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Top Advice for Selecting Your New Mattress

Writer's picture: Dr. Jeremy Will, D.C.Dr. Jeremy Will, D.C.

Have you ever woken up with a sore back or neck? It could be from your mattress. If you want to upgrade your mattress, but don’t know where to begin, let us help! While no single style of bed works for everyone, we have some valuable advice to help you choose one that works for you.

 

Firmness

Most chiropractors recommend a medium to firm mattress; however, this ultimately comes down to your preference. Choose a firmness that keeps your spine in a neutral position. When in doubt, go with the firmer yet comfortable option. You can always soften a mattress with an aftermarket topper, but you can never firm up a soft bed.

 

Mattress Toppers

A topper can help dissipate pressure points on your hips and shoulders, but don’t go too thick with a built-in topper. If you’re considering a coil spring mattress, choose one that you can flip. Built-in pillow toppers usually can’t be flipped.

 

Assessment

When mattress shopping, wear comfortable clothes and lie down on several beds to see which one feels best. Don’t judge something by the first few seconds of comfort. Lay on it for at least 10-15 minutes. And remember, anything new can be uncomfortable at first. Give a new mattress at least a few break-in nights before you abandon it.

 

Cost

You spend one-third of your life on a mattress, don’t skimp on that investment. However, keep in mind that the most expensive is not always the best.

 

Pillows

Make sure your old pillows still work with your new mattress. Use a pillow that holds your head in a neutral position while sleeping on your side or back.

 

Ultimately, take your time shopping, buy what works for you, don’t skimp, and make sure you can return or exchange your purchase. And remember, if you are suffering from a sore back or neck, our office is just one phone call away. Let us help you get back to a pain-free life!


 

Lumbar Disc Herniations Don’t Last Forever


Most patients that have been diagnosed with a disc herniation from an MRI will report that they have a disc herniation for the rest of their lives! Research shows that’s not the case for most people.

A study of patients with an extruded disc herniation (the most severe form of disc herniation!) demonstrated that 75% underwent complete self-resolution within 10-24 months. That means that the injured disc completely healed back to within its normal anatomic boundaries. An additional 15% showed at least some regression or healing within that time frame. So a person has a 90% chance that their disc herniation improves over time.

In addition to spontaneous disc resolution, those that sought conservative care (like chiropractic care!) showed great treatment results.  A new Global Spine Journal study of more than a quarter-million lumbar intervertebral disc herniation patients reported that 97.0% were successfully managed with non-operative treatments

 

Kesikburun B et al. Spontaneous regression of extruded lumbar disc herniation: Correlation with clinical outcome. Pak J Med Sci. 2019 Jul-Aug;35(4):974-980. 

Lilly DT, Davison MA, Eldridge CM, Singh R, Montgomery EY, Bagley C, Adogwa O. An Assessment of Nonoperative Management Strategies in a Herniated Lumbar Disc Population: Successes Versus Failures. Global Spine Journal. 2020 Jul 7:2192568220936217.

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