The best mattress for side sleepers with back pain is an innerspring mattress with a medium-firm feel. This is because innerspring mattresses provide equitable sinkage, meaning you don't sleep too flat or at too much of a curve, misaligning your spine and exacerbating or even causing your back pain.
Many people don't understand that a lot goes into buying your mattress. (There's an actual science!) So if you mostly sleep on your side and also have a bad back, here are a few things to help you make the right choice.
Edge support is crucial for you side sleepers, considering you tend to gravitate toward the edge! Generally, edge support refers to the amount of resistance and support your mattress has around its edges. This extra support is often achieved by adding densely-packed comfort materials, like a foam border wall, to add a marginal incline. A mattress with adequate edge support reduces your chances of rolling off the bed at night and makes you feel more secure.
Lumbar support is the amount of support your mattress gives to the natural alignment of the spine. Let's get one thing straight: everyone needs lumbar support. But if you're a side sleeper, this can be tricky. It depends on the amount of sinkage your mattress provides to ensure your spine isn't too straight or too crooked. Improper lumbar support leading to a misaligned spine can cause:
Generally, side sleepers are recommended to find slightly softer mattresses. This is because sleeping on a surface that's too flat doesn't contour to your body enough as you sleep, misaligning your spine and resulting in pain. However, the word "softer" in this context doesn't actually mean soft. A medium-firm mattress, approximately a 5.5-6 on the firmness scale, is a good figure for both side sleepers and those with back problems.
If you experience back pain, chances are your mattress is contributing. This is particularly true if your back pain begins at nighttime, is worse in the morning, and subsides partially or entirely throughout the day. Here are a few facts about your mattress and how it could be impacting your pain.
Latex mattresses are designed to reduce surface resistance, meaning they aren't capable of contouring to your body like other mattresses. This is a particular issue for side sleepers because sleeping too flat causes pressure points to form in your shoulders and pelvis, potentially causing new areas of discomfort and worsening your chronic pain.
Memory foam can be a decent choice if you have a bad back. However, if you make the mistake of purchasing a mattress with the wrong firmness level, it can exacerbate or even lead to new back pain. If your mattress has too much sinkage, you sleep at a kind of U-shape that's not conducive to proper lumbar support.
Innerspring mattresses are by far the best if you have back issues. The spiral design means that you always get the right amount of pushback based on your weight and position. Simply put—you won't sink. You also won't have trouble finding comfort! The balance innerspring mattresses provide ensure you always have the right amount of support, taking pressure off your spine, allowing you to sleep. This means you don't wake with aches and pains, and you sleep more deeply. Quality sleep is one of the primary factors determining the severity of chronic issues, like back pain.
The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations has awarded Saatva their seal of approval for this year. Saatva Classic is a luxury mattress designed to relieve your pain. The mattress contains a Lumbar Support Zone, an active a wire down the mattress' center for optimal spinal alignment! Additionally, there are a few other aspects to Saatva innerspring mattress that make it great for back pain and side sleepers:
Saatva is our top pick for the #1 best mattress for Side Sleepers With Back Pain in 2023! They're a luxury hypoallergenic mattress shipped directly to your door (with full-service white-glove delivery). They have over 50,000 reviews and continue to be one of the most reputable, established brands in the industry (founded in 2009). Check their price, here.
