How To Choose the Right Bed When You Have Chronic Body Pain
How To Choose The Right Bed When You Have Chronic Body Pain
Room temperature, stress level, and comfort are factors that influence getting a good and pain-free night’s sleep.
However, to get everything right, it’s essential to start with the basics.
To achieve a restful slumber, your bed is the first building block to focus on.
If you suffer from chronic body pain when sleeping or every time you wake up in the morning, you know how annoying it can be.
It hurts, and you feel weak and exhausted no matter how much rest you get.
Choosing the right bed to address chronic body pain is a life changer. How do you know which one is right for you?
Choosing A Bed For You
Ultimately, when you have chronic body pain, finding the right bed depends on your comfort and personal preferences. To ensure a meaningful purchase, there are a few steps you can take.
Don’t Assume Firm Mattresses Are Better
You may have heard that sleeping on a hard mattress reduces pain. There aren’t many studies on the relationship between chronic pain and the firmness level of beds.
However, one research found that firm mattresses may not always be your best choice. Especially when you’re trying to decrease pain and improve your sleep.
Certain parts of your body may receive excessive pressure if the mattress is too hard or firm.
On the other hand, if the mattress is too soft, it allows the body to sink into poor sleeping postures.
The safest choice can be a medium-firm bed that allows your hips and shoulders to sink slightly.
The firmness level to choose ultimately depends on your preference. However, most of the time, it boils down to the type of body pain you’re suffering from. Whether it’s back pain, hip pain, or shoulder pain.
For example, hip pain requires a softer mattress surface. Check out these 11 best mattresses for hip pain sufferers.
Think About How You Sleep
You should base your bed choice on your normal sleeping position. That may be sleeping on the back, side, or stomach.
Your preferred position affects how your weight gets distributed across your bed, body, and joints.
The right mattress with a firmness level that fits your sleeping style can help in alleviating pain and soreness.
A suitable mattress can help in maintaining healthy and strong joints.
Here are some tips to ponder:
- Back Sleepers – Since your weight gets distributed over a larger surface area, any type of firmness works. The decision will go down to the level of firmness you prefer the most.
- Stomach Sleepers – Your spine is prone to straining if you sleep on your stomach since your hips and pelvis can sink below your shoulders. That being said, it’s best to consider a medium-firm bed.
- Side Sleepers – To ensure that they’re not putting too much pressure on one shoulder, arm, and hip, side sleepers should go for pillows with adequate support. A softer mattress and a good quality topper often works well, too.
Your weight should also be considered when you consider your sleeping position. Generally, the higher your weight is, the firmer you want your bed to be.
It’s essential to understand how you sleep. It won’t only help you choose the right bed but also give you better insights into how you can improve your posture at night.
Understanding your sleeping style translates to fewer pains and aches in the morning.
Assess Mattress Support
Choose a mattress that offers uniform surface contact and continuous support. It will help to distribute your body weight evenly and alleviate the stress that your spine gets.
Gaps between the surface and your body can only lead to increased body pain.
Test The Bed Before Finally Buying It
When you’re ready to purchase your next mattress, it’s hard to know if the bed you’re eyeing can give you pain-free sleep.
You only have limited time, so how do you test your chosen bed before paying for it?
- Mimic your sleeping habits – Mimic your sleeping style before buying your chosen mattress. Lay on your back, stomach, or side for a few seconds and see how it feels. It’s important to test the bed in the same way as you sleep.
- Check Your Spinal Curvature – As you lay down on the bed, have somebody look at your spine’s curvature to see if it’s staying in line. Look for a mattress with more support if more of a curve is seen.
Now You’re Ready
Finding a bed that’ll relieve chronic body pain involves understanding yourself better. Plus, doing a little research, and trying out different mattresses in the showroom.
You May Also Like:
- 4 Bad Sleeping Habits Keeping You Exhausted
- The Best Pacifier for Sleeping Babies in 2020
- How to Turn Your Bedroom Into a Sleep Friendly Space
- 4 Steps to a Better Night’s Sleep
If you get it right, you can avoid years of suffering from unnecessary pain. I hope these tips above can help and you choose the bed that fits you best.
Do you have any tips for how to choose the right bed when you have chronic pain?
-Jennifer
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I am a girl from the UK with a lot of thoughts. I left the rat race of the corporate and marketing world to be my own boss. I write about life, finances, home design, fashion, and more. Hoping to inspire people every day. I’m a writer, a reader, and an old soul.