The Best Mattresses for Sciatica

Is a Firm Mattress Good for Sciatica?

It used to be common practice to advise people with back problems to select an orthopaedic or firm mattress. However, of late, such advice is being contradicted by organisations such as the Institute of Chiropractors.

A long-standing problem with many mattress retailers is that they still recommend punishingly firm mattresses for people with sciatica, bad backs or spinal stenosis. This is dated advice that has long been debunked by chiropractors and back specialists. What you actually need is the right spring tension to provide the correct support for your body weight(s) and comfort layers that are not too soft, but not so firm that you’re simply resting on the very top of the bed.

The usual advice used to be to try and keep your spine straight during the night. However, for most people this simply causes more pain and discomfort. This is because an overly firm mattress has very little “give” in it. As a result, your back ends up conforming to the mattress, when it should be the mattress conforming to your spine’s preferred position.

Based on feedback from other sciatica sufferers we have spoken to, the last thing you want is something too firm that may exacerbate your complaint. These days, the opposite is true; we’d advise going with a medium or soft mattress. However, if you’re set on a firm mattress then something with firmer upholstery layers may give more support and push back for you. The Artisan Bespoke is one such option. The Origins Pocket Latex 1500 is another, and is our firmest support level with a latex comfort layer. It’s available in a king size zip and link, and is a true medium-feeling model. It’s the firmest mattress we have within our Origins range, having no sort of sink-in sensation.

However, the Artisan 1500 might be the sweet spot, as it’s a step up in firmness in terms of the upholstery layer. It also won’t feel extremely firm for a sleeping partner who has different comfort requirements to yours.

If you’re at all unsure about your preference for a firm mattress, then it can help to add a section of plywood under the mattress. This will help to marginally firm it up, and will let you double-check that a firmer feel will provide you with the relief your back needs.

Mattress Support is Based on Bodyweight

Another enduring myth suggests that you should also pick a firm spring tension as well. However, like we said above, mattress pocket springs have been designed to work for specific body weight tolerances. You should always pick the pocket spring tension or wire gauge that best meets your weight. If you pick a softer or firmer mattress than that, then it either won’t offer enough support, or will be too firm to offer any give.

Mattress upholstery needs to be forgiving for a bad back

With sciatica or another back problem, you need to consider the mattress upholstery that’s layered on top of the pocket spring or support layer. These are known as the comfort layers, and they are what gives a mattress a soft, medium or firm feel (not the spring unit!). We would advise you to have a look at what type of comfort preference you prefer: some people know they like a soft mattress, for example. For most people, a medium upholstery layer offers the perfect mix of softness, but with support. There are very few people that like a really firm upholstery layer or a really soft layer. If you’re not sure, then start by looking at the medium-feel upholstery. This is the best all-rounder without going to extremes.

What’s just as important is the resilience or robustness of the fibres you choose. Natural fibre mattresses offer the very best in terms of comfort and support. This is because they are far more durable than synthetic polyester and memory foam. They rebound better, wick away moisture and are breathable. All of this helps keep your back supported and comfortable.

You’ll need to look for a high amount of natural fibre fillings to allow progressive comfort, which is why we list the GSM (Grams per square metre) of all our upholstery. This shows you what you get for your money and also allows you to easily compare our mattresses to other retailers like Vispring, Savoir and Harrison Spinks models.

How to Make a Mattress Softer

If you’ve already purchased a mattress that’s firmer than you want, and want to improve it, then we would suggest that the appliance of a topper is the best way to reduce the firmness of a mattress. For a mattress with natural fillings, you are best opting for a natural fibre topper.

Otherwise, if you’re open to changing your mattress and aren’t sure of your preferences, then something like the Origins Pocket 1500 is worth considering. It’s a two-sided mattress that’s fully turnable. With its medium spring tension, it will give you an excellent all-round medium feel mattress. When you turn the mattress do keep in mind that you may need someone to help, as they are quite substantial (and therefore heavy) and could aggravate a bad back.

So… What’s the Best Mattress for Sciatica?

We have two ranges of traditional pocket sprung mattresses; our Origins Range, which has synthetic fillings, and our Artisan Range, which has natural fillings. Ideally we’d need to know your actual weight and height to fully advise about what would be best for you. Sleeping positions can also greatly affect our recommendations. For example, we’d generally suggest that you look for medium or soft upholstery layers if you’re a side sleeper.

Ideal spring tension, one part of any pocket sprung mattress, is determined solely by body weight, as this is what provides you with the support from inside the mattress. Once you establish the right support you need, the focus then shifts to the fillings atop the springs.

Your own personal “best mattress” is therefore going to be individual to you, but we can make some broad comments about mattresses that we’ve found to be suitable for sciatica sufferers.

For example, one of our founders, John, suffers from lower back arthritis. Based on his trials and usage, a good mattress for sciatica could be our Artisan Luxury model (one of our softest) with a single tension spring (1.42mm gauge, appropriated as a medium tension). It uses calico springs, and if you haven’t tried these then do keep in mind that a good exercise would be to test a mid-range Vispring mattress at your nearest ‘good’ retailer, just to gauge your response to them. The upholstery level at just short of 5kg per square metre is more than enough to offer an additional element of support without exacerbating the pressure on your back. However, it’s also reasonably comfortable if your partner prefers something a little different.

On this subject, do not underestimate the weight difference between you and your sleeping partner. To find a mattress that will suit you both adequately can be difficult, unless you have a generous budget. You may need to look for a split spring tension – allowing a medium tension for one side and a soft tension for the other side, for example – although at a pinch you could opt for a medium tension across the whole mattress. Split tension mattresses are only available in our Artisan range. If you’re unable to consider dual spring tension, there will likely have to be a compromise of sorts.

Roll-Together

As a side note, the “roll together” that some sleeping partners experience can be down to the bed base. If you have a sprung or flat-slatted base, it will have a central support bar, which can cause either a bulge or dip to appear over that support bar. In these instances, we would advise placing a barrier over the slats, usually in the form of thin (3-5mm) MDF. This provides the mattress with a uniform surface upon which to sit. It should prevent that ridge or dip in the middle.

Another good choice for a sciatica sufferer could be the Artisan Naturals. The Naturals is a true medium, providing a slight sink (but not too much). We can tweak the spring tension in this mattress to suit your body weight, and there’s also the option for split tensions too. The Naturals has well above-average upholstery, so the comfort levels should be suitable for a sciatica sufferer.

Summary

The days of universally recommending an orthopaedic or firm mattress for any sufferer of back pain – including sciatica – are over, and these days you’re probably much safer going with nothing more extreme than a medium-firm mattress. However, the deciding factors will always be your weight, your sleeping position, and other considerations that are specific to your own body. It’s never going to be a case of one “best mattress for sciatica”, and is instead about finding something that suits you. This is where we can help!

Our friendly team of experts have years of experience when it comes to helping people find the ideal mattress for their needs, and you can call them on 0161 437 4419 or email [email protected] as you need. We’ll be delighted to give you more tailored guidance for a better night’s sleep.