Are you waking up every morning, sore, stiff, and uncomfortable? Are you finding it difficult to sleep through the night or find a comfortable position? Your bed may be to blame.
Even if you just purchased a new mattress or your mattress isn’t very old, it can still be the cause of ongoing issues that might require a back pain treatment. Trouble sleeping, shoulder and neck pain, and severe back pain upon waking are all common complaints people have when they visit their chiropractor. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize how important mattress type and quality is. The wrong type of mattress can cause serious ongoing back pain. But how can you determine whether your mattress is to blame or something else is going on?
It can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of your pain, which is why it’s always best to meet with your chiropractor. After a thorough exam, your chiropractor can identify any spinal misalignments and provide an adjustment that can correct it. They will also go over your routine, how active you are, and discuss what time of day your back pain level is at its worst, what type of mattress you have, and how long you’ve had it.
If they determine that your mattress may be to blame, they’ll explain the importance of choosing the right mattress and how the wrong one can result in spinal misalignment. When you fail to keep the spine in a neutral resting position, an old mattress or the wrong type of mattress places excessive pressure on the spine, causing pain, soreness, and discomfort, especially right when you get out of bed.
Back pain that’s caused by a cheap mattress often manifests in the lower back. In some cases, the pain can travel to the legs, arms, or even the neck. So, what’s the best way to determine if your bed is causing you pain or if it’s something else? If your mattress isn’t that old, the last thing you probably want to do is run out and purchase a new one, especially if you’re not even sure it’s causing or contributing to your pain.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Mattress Problem?
There are many signs that can indicate it’s time to ditch your old mattress and invest in one that promotes spine health. A new mattress will keep your spine in a neutral position, can improve your comfort and sleep, and won’t leave you feeling stiff and sore in the morning.
Below, you’ll find some major indicators that your mattress is causing your ongoing back pain.
Wake Up with Back Pain
Do you go to bed feeling fine and wake up in agony, finding it difficult to sit up or even get out of bed in the morning? Morning pain may disappear in a matter of minutes or hours, only to reappear the following day. This is one of the biggest signs that you’re experiencing mattress-induced back pain and need to replace your mattress.
A cheap mattress or an old mattress can cause other types of physical pain, such as:
- Body aches
- Hip pain
- Neck pain
- Joint pain
Short Sleeping Cycles
A bad mattress not only causes pain and discomfort, it can make it harder to fall and stay asleep, causing you to wake up multiple times during the night. If you’re unable to sleep for long it can prevent you from going through all five phases of sleep. Poor sleep quality can lead to memory problems, fatigue during the day and can majorly affect your mental and physical health.
Hard to Fall Asleep / Get Comfortable
An old mattress may lack the support you need to fall asleep. The average person falls asleep in ten to twenty-five minutes. If it’s taking you an hour or longer to fall asleep and/or you’re unable to find a comfortable sleep position, it’s time to replace your uncomfortable mattress.
Toss and Turn All Night
If you wake up often, tossing and turning, unable to find a comfortable position, it could be time to replace your old mattress. Restless, irregular sleep can have a major impact on how you feel and how productive you are the next day, but it’s also a sign that your bed isn’t providing proper support. For quality sleep, you need to reassess your sleep environment and consider investing in a bed that’s more supportive.
When to Replace and How to Maintain Your Mattress?
A mattress should be replaced every six to eight years. To ensure your mattress lasts longer and provides the supportive sleep you need for spine health, you’ll need to flip and rotate your mattress to ensure it continues to provide consistent support. Rotating and flipping your mattress will prevent uneven wear. How often you should rotate and flip your mattress can depend on what it’s made out of. An older innerspring mattress should be rotated every two to six months, while a newer innerspring mattress, and mattresses made out of latex or foam should be rotated every six to twelve months. A mattress with a zoned design should not be rotated since it can negatively impact the bed’s support and comfort.
Which Mattress is Best for Your Back
The degree of firmness of your sleeping surface should be your first consideration when you’re shopping for a new mattress. Many people believe that the firmest mattress is often the best choice, however, for many people, a mattress that’s medium-firm is often the better option. You can try out a variety of medium-firm mattresses and choose one that offers more or less firmness, based on your personal preference. The best mattress for one person is not going to be the best choice for the next, which is why it can be so difficult to shop for a new bed. At Deep Roots Chiropractic, we can help you choose the right type of mattress based on your unique needs, so you can purchase one that provides the proper spinal support you need while you sleep.
Other Mattress Options
While a firm to medium firm mattress is often recommended by chiropractors to improve spine health, you’ll find that there are many types of mattresses to choose from, some of which may be a better choice that can help improve your sleep quality. The perfect choice for you will be a supportive mattress that works with your body type, existing medical issues, and your favorite sleep position.
Options include:
- Memory foam mattresses
- Hybrid mattresses that can include a latex and memory foam design or memory foam and gel
- Adjustable mattresses
- Spring mattress
Sleep Preference
Your personal sleep preferences will also be a factor when it comes to choosing a mattress that can prevent spine misalignment, and provide the pain relief, support, and comfort you need for a restful night. Your chiropractor can also recommend the perfect mattress based on your preferred sleep position, whether you’re a stomach sleeper, slide sleeper, or back sleeper.
Contact Deep Roots Chiropractic Today to Schedule an Appointment
Sleeping on an old mattress or the wrong type of mattress is a common cause of ongoing back pain. If you’re suffering from chronic back pain, it’s time to contact us at Deep Roots Chiropractic to schedule an appointment. Not only will our licensed and experienced chiropractors provide the care and treatment you need to relieve your pain, but we can also help you determine whether a bad mattress is to blame for your back pain and what type of mattress you should purchase that will prevent pain and promote restful sleep and a healthy spine. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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