Choosing the Best Mattress for Herniated Disc Pain

Understanding Herniated Discs and Sleep

Between each of your vertebrae is a cushion called a disc with a tough outer layer of cartilage and soft cartilage in the middle. (The Mayo Clinic compares a disc to a miniature jelly donut.) 

A herniated disc — also called a ruptured or slipped disc — happens when the tough outer layer cracks, allowing some of the soft inner cartilage to stick out from the disc. 

Symptoms of a herniated disc can have a profoundly negative impact on sleep. These sleep-disrupting symptoms vary according to the location of the herniated disc but typically include:

• Pain in the lower back, thighs, calves, buttocks, shoulders or arms
• Numbness and/or tingling radiating from body parts if the disc severed a nerve 

These symptoms often present a double whammy of bad sleep: They keep you from getting comfortable enough to fall asleep, and they wake you up in the middle of the night. 

While the right mattress can’t cure a herniated disc, it is essential for helping you manage your symptoms so you can get the pain-free and restorative rest your body needs. 

Key Mattress Considerations for Herniated Discs 

The best mattress for herniated discs is one that provides proper firmness and support for your sleeping position. 

Firmness

A mattress with some amount of firmness is crucial for people with herniated discs. A firmer mattress provides optimal support for proper spinal alignment and pressure relief to ease pain. 

Support

An adequately supportive mattress allows the spine to fall naturally into alignment without stress or strain. This alignment is key to reducing pain and promoting healing, and it should be a goal for people with herniated discs. It’s not about comfort per se, but correct alignment for each sleeper’s unique back issues.

Sleeping position 

Different sleeping positions affect a herniated disc in different ways, and the right mattress addresses these position-specific effects. 

Back sleeping may provide the most relief from herniated disc symptoms, since it allows your weight to be evenly distributed across the mattress. Experts also recommend sleeping on your side in a fetal position to help your spine align. Not recommended? Stomach sleeping, which can put strain on the spine and exacerbate symptoms.

You should take your sleeping position into account by weighing support versus comfort when choosing the best mattress for herniated discs. Back sleepers can benefit from a very firm mattress like the Plank Firm, while side sleepers might prefer the comfort layers of a hybrid mattress like the Plank Firm Luxe.

Mattress Types and Herniated Discs

There are four major mattress types, each with pros and cons for people with herniated discs. 

Memory foam mattresses are crafted with special foam that contours to the body to provide soft support and relieve pressure. Memory foam may not be firm or breathable enough for some sleepers with herniated discs. They may want to seek one like the Plank Firm that is all foam yet highly supportive due to its high-density foam layers.

Latex is similar to memory foam, but latex is naturally-derived. Latex mattresses are highly responsive and breathable. Because they are made from natural materials, their price points may not fit in every budget.

Innerspring mattresses are the traditional mattress type made with metal coils. They provide firm support all the way to the edges of the mattress, but may be too firm for sleepers with herniated discs who crave a bit of softness.

Hybrid mattresses like the Plank Firm Luxe provide the best of both worlds, combining the comfort of memory foam with the firm support of innersprings. They may be a good choice for people with herniated discs who are struggling to find the balance between supportiveness and comfort. 

Additional Tips for Better Sleep

Choosing the best mattress for herniated discs is only one way to address your back pain and sleep issues. You may also want to:

• Prioritize good bedtime habits, also known as sleep hygiene. This could include going to bed at the same time every night, keeping your bedroom cool and dark and avoiding caffeine before bed.
• Use pillows for support. Side sleepers with herniated discs may benefit from sleeping with a pillow between the knees, while back sleepers may find a pillow underneath the knees helps align the spine and relax back muscles.
• Practice gentle stretches or other exercises, ideally under the guidance of a physical therapist

Implementing these lifestyle changes could bring you closer to pain-free sleep with a herniated disc.

Peaceful Sleep is Possible

Now that you understand the importance of a good mattress, you’re ready to choose the best mattress for herniated disc pain. Remembering to prioritize spinal health by emphasizing firmness, support and pressure relief over comfort when selecting a mattress will help you achieve your goal of pain-free sleep.