Back problems? Mattress buying tips to ease pain
This is sponsored content for Beds n Dreams.
One of the more common complaints among many people nowadays is back pain. You too might have back problems but you don't know why. One possible reason could be that your old mattress is no longer suitable for you. So that means you may have to purchase a brand new mattress that will help relieve your back pain without causing new problems.
Here are some tips you should look through as you shop for a new mattress.
How to buy the right mattress
- Firmness - Some mattresses are firmer than others but you will have to use the mattress to know which ones are firm enough to support your back during sleep. Be aware that firmer mattresses aren't necessarily the ones that will provide sufficient support for your back. Just to be sure, go to your doctor to have your spine checked first. Ask his opinion on what kind of mattress would be ideal. According to the www.webmd.com site, the best mattress for lower back pain is the so-called "Medium-Firm" variant. You might also want to check out "memory mattresses" which conform to the shape of your back as you sleep. (The only problem with a memory mattress is that it tends to retain heat so you might wake up at night feeling too warm).
- Size - Some people might believe that the larger mattresses provide the best back support. But that isn't necessarily true. There are mattresses for individual sleepers that might provide better back support than a king-size or a queen-size mattress. Take note that the material within the mattress determines how much support your back will get during sleep. Buy a king-size or queen-size mattress only if you are on the heavy side since you may be bigger and heavier than other people.
- Independent of pillows - another thing you should bear in mind is that your mattress should be comfortable enough to sleep on even without the use of pillows. Pillows come into play when you have neck pain because you need pillows that are soft enough to cradle your head without causing neck strain. Your pillows, if used the wrong way, can even contribute to your back pain.
- On sale - Like with the cost option, if the mattress is on sale that doesn't automatically say that that is the Best mattress on a budget. That just means that the store is looking for customers so it can clear its inventory. However, it is possible you can get a great deal for the correct mattress for your back problems if you chance upon a sale.
- Comfort - some mattresses may seem comfortable at the start then deteriorate over time, especially if the sleeper using it is on the heavy side. There are also some mattresses (such as waterbeds) that seem comfortable enough but are bad for someone with a back condition. If you are in doubt, look for stores that have a trial period - this means you can bring home the mattress and sleep on it to test it out. If you find it doesn't suit you, you can ask the store to take it back and you get a refund.
- Warranty Offered - if you are cautious, you may want to choose among brands that offer a warranty for their product. This means that, after you have paid for the mattress and keep using it even after the trial period has ended, you can return the product to the store for a replacement provided you do that before the warranty period ends. You may have to submit the filled-out warranty card to the store after initial purchase though.
- Age - generally speaking, if the mattress is fairly new (or even brand new), you might find sleeping on it more comfortable compared to your old mattress. You might also find it better to switch to another bed for a short period just to see if your back pain continues - you might find that you just needed a change rather than purchase a brand new unit. But if your mattress has been in use for around 10 years then you probably do need to replace it.
- Cost - Australia's best mattress isn't necessarily the most expensive. But you can expect to pay a lot for a suitable mattress especially if you have a bad back. One possible proof that the mattress is good enough for you is when you lie down for at least 10 minutes on it in the store. There are real-time stores that will allow that.
- Get Expert Opinion - If you are going to a real-time store to check out mattresses, you might want to ask the staff for their opinion on which product seems to be the right one. For instance, the staff on duty might show you different types of mattresses whose features differ. Ask if you can lie down on each then ask about the features of the ones that seem comfortable enough for you. The employees in a mattress store are usually trained in recognising the features of their products that you might be interested in. (You could also ask if the staff use the same brands in the mattress store themselves). The opinion of the staff might help you make up your mind.
Other considerations to factor in:
Ask for the opinion of your loved ones - The people you live with have a clearer idea of what works for you because they know when your back is aching after a night's sleep. They could point out some problems (such as busted springs in the mattress) that could be causing your aching back. They could also identify existing problems in your habits, such as sleeping on your side when you should be sleeping on your back.
If you are married or have a partner, ask that person if you can switch sides (meaning you will sleep on his or her side of the bed for a change). You might be surprised at how blissful your sleep will be once you switch sides.
Ask your doctor for a checkup - If you are constantly waking up with back pain, it may mean you need a visit to the doctor. Some may prefer to see a chiropractor while others may have an orthopedic spine doctor in mind instead. The point is to see your doctor in order to isolate the problem. The doctor will check your history to figure out how the pain is progressing and the possible causes of the problem.
He may also make several recommendations including medication, stretching exercises, occupational therapy (in case your work is partially or wholly causing the back pain), or even acupuncture to mitigate the pain. The doctor might already label your discomfort as chronic pain and refer you to a specialist. It is possible you will need to consult many specialists or a team of experts in back pain because there may be more than one causative factor.
Keep a journal - This is very useful for those who want to identify the circumstances when they first started noticing back pain. You should note down what you experienced, what you did, and even what you ate when you started experiencing back pain. Be sure to write down details about yourself too, such as your age when you first started getting back pain, your weight, and any other health issues that you may have.
This is useful for you and your loved ones so that the cause of the back pain is identified correctly. Show your journal to your doctor so that he gets an idea of what could be triggering the back pain as well. If you do buy a mattress, then be diligent in using your journal. This helps you track down if the back pain continues or if the pain level goes down. Red flags should appear in your mind if certain patterns emerge such as the constant existence of back pain at certain times of the day (like when you wake up every day).
Solving the Back Pain Problem
Many people nowadays have back pain problems. If you are one of them and are thinking of changing your mattress to address the back pain, remember to consider the factors of cost, firmness, size, age of the mattress, and comfort.
You should also consider if the use of pillows is a causative factor. If you are indeed planning to buy a mattress, try getting the Medium-Firm variant, and make sure your purchase comes with a trial period and a warranty. Don't fall into the trap of buying the product simply because it is on sale. Ask your loved ones for their opinion about what is making your back experience such pain. If all else fails, go to your preferred back doctor and submit yourself to a check-up.
The problem might have more than one cause so you may need a team of medical specialists to identify the problem and recommend a solution or various solutions. Lastly, always keep a journal about what you experienced, what you did and even what you ate for each day.
This will be very useful to you and to your doctors in tracking down the root of the problem and identifying the right solution. You can then try to buy a new mattress for yourself and see if that diminishes the back pain or even eliminates it. Hopefully, you will be able to get rid of your back pain this way.
This is sponsored content for Beds n Dreams.
