In-depth information on choosing the right mattress and pillow for back support, as well as how to sleep comfortably on mattresses.
See related article index:
Back pain and sex
October 3, 2007
Back pain doesn’t have to mean no sex, though it may mean taking a different approach to lovemaking. Talk with your doctor or therapist about the best approaches, and remember that sexuality is an integral part of normal, healthy relationships. Read more...
By: Robert Duvall, DPT, MPT, ATC
Sleep aids for people with chronic pain
January 25, 2007
Lack of sleep can worsen pain, and more intense pain then continues to interfere with sleep, so the two symptoms can become a vicious cycle. This makes using the right kind of sleep aids the right way an important component of many treatment plans for people suffering from chronic pain. Read more...
By: Andrew R. Block, PhD
Breaking the
cycle of chronic pain and insomnia
Updated September 7, 2006
The majority of patients suffering from chronic pain, such as chronic back pain,
also suffer from sleep disorders. Disrupted sleep often exacerbates chronic pain
problems, which in turn makes sleeping more difficult. This article reviews several
behavioral and medical approaches, including prescription sleep aids, that can
help treat both chronic pain and sleeping problems. Read
more...
By: William W. Deardorff, PhD, ABPP
Practicing good sleep hygiene
August 23, 2005
Patients with chronic pain can often develop poor habits
relative to sleep, such as napping during the day. There
are numerous sleep hygiene practices that patients can
adopt to make sleep healthy and restorative and promote
energy during the day. Read
more…
By: William W. Deardorff, PhD, ABPP
Review of adjustable beds
December 14, 2004
Patients with back pain should be especially choosy
about the type of bed and mattress they sleep on. There
is very little research in general about what types
of mattresses and beds are best for the back—and
no real medical research about adjustable beds. This
article answers questions about how an adjustable bed
works and how it could potentially help some patients
to sleep more comfortably in an inclined position rather
than on a flat mattress.
Read
more...
By: Ron Miller, PT
Choosing
the best mattress for low back pain
August
19, 2004
A mattress lacking in back support reinforces poor
sleeping posture, strains low back muscles, and does
not help keep the spine in alignment, all of which
can increase low back pain. This article provides practical
guidelines for choosing a mattress that provides both
sleep comfort and back support. Read
more...
By: J. Talbot Sellers, DO
Composition
of a high-quality mattress
August
19, 2004
When shopping for a mattress, patients may not realize
that what’s inside the mattress counts. Some
of the most important features of a good mattress are
the springs, coils, padding and the foundation. By
understanding the physical components of a high-quality
mattress, patients can evaluate and compare mattresses
to find the one that is most supportive and comfortable
at the best value. Read
more…
By: J. Talbot Sellers, DO
Study on the
best types of mattress for back support
July
14, 2004
A recent study reported that patients who slept on
a medium-firm mattress reported less low back pain
in bed and less back pain getting out of bed than patients
who slept on a firm mattress. Read
more...
By: Richard A. Staehler, MD
Pillow support
and comfort
September
30, 2003
Rest and sleep is when the spine can heal itself from
the postural, physical and nervous insults of the previous
day. And the right pillow or pillows are key to supporting
the neck and back and getting a comfortable night's
rest. Read more...
By: John Schubbe, DC
Mattress
guidelines for sleep comfort
August
29, 2003
For patients with back problems, sleeping on the right
mattress can have a major effect on getting a good
night’s sleep, while sleeping on the wrong mattress
can cause sleeplessness, back pain and overall discomfort.
Finding the right mattress is largely a matter of personal
preference for back support and comfort, and it's useful
to know what constitutes a good mattress and what other
factors affect quality of sleep. Read
more...
By: Richard A. Staehler, MD
Mattresses
for back conditions
August
29, 2003
For patients who suffer from back problems such as
degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc, sleeping
on a comfortable and mattress with adequate back support
can help the healing process. The ideal mattress and
sleeping position differ depending on what back problems
the patient suffers from. This article gives mattress
and sleeping position guidelines for specific back
conditions. Read
more…
By: Richard A. Staehler, MD
Upper back problems: doctor answers patient
questions
March 20, 2006
The upper back and ribs form a strong ‘cage’ around the vital organs
of the heart and lungs. Since the upper back is not designed for motion,
upper back problems are less prevalent but can be extremely painful. In
this section of Back Talk, a physiatrist responds to frequent patient questions
about upper back problems. Read more...
Back-to-Back:
Choosing a mattress for back support
Read other patients’ helpful advice about what
type of mattress, pillow or adjustable bed worked best
for their back condition, for recovery from back surgery
and for sleep comfort. Then, submit your own response! Read
more...
Take
control of your back pain – Spine-health.com
Newsletter
In addition to finding the right type of spine specialist(s)
to diagnose and treat the cause of your pain, there
are lots of things you can do on your own to help manage
pain. This newsletter profiles some lesser known pain
management strategies that have proven beneficial for
many back pain sufferers include sleeping on a high-quality
mattress and pillow, exercising, and weight loss (where
appropriate). Read
more…
Make
your back comfortable - Spine-health.com
Newsletter
Keep your back comfortable with these tips on maintaining
good posture and ergonomics while sitting in an office
chair, driving and sleeping. This newsletter also gives
ideas for back support products such as a good mattress
and pillow for back support. Read
more...
Please note that these additional patient resources (such as The Back-to-Back Forum and Newsletters) on Spine-health.com are not peer-reviewed by the Spine-health.com Medical Advisory Board. They are provided as additional resources for patients to learn from the experiences of others and to gain information from our popular newsletters.
