Back pain is one of the most common ailments of modern man. The main reasons are an unhealthy lifestyle, lack of adequate physical activity and the many hours spent sitting while maintaining incorrect posture.
If we neglect the initial pains and do not correct bad behaviors, over time the symptoms can worsen and turn into much more serious diseases such as a herniated disc.
Which mattress to choose if you have a herniated disc? In this in-depth article we consider the differences between memory foam, spring and topper mattresses.
What is a herniated disc?
The herniated disc is a pathology that involves the spine and to understand what it is we must have some simple notion of anatomy.
The spine is made up of a series of bones called vertebrae, which are separated by intervertebral discs. The latter are real natural shock absorbers that have the function of attenuating the pressures generated by the weight of the body. Each disc consists of an external and an internal part. The former has a hard consistency and is called a fibrous ring, while the latter represents the nucleus pulposus and is much softer, gel-like.
When a herniated disc is diagnosed, it means that part of the nucleus pulposus has leaked out of the fibrous ring, thus compressing the surrounding nerves.
This causes various ailments, including pain concentrated in certain areas of the back and in the limbs.
The herniated disc is the consequence of a gradual wear of the spinal column. Over time, discs tend to lose their aqueous content, gradually becoming less resistant and flexible. Aging and having carried out strenuous work for many years are among the main causes of herniated discs, to which add trauma due to falls and particular sports activities such as bodybuilding and weight lifting.
The most common symptoms are pains, often very intense, which prevent even the smallest movements. The area of the back involved depends on the position of the herniated disc. In this sense, the herniated disc is divided into cervical, dorsal or lumbar.
The pain also spreads to the legs or arms, always based on which disc has failed. In addition, numbness and tingling in the limbs, weakness and even bladder and intestinal disorders may occur due to the strong inflammation of the nerves.
Can the mattress help against a herniated disc?
Let’s say immediately that in the presence of a herniated disc there is no type of mattress that can solve this pathology. Depending on the severity, the appropriate treatments must be adopted and the advice of the physiatrist or physiotherapist must be listened to. However, the correct choice of mattress can help alleviate the ailments caused by a herniated disc and improve the quality of rest.
Which mattress to choose if you have a herniated disc?
Deciding between a hard or soft model is the doubt of anyone buying a new mattress. It being understood that the choice must always be made according to your needs, in the presence of a herniated disc we need a rather ergonomic support that allows correct alignment of the spinal column.
In this sense, mattresses with independent pocket springs + toppers can be a valid solution.
If, on the other hand, we have undergone surgery to remove the hernia or in any case a back operation, it is advisable to opt for a more comfortable support. This does not mean that the body should sink excessively, but only be welcomed in order to better rest the parts involved in the intervention.
In these cases, the best solution is a memory foam mattress that combines a sufficiently rigid support with a high degree of adaptation to the shape of the body.
If we already have a spring mattress and need more softness, I suggest trying a memory topper.