Does Your Mattress Cause Morning Low Back Pain?

Do you wake up with pain and stiffness in your lower back?  I did, too.  But I was only 30 years old at the time!

I thought it was me but when I got a new mattress, like magic, I was ‘cured.’

Sometimes your mattress is too soft for you.  If it’s more like a hammock, that’s too soft and your muscles can be strained when you lay in the deep pocket.

If your mattress is too hard, it doesn’t allow your bones to comfortably ‘drop’ into place.  That causes pressure on bones, joints and the muscles crossing them.

Most back pain boils down to muscles being unhappy, one way or another.

If a new mattress is not in your budget, perhaps you can get a memory foam topper.  Memory foam mattresses may be quite expensive but a 2″ topper might do the trick.

And here’s another trick for those memory foam toppers:  Buy a queen size and fold it in half.  Then it is thicker under you.  I have used 2 toppers folded in half on the floor and it makes a perfectly wonderful bed for me.

And that’s what it’s all about:  a perfectly wonderful bed for YOU.

I have read that there may be chemicals which off-gas from memory foam.  At first, they do have an odor.  You may wish to let your foam mattress or pad off-gas somewhere away from you before you start using it or sleep in a well ventilated area.

An interesting thing about the memory foam is that it’s softer in warm weather and somewhat harder in cold temperatures.

How to buy a mattress:

If you go to a store that sells mattresses, plan on taking your time and trying out several before you buy.  There are many types with different levels of firmness and padding.  Some have memory foam tops built in.

And don’t be shy!

Don’t just pat the mattress with your hand or sit on the edge.

Kick off your shoes and lay down.  Stay there for, oh, maybe 15 minutes per mattress.  Try it on your back or in your usual sleeping position.

I watched a woman spend a good half-hour trying out just one mattress in a store in many different positions.  That’s the way to do it!  🙂

Sleeping on your back is the most pain-free position for most people with low back pain.  Some people have the most comfort with a pillow tucked under their knees.

Other people find they have less lower back pain by sleeping on their side with an appropriately-sized pillow or padding for their head, ribs and between their knees.

You spend about 1/3 of your life in bed so get the best mattress you can.

A new mattress may be the ‘cure’ you need for getting rid of your low back pain. 🙂

UpdateA few weeks ago, I went to a hotel and thought maybe the mattress was too firm for me.  I should have asked for a different room and mattress but I “thought it would be okay.”

It wasn’t okay.  My back was hurting within two hours and it was a miserable night.

Moral:  Beds matter.  Beds can cause low back pain.  Get the most comfortable mattress for your body that you can afford or create.

Remember, a new mattress worked for me and my morning back pain.  Getting a new mattress or padding the one you have may just be the ticket to help you get rid of the morning pain in your lower back.

Share

2 thoughts on “Does Your Mattress Cause Morning Low Back Pain?”

  1. Hello,

    Morning back pain depends on the position you sleep in as well as your mattress. Since every body is different–weight, size of bones, etc.–I cannot recommend a mattress but I can give you some helpful tips.

    If you are a back sleeper make a lumbar support to help keep the gentle curve in your lower back even when you sleep. You can make one that is just your size by using something like fiberfill batting. It’s the stuffing that goes into quilts or padded clothing. It may also be called polyester batting. Just fold it to fit behind your waist about, maybe, 6 or 8 inches from top to bottom so it will be like a flat pillow.

    Also, many people feel relief from propping a pillow under their knees if they are back sleepers.

    If you are a side sleeper you might try a similar approach by putting a firmer small pillow or folded towel between the top of your hip bone and your lower ribs.

    When you do go to buy a new mattress don’t just sit on it or pat it. Take your favorite pillow and actually lie on the mattress(es). Stay on it for 20 or 30 minutes so you can get a good sense of whether that may be the one for you. Lie in your favorite position.

    And if you think the problem may be that your mattress is too firm for you, you can buy a foam topper (2″ thick.) But if you feel the problem is that your mattress is collapsing then it is probably time for a new one.

    I hope this helps and that you get rid of your low back pain quickly.

    Kathryn
    The Pain Relief Coach

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.