattress. Chances are, you are investing in low quality, more toxin mattress. You are just creating more pain for your back, read the feature before buying any mattress.
- Expensive doesn’t mean better quality. You have been on this road, and you know what am talking about.
- For $1000 price range, you will always find the best mattress for your money.
Weight
I’d be doing you a great disservice if i didn’t include weight as a consideration. Weight affects the choice of mattress you choose and the quality of sleep you have.
If you choose a wrong mattress because you underestimate your weight, you will experience less support and more linkage. You will wake up in the middle of the night feeling hot.
Light (People Less Than 150 Pounds)
If you weigh less than 150 pounds, a medium-firm mattress with firmness scale of 5 to 6 would be ideal for you, because you won’t sink too much. Side sleepers can always go for 3 to 4 firmness range so that they can experience the soft feel of the mattress.
Average (150-200 Pounds)
People weighing between this range can also go for a medium-firm mattress having a scale of 5 to 6 just like the light people. It’s the perfect scale to experience support and comfort.
Heavy People (200+ Pounds)
People weighing more than 200 pounds have more pressure points on their back. The best mattress would be a firmer option because it will adjust the sinkage. The ideal mattress should be at least 12 inches for proper support and excellent feel.
Reviews of the 7 Best Mattress For Back Pain
- 100-night free trial
- Longer life span
- CertuPUR-US
Pro
- Made in the US
- Excellent air circulation at night
- Density support layer gives the mattress excellent firmness
Cons
- Smells when new
It’s an all-foam mattress designed to suit all sleeping position including back sleeping. The three layers create a great sleeping experience for people with back pain.
On the Tuft and Needle mattress, you’ll notice a tactel material used to make the cover. With Tactel material on the cover, it means that this mattress dries quicker than most standard mattresses.
Another advantage of the Tactel or polyester material it is the ability to regulate heat so that you can have an excellent sleep at night. When I slept on this material, I didn’t sweat or experience hot flashes at night.
The comfort layer (which is the part you should be concerned in any mattress) is 3 inches long and comprise of propriety and poly foam. These layers provide excellent bounce, ensuring that you sleep soundly uninterrupted at night without getting trapped.
Next to the comfort layer is the base layer which is 7 inches high and it’s made of poly foam material which supports the mattress. I touched this material and noticed that it is durable and can last for a long time.
The good news about the Tuft and Needle mattress is that it has no transition between the comfort and base layer, which means there’s no difference in firmness. What’s more, you can change to any position without having to worry about the pressure distribution.
- 100-night trials
- Presence of Avena® foam helpsin cooling
- Cuts down on motion transfer
Pro
- CertiPUR-US® Certified mattress
- Conforms and aligns with your spine
- Light and easy to move
Cons
- Poor edge support
Like a high-end mattress, this an all foam mattress that is 10 inches high. It made of three layers essential for providing you maximum comfort and pressure support.
Leesa mattress is a pretty softy, and it will provide you a cozy feeling and comfort once you lay on it. Its thick cover is made to last and offers ample air circulation enough to cool your body to get you into a deep slumber.
The three premium layers on the Leesa mattress are comfort layer, memory foam, and base layer. The Avena foam which you will find it on top resembles latex. And like any latex material it offers:
- A quick response to pressure.
- Great bounce to enable you to change to any position you want.
Great cooling properties along with air holes on this mattress, make it easier for you to fall asleep because it regulates the temperature.
With the two inches of memory foam, you will experience great sinkage and contour of your body. The second layer also retains heat so that you are feeling cool at tight.
A bonus advantage of this mattress is that it provides excellent edge support, you’ll feel safe and secure sleeping and sitting on the side because you won’t roll over.
Find out the Best Mattress For Heavy People
- Infused with copper technology
- 120-night free trial
- ThermoGel technology to keep you cool all night long
Pro
- Premium memory foam offering two levels of firmness
- Infused with copper which helps to dissipate heat and provide a therapeutic cooling system at night
- Removable cover that you can clean easily
- Comes with four different layers for maximum support
Cons
- Smells on the first day
The Layla mattress in all foam mattress with four different layers. It a double mattress that comes with two options- firm or soft.
When shopping, you have to choose one depending on your sleeping preference. The cover is a blend of polyester material which offers a cozy feeling when you lay on the bed. The infused gel on the cover cools and regulates the temperature to give you excellent cooling system at night.
For those who have a soft mattress, you will notice that it has 3 inches of infused copper. This layer is so thick and smooth, which means you will enjoy great sinkage while at the same time providing pressure distribution unevenly.
Besides that, the material will respond to pressure and enhance contour feeling and hug. If you have a bought any form mattress in the past, you’ll notice that they emit lots of heat. In these case, of Layla, the copper material assist with cooling.
The support of the soft mattress has a base layer made from polyfoam. The polyfoam material makes the mattress, so firm to provide the necessary quick response to pressure.
The firm comfort Layla mattress consists of 1-inch copper infused memory foam. The beauty of this material is that you will never sink but have a contour feeling. Second, there’s no transition between comfort and support.
- 15 years of excellent reputation in the industry
- Excellent for people looking for an all-around solid mattress
- Firmness level of 6.5/10
- Spectacular contour support and proper spinal alignment
- 101-night trial
Pro
- Comfortable sleep experience despite your sleeping position
- Delivers excellent balance between sinkage and support
- Excellent choice of mattress for couples
Cons
- Synthetic cover-
- No options when it comes to firmness except one option
This mattress is 11”, and it comes with three layers- the base layer, the gel memory foam layer and the latex foam. With these three premium materials, you are guaranteed to sleep soundly feeling cool and to wake up energized.
A cooling gel on the mattress circulates the air and also dissipates heat, making sleeping comfortable for back sleepers and side sleepers too. When it comes to supporting, the mattress offers little sinkage, which is excellent if you are looking to heal yourself from pain relief.
If you are looking for a nice balance between bounce and memory foam, the Ghost mattress will offer you that luxury. Besides having premium features, Ghost mattress was made to provide excellent edge support.
Which means you can sleep or sit on the edge of the mattress without feeling like you’ll roll off. The polyester cover is breathable to allow air circulation and temperature control. Unlike most mattress cover, you can remove the Ghost mattress cover and wash it.
Ghost has three layers which have several roles when you are sleeping:
- Aerated latex foam(first layer)- offers excellent bouncing and quick response to pressure which conforms to your body nicely
- The second layer(gel memory foam)- This layer is infused with gel to prevent heat retention and provide pressure relief.
- High-density base foam(third layer). It’s 7.5 inches, and it’s durable to last you more years to come.
You may also read: Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
- Hybrid mattress
- Infused with a particular layer called gel swirl memory later
- Features graphite and NASA-innovative temperature regulating coating.
- 365 risk-free night trials
Pro
- Excels in heat retention compared to all other forms of mattress
- Performs well in motion transfer
- Boost a great balance between support and contour, therefore improving spine alignment and aiding blood flow.
Cons
- It has smell
Tomorrow mattress is a hybrid mattress consisting of foam and innerspring layer. It means you will receive top-notch comfort and unmatched sleeping experience. But there’s more. Its sleeping surface is crisp and offers nice contours.
The three premium layers on the mattress play a significant role in making the mattress comfortable for back sleepers which include temperature control.
You’ll be happy to realize that the mattress has individually wrapped coil for superior comfort and hug. That means you’ll sleep and wake up fresh and energized. For heavy sleepers who are also allergic, they will love relaxing on this mattress because it is hypoallergenic.
You have two options when it comes to choosing Tomorrow mattress, you can either choose a firmness medium soft or medium firm. The medium soft firm tomorrow mattress is for the person who wants soft plush feel with more hugging contours.
And it’s the perfect mattress for side and back sleepers. The medium firm model is for people who want to have solid support over hug and contours. Depending on whether you want to have to choose a medium firm or soft model, they all provide a delicate balance between comfort and support.
All these two models from Tomorrow mattress offer excellent cooling system because they absorb heat and the unwrapped coil system dissipates heat from the body and allow for air circulation.
- 100-night trials
- Features 3 layers plus a special celliant cover
- CertiPUR-US certified to meet environmental standard and safety
Pro
- Excellent cooling technology ideal for recovering athlete and people suffering from back pain
- Perfect mattress for physically active people
- Celliant innovative technology for turning natural body radiation into therapeutic infrared heat
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- This is a relatively new mattress
The Bear is a premium mattress that consists of four foam layers that increase their firmness when you press down. The mattress design solves the purpose of enhancing recovery and improving blood flow.
Touching the cover, I noticed that it is soft and thin to allow air circulation. What sets bear mattress apart from the other mattress like Leesha and Lyla is because it has a Celliant material.
A Celiant material will turn body heat into infrared heat which aids to improve blood flow and increase oxygen circulation in the room. It’s also the perfect mattress for people having breathing difficulties.
What I love most is that it cools and regulate the temperatures. The top layer of this mattress is infused with graphite memory foam that is 1.5 inches. This layer serves a functional role of easing the pressure and graphite regulates temperature keeping you fresh while you are asleep.
The middle layers consist of two response materials that work together to ensure that you won’t be stuck and act as a transition between the top and intermediate layer.
The base layer which is 6.5 inches serves the role of keeping the mattress durable and offering firm, comfortable support to layers above.
When it comes to firmness, the bear has a medium feel. Thanks to its gel memory foam, you will experience a soft touch when you are sleeping. With the response layer on the middle, you will surely enjoy the bouncing capabilities of the mattress.
Not all foam mattress can offer you excellent edge support, thanks to bear mattress. You can now sleep or sit on the edge without rolling off the bed. You will experience even support no matter your sleeping position
- A full ten years warranty
- Free 120-night trial with 100% money back
Pro
- Pocket-friendly mattress. You will get every back for your money
- Longer life expectancy than most mattress
- Easy to clean cover. All you need is mild detergent and water to maintain the cover.
Cons
- Latex smell when you unboxe the mattress.
Conclusion
If you are tired of having to visit a Chiropractor every month because of back pain, then you need to take charge. The quick way to solving any pain on your back is choosing the best mattress from our list.
A good mattress will guarantee you:
- A comfortable sleep
- Correct spine alignment
- Excellent cool system
Sleeping and snoring like a baby at night starts with having a good mattress. It’s the best way so far to avoid chronic back pain. Thanks to our selection, you can make the right choice, knowing that we have done numerous tests and research on this mattress. Enjoy your sleep.
