Neck Pain

10 Of The Best Mattresses For Back Pain

Published

4 years ago

July 9, 2021

Going to bed at the end of a long day is supposed to leave you feeling fresh and well-rested in the morning. But if you’re sleeping on the wrong mattress, you might end up with aches and pains that don’t seem to go away no matter what you do. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time to invest in a new mattress. The best mattresses for back pain offer ample support to keep your spine aligned as you snooze, but also take the pressure off your joints and allow your body to fully relax.

The Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress has a five-layer structure that properly supports your body … [+] weight, making it one of the best mattresses for back pain.

Nectar

While there are personal preferences to consider, a medium-firm mattress is typically the best option for people with back pain. “You should look for a mattress that supports the natural curve of your spine when you are lying flat and on your side,” says Neel Anand, M.D., a professor of orthopedic surgery and director of spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles. Memory foam and latex mattresses are often considered the top choice for this purpose, but you can also find innerspring and hybrid mattresses that fit the bill if you prefer these materials.

If you’re ready to upgrade to a new mattress and hopefully banish your aching back, these are some of the best mattresses for back pain based on reviews from people who have seen real results.

Best Mattress For Back Pain Overall

Saatva Classic Mattress

Materials: Memory foam, wrapped coils
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Trial period: 180 nights

Saatva offers three levels of firmness: plush soft, firm and luxury firm, a blend of cushiony softness and firm support. The latter two are recommended for people with back pain, with the luxury firm being the company’s most popular option. The mattress is built with double-layer coils for added support, along with layers of memory foam and polyfoam to help keep you comfortable and stable while you sleep. It also has a wire Lumbar Zone in the center of the mattress to add additional support and pressure relief to the middle of the mattress.

What the Reviews Say: “As someone who has back and leg pain, I’ve dreaded going to bed for the past couple years. But this new mattress is exceptional, striking a balance between softness and support,” one five-star reviewer wrote. A fellow back pain sufferer also wrote that they, “absolutely made the best choice ever” by picking this mattress.

Best Pressure Relieving Mattress For Back Pain

Helix Twilight Mattress

Helix Sleep

Helix Twilight Mattress

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Materials: Memory foam, Helix dynamic foam, wrapped coils
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Trial period: 100 nights

Helix offers mattresses that are tailor-built to your needs—you answer a short questionnaire, and the company will recommend the perfect mattress for you. The Helix Twilight is a top choice for back pain. It offers a firm feel with no sink or give, but it’s not so hard that you feel like you’re sleeping on a rock. The mattress has a special Memory Foam Plus Foam layer to help cushion your pressure points, especially when you’re sleeping on your side, along with a polyfoam “transition layer” for added support.

What the Reviews Say: Most reviewers agree that their pain is gone after upgrading to this mattress. “I no longer have pains when I wake up,” one reviewer wrote, while another called it “the perfect combination of soft and firm.”

Best Eco-Friendly Mattress For Back Pain

Avocado Green Mattress

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

Many of today’s mattresses are made from memory foam, which typically contains synthetic chemicals. If you’re looking for something a bit more eco-friendly, consider the Avocado Green Mattress. It’s made up 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 it’s best for back and stomach sleepers.

What the Reviews Say: “I bought this mattress after sleeping on a pillow-top mattress for a number of years and having lower back pain frequently,” explains one reviewer. “I decided that I needed a very firm mattress that better supports my back and body…I have not had any lower back pain since sleeping on this new mattress, and I am 71 years old.”

Best Mattress For Combination Sleepers With Back Pain

Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress

Materials: Pocketed coils, wool comfort layers
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Trial period: 100 nights

The Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress is another eco-friendly mattress that can help alleviate back pain. It has two layers of pocketed steel coils, and it’s designed to be firm in the middle for back support and softer at the head and feet for pressure point relief and spinal alignment—great for combination sleepers. In between the coils is a comfort layer made from real wool, and the whole thing is wrapped in an organic cotton cover.

What the Reviews Say: “I am sleeping so much better since buying this mattress,” explains one buyer. “It is very comfortable, not too firm and not too soft. My back feels so much better than it used to in the morning, and I feel overall more rested.”

Best Memory Foam Mattress For Back Pain

Layla Memory Foam Mattress

Materials: Memory foam, support foam
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Trial period: 120 nights

Layla’s mattress is built with four layers of foam, including a 4.5-inch layer of support foam. That layer is specifically aimed at keeping your back aligned and making sure you don’t feel like you’re sinking too far into the mattress when you sleep. The mattress is flippable, with both a soft and firm side, but back pain sufferers will likely feel the most comfortable on the firm side.

What the Reviews Say: “No more tossing and turning, no more thrashing, no more back pain,” one reviewer wrote after sleeping on the mattress. “Slept the entire night without waking up even once. And absolutely no back pain!” another said.

Best Hybrid Mattress For Back Pain

Purple Hybrid Mattress

Materials: Memory foam, support coils
Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
Trial period: 100 nights

Thank to its patented Purple Grid, the Purple Hybrid Mattress is unlike any other on this list. It consists of five layers, and the Purple Grid gently gives under your body, hugging your pressure points and fully supporting your back while you sleep. The grid sits on top of a 7.5-inch later of responsive coils that add additional support while you sleep. Plus, there are open air channels that allow air to freely flow through, making it much cooler than memory foam-only models.

What the Reviews Say: One five-star reviewer who said she’s struggled with back pain for nine years says she “could immediately feel the difference when waking up the next day.” Another reviewer said the mattress is “soft where it needs to be and supportive where it needs to be.”

Best Targeted Support Mattress For Back Pain

Casper Original Mattress

Casper

Casper Original Mattress

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Materials: Memory foam
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Trial period: 100 nights

The Casper mattress has three zones of targeted support to help align your spine—and hopefully ease your back pain in the process. Softer foam around your shoulders cushions your upper body, while firmer foam under your hips, waist and lower back keep your spine in the right position. And the durable foam base underneath allows for added firmness and support, so the mattress doesn’t sink or sag under your weight.

What the Reviews Say: “It’s been 30 days and no amount of money could make us part with this mattress! Hip, back pain gone,” a five-star reviewer wrote. Another back pain sufferer wrote that they can now “understand why people look forward to getting in their beds at night” after using this mattress.

Best Mattress For Side Sleepers With Back Pain

Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress

Materials: Memory foam
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Trial period: 365 nights

For side sleepers, finding the sweet spot is the key to a quality night’s sleep, and that’s possible with this Premier Memory Foam Mattress from Nectar. Its five-layer structure supports your body weight to create a space ideal for sleeping, while also keeping you cool so you stay comfortable throughout the night. The 3-inch layer of gel memory foam is designed to respond to your body’s unique changes in temperature, while its shift-resistant lower cover keeps the mattress in place even if you twist and turn.

What the Reviews Say: Reviewers appreciate how they can move on their side of the mattress without bothering a spouse: “I get up a lot, and I never disturb my husband’s side!” one shopper says. “Amazing that I don’t even feel my partner as he moves around at night,” says another five-star reviewer.

Best Firm Mattress For Back Pain

Amerisleep AS1

Materials: Bio-Pur memory foam
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
Trial period: 100 nights

Thanks to its Bio-Pur memory foam—a proprietary foam that’s more responsive and adaptive to movement—this mattress contours your back and neck, promoting alignment and relieving pressure points, helping reduce back pain. Those with back pain know that soft spots can be detrimental to your comfort, however, there’s no need to worry about that with memory foam that bounces back in seconds. With an open-cell design, this mattress also keeps you cool throughout the night by allowing air to quickly pass through.

What the Reviews Say: With an overall rating of 4.7 stars, reviewers rave about how their back pain has greatly been reduced with this mattress. “[It] seems to be helping with back pain and increased our ability to sleep on our sides for the first time in a long time,” one five-star reviewer says. “It has played a dramatic role in reducing our chronic back pain woes,” another satisfied customer writes.

Best Luxury Mattress For Back Pain

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt

Materials: Tempur-Material
Sizes: Twin, Twin Long, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King and Split California King
Trial period: 90 nights

Filled with special Tempur-Material that was originally developed by NASA, this luxury mattress provides advanced pressure relieving power that’s ideal for those with back pain. Responding to your weight, shape and temperature, this adaptive mattress caters to your body for a quality night’s rest. The proprietary material also absorbs motion better than other memory foam mattresses, so if you sleep with a partner, you won’t get jostled awake if they toss and turn in the middle of the night.

What the Reviews Say: Reviewers enjoy the uninterrupted and painless sleep they experience with this mattress, which has an average rating of 4.6 stars. “I don’t wake up every two hours turning because I no longer hurt!!” one happy customer says. “My back pains are gone and I am no longer tossing and turning at night,” says another.

MORE FROM FORBESThe Best Pillows For Neck Pain, According To Glowing Online ReviewsBy Korin Miller

What type of mattress is best for back pain?

Back pain often occurs when your mattress isn’t providing adequate support to your body throughout the night, causing your spine to be misaligned. The key to alleviating an aching back is finding a mattress that provides appropriate support for your spine.

In general, memory foam and latex mattresses are often considered the best options for back pain, as they conform to your body, cradling pressure points while supporting your spine and keeping it aligned. However, other types of mattresses can provide these same benefits, as well.

Is a firm mattress better for back pain?

Many people will tell you that you need a firm mattress to stop back pain, but that’s not necessarily true. A mattress that’s too firm can also cause spine misalignment by pushing up the shoulders and hips. Instead, look for a medium-firm mattress that offers some cushioning for these key pressure points.

Are memory foam mattresses good for back pain?

Memory foam mattresses are often touted as the best option for back pain, and they can certainly be beneficial, thanks to their balance of support and cushioning. However, it’s key to purchase a mattress made with high-quality, dense memory foam, which will provide the support you need. Many inexpensive memory foam mattresses are too plush and don’t provide adequate support, which may end up worsening your pain.

How do I know if my mattress is causing back pain?

Because back pain can be caused by many things, it can be hard to pinpoint whether your mattress is the culprit. If your back pain is worse in the morning, that’s a definite sign that your mattress isn’t providing proper support. You may also find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night. Additionally, if your mattress is more than seven years old, that’s another sign it might be time to invest in a new one.

AmericanChiro

We understand how important it is to choose a chiropractor that is right for you. It is our belief that educating our patients is a very important part of the success we see in our offices.

Neck Pain

Re: Chronic Pain: Management focuses on the individual, not the pain.

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2023

AmericanChiro

Dear Editor

Chronic pain management focuses on the individual, not the pain.

I am very pleased with the review by Kang and colleagues [1]. I write as a spinal pain specialist whose patients had an average episode duration of pain pain of 2.5 years [2] for low back pain and 1.3 years for neck pain [3]. These studies confirm that Kang et. al. noted the significant extent of spinal and extraspinal pain, sleep disturbance, and psychological distress. I also recognize the ‘heartsinks’ who have seen many consultants for a variety of complaints, and those with hypersensitivity. I do accept that some patients need further investigations, but it can be done in a way that does not cause further anxiety. To ensure that intensive rehabilitation is not contraindicated. By showing a genuine interest in the family, job and interests of the individual, you can begin to build confidence and hope for the clinical path being recommended.

The review ignores trauma’s effects on some people, causing their pain to begin, and for others, a major factor. Thirteen percent of patients with neck pain who presented to my clinics had a traumatic origin with a missed break and significant psychological comorbidity. Subsequently, it became clear that post-traumatic distress (PTPD), [a term used because post-traumatic stress may require specialist knowledge for diagnosis] can be present in rheumatological practices [4] and with the increasing influx of refugees in the UK [5], more patients are being diagnosed with PTPD. This can have major effects on families [5]. PTPD is commonly seen in medicolegal situations where accidents have caused major destruction to the lives of individuals and their families, including divorce [6]; and is often associated mood disturbances [6].

Kang et. al. correctly mention that sleep disorders are important in the management chronic pain [1], however, two important aspects of a’sleep story’ must be identified. It is important to ask the individual what they are thinking about when they lie awake in bed at night. This may provide clues as to social or family stress. Second, you should ask about their nightmares and dreams, especially if they are unpleasant. These often involve reliving trauma or accidents. When asked about nightmares, people who deny any unpleasant memories during direct questioning may reveal clues. The presence of PTPD can be important because it opens up therapeutic opportunities with psychological support and medications.

My experience in rehabilitation medicine over the years has taught me that to fully assist our disadvantaged clients, social issues must be resolved before psychological issues, and psychological issues must be resolved before physical issues!

References

1. Kang Y et. al., Chronic Pain: Definitions and Diagnosis. BMJ (Clinical Research ed. ), 2023. 381: p. e076036.

2. Frank A. et al. A cross-sectional study of the clinical and psychosocial features of low back injury and the resulting work handicap: Use of the Quebec Task Force Classification. Int J Clin Pract, 2000; 54(10) p. 639-644.

3. Frank A, De Souza L and Frank C. Neck Pain and Disability: A Cross-sectional Survey of the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Neck Pain Seen in a Rheumatology Clinic. Int J Clin Pract 2005; 59(doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2004.00237.x): p. 173-182.

4. McCarthy J. and Frank A. Posttraumatic psychological distress can present in rheumatology. BMJ 2002. 325(27 July): p. 221-221.

5. Frank A. Refugee status: a yellow-flag in managing back pain. BMJ 2007;334(13 Jan): p.58-58.

6. Frank A. Psychiatric effects of road traffic accidents: often disabling, and not recognised (letter). BMJ 1993, 307(13th Nov): p.1283.

AmericanChiro

We understand how important it is to choose a chiropractor that is right for you. It is our belief that educating our patients is a very important part of the success we see in our offices.

Neck Pain

Landmark Trial: Opioids No Better Than Placebo for Back Pain

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2023

AmericanChiro

The first randomized controlled study testing the efficacy of a short course opioids for acute nonspecific neck/low back pain suggests that opioids do not relieve acute neck or low back pain in the short-term and can lead to worse outcomes over the long-term.

After 6 weeks there was no significant difference between the pain scores of patients taking opioids and those who took a placebo. After one year, the pain scores of patients who received placebos were slightly lower. After 1 year, opioid users were also at a higher risk of opioid abuse.

Senior author Christine Lin, Ph.D., from the University of Sydney told Medscape Medical News that this is a “landmark trial” with “practice changing” results.

Lin explained that “we did not have any good evidence before this trial on whether opioids are effective for acute neck or low back pain, but opioids are one of the most commonly prescribed medicines for these conditions.”

Lin stated that based on these results “opioids shouldn’t be recommended at any time for acute neck and low back pain,”

The results of the OPAL study have been published online in The Lancet on June 28.

Rigorous Test

The trial was conducted at 157 primary care and emergency departments in Australia, with 347 adults who experienced low back pain or neck pain for 12 weeks or less.

They were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive guideline-recommended care (reassurance and advice to stay active) plus an opioid (oxycodone up to 20 mg daily) or identical placebo for up to 6 weeks. Naloxone is given to prevent opioid-induced constipation, and to improve blinding.

The primary outcome was the pain severity at six weeks, as measured by the pain severity subscale (10-point scale) of the Brief Pain Inventory.

After 6 weeks of opioid therapy, there was no difference between placebo and opioid therapy in terms of pain relief or functional improvement.

The mean pain score was 2.78 for the opioid group at 6 weeks, compared to 2.25 for the placebo group. (Adjusted median difference, 0.53, 95% CI -0.00 – 1.07, P=.051). At 1 year, the mean pain scores of the placebo group were lower than those of the opioid group (1.8 and 2.4).

The risk of opioid misuse was doubled at 1 year for patients randomly assigned to receive opioid therapy during 6 weeks as compared to those randomly assigned to receive placebo during 6 weeks.

At 1 year, the Current Opioid Use Measure (COMM), a scale that measures current drug-related behavior, indicated that 24 (20%) patients from 123 patients who received opioids, were at risk for misuse. This was compared to 13 (10%) patients from 128 patients in a placebo group ( p =.049). The COMM is a widely-used measure of current aberrant drug related behavior among chronic pain patients who are prescribed opioid therapy.

Results Raise “Serious Questions”

Lin told Medscape Medical News that “I think the findings of the research will need to be distributed to doctors and patients so they receive the latest evidence on opioids.”

“We must reassure doctors and their patients that the majority of people with acute neck and low back pain recover well over time (normally within 6 weeks). Therefore, management is simple – stay active, avoid bed rest and, if needed, use a heat pack to relieve short term pain. Consider anti-inflammatory drugs if drugs are needed,” Lin added.

The authors of the linked comment state that the OPAL trial raises serious questions regarding the use of opioids for acute neck and low back pain.

Mark Sullivan, MD PhD, and Jane Ballantyne MD, from the University of Washington in Seattle, note that clinical guidelines recommend opioids to patients with acute neck and back pain when other drugs fail or are contraindicated.

As many as two thirds of patients may receive an opioid for back or neck pain. Sullivan and Ballantyne say that it is time to reexamine these guidelines.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health (University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health) and SafeWork SA funded the OPAL study. The authors of the study have not disclosed any relevant financial relationships. Sullivan and Ballantyne have served as board members of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (unpaid), and paid consultants for opioid litigation.

Lancet. Online published June 28, 2023. Abstract

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Neck Pain

‘I tried acupuncture for back and neck pain even though I’m afraid of needles–and it’s literally the only thing that’s ever worked’

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2023

AmericanChiro

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AmericanChiro

We understand how important it is to choose a chiropractor that is right for you. It is our belief that educating our patients is a very important part of the success we see in our offices.