What Type of Mattress is the Best for Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease results in painful symptoms in the neck and lower back due to wear-and-tear of the spinal discs. It generates radicular hot or shooting pain, numbness, and weakness in the arms and legs.

Restorative sleep is essential to those recovering from illness, or those managing painful symptoms. Sleeping on an inadequate mattress when you’re suffering back pain could exacerbate symptoms and steal precious sleep from you. Let’s talk about what qualities to look for in the best mattress for back pain.

About Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease refers to neck and lower back pain as a result of aging discs between the spinal vertebrae. The process of aging naturally wears and tears the discs, it does not leave you with long-term disability and can be treated with exercise, and holistic remedies with surgery not typically required.

• A condition which starts with damage to the spinal discs
• Pain and weakness in the lower back and neck
• Pain, weakness, and numbness may radiate to shoulders, arms, and neck
• Muscle spasms and flare-ups are common
• Age, stress, and injuries are common causes

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep with Degenerative Disc Disease

To get a good night's rest, you need a mattress that soothes rather than aggravates back pain. The best mattress for degenerative disc disease offers comfort and support without putting unnecessary strain on the spine. If the mattress is too soft or too firm, your delicate spine will become misaligned and further discomfort will be felt.

Firm vs. Soft Mattress for People With Back Pain

If you’ve suffered back pain for a prolonged period of time, chances are, you’ve been told by a friend or colleague that the best mattress for back pain will be as firm as possible. But that's necessarily the case. To support your back, you need a mattress that matches your sleep position and body type. Our Mattress Firmness Guide can help you find it.

Why does mattress firmness matter so much for sleepers with degenerative disc disease? If your mattress is too soft, the curvature of your spine will become misaligned due to your body sinking into the mattress all night. A mattress that is too hard pushes into your back, hips, and shoulders. A pressure relieving mattress strikes a balance between soft and firm, providing just the right amount of sinkage without uncomfortable pushback.

How to Choose a Mattress for People With Back Pain

Choosing the best bed for degenerative disc disease or back problems is easy when you know what to look for. Price and durability are two factors to consider in every purchase you make. Ensure you’re dealing with a reputable company that gives extra benefits too, such as free delivery and easy returns.

Durability

The best mattresses for back pain are durable. The durability of the mattress will be determined by its build quality and design. A modern brand that relies on sleep science and research to develop its products are typically crafted with longevity in mind.

Spine Alignment & Pressure Relief

Depending on your weight, a medium-firm mattress could provide much comfort when dealing with the pain of degenerative disc disease. A pressure-relieving mattress provides perfect spine alignment without a hint of contortion. A mattress that is too soft or too hard may not have the ability to align the spine to aid pain relief.

Compatibility with an Adjustable Base

The best mattress for degenerative back disease works well in tandem with an adjustable base. An adjustable bed base gives foot and head elevation at the touch of a button. When sleeping with back pain an elevated back and knees can offer much comfort. Some luxury bed bases have additional massage functions, night lights, and USB charging cables at reasonable prices. A quality mattress and adjustable bed base could bring restorative sleep back into your life, allowing you to sleep comfortably and heal.

What Type of Mattress Is Best for Degenerative Disc Disease?

Latex and AirFoam™ mattresses offers premium pressure relief, making them excellent fits for sleepers with degenerative disc disease. Click here to learn more about Nolah's line of premium AirFoam™, AirFoam™ hybrid, and latex hybrid mattresses, including the Nolah Signature and Nolah Natural.

Conclusion

Degenerative disc disease can be a difficult condition to live with but choosing the best mattress for bad back can bring relief and comfort. Considering you will spend 7-9 hours sleeping at night, mattress and back pain can be associated. If your mattress is too soft you will sink down and fail to get adequate pressure relief. A too hard mattress pushes back on the sensitive pressure points. But, a firm mattress for back pain is ideal.

The best mattress for lower back pain sufferers will allow you to enjoy restorative sleep without sinkage or pushback. Back pain can be managed by switching your sleep position, adding more pillows, gentle exercise, and stretches. Upgrading to a pressure relieving mattress is key to regaining restorative sleep comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Mattress Is the Best for Back Pain?

It is a common misconception that those who suffer from back pain must sleep on a hard surface. This may actually make back pain much worse as a hard surface pushes back onto your sensitive pressure points. A medium-firm pressure relieving mattress is ideal for many sleepers with back pain. However, your perfect mattress firmness level depends on your sleep position and weight.

What Height Mattress Is Best for Degenerative Disc Disease?

A medium-firm mattress that is pressure relieving, cooling and durable is ideal for many average-weight sleepers with degenerative disc disease. Aim for a mattress that is 10-12 inches tall, any taller could be troublesome to climb into and out of.

What Is the Best Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disorder?

A quality pillow under your head ensures your neck is in a comfortable position all night, but you can also use pillows for back pain. If you sleep on your back, a pillow under your knees may provide additional comfort. If you’re a stomach sleeper, a thin pillow under your pelvis can help to keep your spine alignment. For side sleepers, a pillow between your knees can prevent you hips from rotating and throwing off your spinal alignment.

Will an Adjustable Base Help with Degenerative Disc Disorder?

The elevation of an adjustable base along with a pressure relieving mattress for back pain provides a 2-prong relief system when in recovery. Some adjustable bases offer massage functions, night lights, and USB chargers, along with super silent motors and head and foot elevation at the convenient touch of a button.

Disclaimer: Nolah does not provide medical advice. All resources on the Nolah blog, including this article, are informational only and do not replace professional medical counsel. Talk to your doctor about any health, mental health, or sleep-related issues.