Are you suffering from Fibromyalgia? Having trouble with falling asleep? Your mattress replacement may help you in this.
Most people who suffer from Fibromyalgia tends to suffer various sleep disturbances. Sufferers complain about having an unbearable pain throughout their body. They are affected by the inability to sleep that is referred to as insomnia. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia affects the function of our brain. The National Fibromyalgia Association estimates that nearly 10 million Americans suffer from this terrifying disease. Although the condition is shared among the people of all ages and race, women are more likely to develop this disease.
A change of mattress could make a world of a difference for people who have Fibromyalgia. This article would allow you to have a clear understanding of Fibromyalgia. We’d help you choose the right mattress for yourself to ease your pain and get relief from this chronic disorder. Read on to find out more about mattresses that can be used to ease the pain of Fibromyalgia.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disease that affects the way the brain processes the pain. People with fibromyalgia feel pain more intensely than others. Additionally, fibromyalgia is also characterized by awakening sleep fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties, and mood swings. It is not progressive or life-threatening, but it affects your sense of well-being.
There is no fast cure of the disease. However, you can manage it by developing healthy sleeping habits and managing your stress. If you want to ease your symptoms, you need to change your lifestyle by making a routine of exercising daily. Furthermore, you must eat a balanced diet that prevents fibromyalgia.
How Does Fibromyalgia Affect Sleep?
A sufficient amount of sleep is imperative for you to function properly during the day. Fibro patients complain about sleep disturbances. The feeling of non-refreshing and non-restorative sleep is very common in people living with fibromyalgia.
New research concludes that adults who are over the age of 50 wake up feeling tired and worn out all day long. Dr. John Mcbeth of Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre at Keele University in Staffordshire conducted a study on this topic and found that it is the most active link between poor sleep and widespread pain. Their research frequently showed that people who have Fibromyalgia had a poor sleeping pattern. They usually suffer from the condition of losing deep sleep that affects their quality of life.
What are the three leading causes of fibromyalgia?
1. Genetic Factors
Fibromyalgia is a painful disorder with genetic links. Your environment and genetic factors influence pain sensitivity. The disease is not directly passed on by the parents to the children. However, your parents might give you the genes that make you more sensitive to pain.
The chances of developing fibromyalgia are higher among the immediate families of people suffering from this chronic disease. Researchers have found that fibromyalgia runs in the family. They also found a relationship between fibromyalgia with mood disorders. It is the reason why certain anti-depressants help prevent fibromyalgia symptoms.
2. illness and Infections
Some infections and illness might trigger your fibromyalgia cascade. A research study has found an active link between infections and fibromyalgia. People who suffer from viral infections might develop the symptoms of this chronic disease. Some people build fibromyalgia after suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus. These conditions might aggravate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Moreover, illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, and other chronic headaches, might co-exist with fibromyalgia.
3. Trauma
Childhood traumas and experiences are often overlooked as an influencing factor for specific chronic illnesses. However, traumatic events in your childhood play a significant role in the development of fibromyalgia. Extreme presence of a stressor or long absence of the right support system might harm the health of an individual. Research depicts children suffering from long-standing stressor are 2.7 times more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
What’s the best sleeping position for fibromyalgia?
Side Sleeping Position
If you have fibromyalgia, you might find it difficult to sleep well at night. It is estimated that approximately 2/3rd of sufferers of chronic pain experience sleep difficulties. The unbearable pain makes it a struggle for you to sleep deeply. You feel sleep deprived that causes the pain even more severe.
The right sleeping position could help you deal with the condition of fibromyalgia. Side sleeping position could help you have a relief from the pain. It is an optimal position that reduces shoulders, lower back, chest, and back of knees.
According to the sleep expert Michael Breus, the discs of your back rehydrates when you are sleeping and the best position to rehydrate them is to keep them in an open place. It is helpful for you to bring your knees closer to your chest to rehydrate the discs of your back.
On Back with Raised Knees
Fibromyalgia could make you extremely pain-sensitive. Widespread pain all over your body could be detrimental for you to sleep better. To prevent morning stiffness, fatigue, and general pain sleeping on the back with raised knees is the best sleeping position for you.
Moreover, you can cushion your tender points by putting a pillow or cushion beneath your knees. By keeping your knees raised, you can keep your bodyweight off your pelvis. This position allows your back to reduce strain. To help reduce pain in your shoulders, upper back, and neck you could use a flat pillow in the back position.
Stomach on Pillow
If you like sleeping on your stomach when you settle in your bed at night with fibromyalgia, you might want to find the right way of sleeping in that position. Place your pillow under your stomach instead of placing it near the tender spots of your neck, shoulders, and back.
What to look for in a Mattress for Fibromyalgia?
If you choose the wrong mattress for Fibromyalgia, you won’t be able to sleep adequately at night. Therefore, you must consider the following factors when you are looking for the right mattress for your condition:
Pressure Relief
A mattress that comes with the ability to relieve pressure from your tender spots increases your comfort in bed and allows you to sleep comfortably. Choose the mattress that gives your whole body optimal support to prevent painful sensations. When we talk about convenience and relaxation, it depends on your personal preference to choose the mattress. However, we would recommend a medium level firmness that won't be harsh on your pressure points. Make sure that you don't want a very firm mattress because it applies firm pressure to your painful joints and shoulders.
Temperature Neutrality
People who have fibromyalgia tend to be temperature sensitive. In extreme temperatures, their pain worsens. They are more heat sensitive. You need good airflow while sleeping at night to remain comfortable. An Innerspring mattress allows patients with fibromyalgia to sleep cool all night long.
Motion Isolation
Motion Isolation is the ability of the mattress to absorb motion. If you are a light sleeper and you share your bed with your partner, you might wake up if he changes his position with the motion transfer. People with fibromyalgia are even more sensitive to motion transfer. Therefore, if you have fibromyalgia, you must consider a mattress with minimal or no motion transfer. Memory foam mattresses come with almost zero motion transfer.
Noise Sensitivity
Patients with fibromyalgia become very noise sensitive. Doctors and medical experts recommend memory foam or latex foam mattress for people living with fibromyalgia.
Edge Support
Mattresses with strong edge support prevent joint and muscle pain. People living with fibromyalgia should sleep on a mattress that gives them good edge support to deal with the widespread pain in their body. Memory foam mattresses come with optimal edge support that prevents the mattress from sagging in.
Find out more about How to Choose a Mattress Fit for You?
How firm a mattress should be for fibromyalgia?
Before thinking of healing your condition of fibromyalgia through medication and other complicated treatments, the right mattress could help you deal with the problem efficiently. A mattress that is not too soft and not too firm can ease your pain and pressure. If you choose to sleep on a mattress that is too soft or too hard, it might worsen your symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Compare & Review – Best Mattress For Fibromyalgia
Mattress | Best for | Free Trial | Warranty | Firmness | Material |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spindle Natural Latex Mattress | Couples | 100-Night | 10-years | Adjustable | 100 % latex |
Avocado Green Mattress | Hypoallergenic | 100-Night | 25-years | Too hard | Pure latex |
Helix sleep mattress | Customization | 100-Night | 10-years | Dual | Components of latex and memory foam |
The Hyphen mattress | Contouring effect | 100-Night | 20-years | Optimal | Eco-friendly materials |
Lull Premium Mattress | Maintaining a natural posture | 100-Night | 10-years | Soft to medium | Non-toxic chemicals |
Memory Foam vs Latex vs Innerspring
Which type of mattress is better for fibromyalgia patients?
Many people who have fibromyalgia find a memory foam mattress very comfortable to sleep on because it encourages natural alignment and gives relief to the pressure points. A latex mattress is also an excellent choice for patients of fibromyalgia because of its optimal contouring it provides to your body. However, memory foam mattress edges out because of its pain-relieving capabilities.
The following table would help you know the difference between the three types of mattresses:
Mattress Type | Memory Foam | Latex | Innerspring. |
---|---|---|---|
Construction | Memory foam consists of polyurethane and other chemicals in the support core. | Made from durable latex foam that comes from the sap of a rubber tree. These mattresses are constructed with natural all-synthetic, blended latex. | Metal coil springs topped with a layer of foam in the support core. |
Support | Fair to Good | Good to Very Good | Fair to Good |
Firmness | Very firm | Very firm | Pretty firm |
Motion Isolation | Excellent | Good | Not good enough |
Durability | Good | Exceptional | Not good enough |
Our Top Picks – Best Mattresses For People With Fibromyalgia
1. Spindle Natural Latex Mattress – Best for Couples
Features
- Made from 100% latex
- Conforms to your body
- Gives your body a natural alignment
- Absorbs motion easily
- Keeps you cool
- Organic cotton zipper cover
Spindle Natural Latex Mattress is a unique all-natural latex mattress. You can choose from the five different levels of firmness according to your personal choice.
Because the mattress is constructed from foam, it comes with minimal motion transfer capabilities. Being a patient of fibromyalgia, you won’t get disturbed by your partner’s movement on the bed. Even if you sleep alone, changing your position while sleeping won’t make you uncomfortable.
Why we like it :
- Adjustable level of firmness.
- The surface of the mattress is bouncy.
- It comes with minimal motion transfer abilities.
- Free sleep trial and a 10-year warranty
Why we hate it :
- Assembling the product could be frustrating for you.
- You might feel hot because of natural latex.
Find out more about Latex Mattress in our complete review here.
2. Avocado Green Mattress – Best For Hypoallergenic
Features
- Green Guard Gold Certified
- Made from eco-friendly materials
- 25-year limited warranty
- Encourages deep sleep
- Lets you sleep cool
- Proper back support
- A durable mattress that lasts for years.
Avocado Green Mattress is known for its functionality, affordability, and durability. It is made from 100 percent latex that is all-natural and pure. It is made from eco-friendly materials that make it the best choice for you if you care about your environment.
The Dunlop latex that is used in the construction of the mattress is eco-INSTITUT certified. Because of the purity of the latex, the bedding is hypoallergenic that prevents you from unwanted allergies.
Why we like it :
- The advanced support coil system gives a right balance and support to your body
- There are two firmness options you can choose from that are highly pain relieving.
- Good motion transfer without sacrificing the bounce you want.
- Constructed to last long.
Why we hate it :
- The firmness of the mattress is too hard.
Want to know more before purchasing? See our review of Avocado Green Mattress where we mention everything that you need to know about this model.
3. Helix Sleep Mattress – Best for Customization
Features
- Dual comfort option
- 100-night free trial
- 10-year warranty
- Subtle and soft-touch cover.
Helix sleep mattress comes with hybrid properties, latex and memory foam components that give excellent support to the body of a fibromyalgia patient.
If you sleep with your partner, helix gives you an option of adjusting different firmness levels for both sides. The mattress is constructed with premium quality foam-based comfort layer encourage motion isolation that lets you sleep peacefully with your partner.
Why we like it :
- Dual firmness option is available
- The mattress comes with an easy return policy
- It is suitable for fibromyalgia patients because it does not make any noise.
Why we hate it :
- It makes you sleep hot
- The edge support is not good enough
See our in-depth Helix vs. Casper Mattress comparison here.
4. The Hyphen Mattress – Best Contouring Effect
Features
- An optimal level of firmness
- Stretchy cover made from the polyester/spandex blend
- Responsive Comfort Layer
- Comes with an orthopedic support layer
- Four types of temperature control
- Long life expectancy
- 100-night free trial
- 20-year warranty
- Widespread pain throughout your body.
The Hyphen mattress is a single mattress that gives you unique contouring to your body. It releases pressure from your tender spots. The comfort layer of the bedding also ensures muscle recovery.
The first layer is breathable and hypoallergenic on top of the second layer that is a proprietary Hyphen-Comfort layer comes with proper ventilation effect. It provides pressure relief and low motion transfer.
The third buoyant transitional layer provides an excellent bounce to the mattress and gives you an optimal flow of air. The orthopedic support layer is the fourth layer of the mattress that not only lets you sleep cool at night but also delivers a high level of support to your body.
Why we like it :
- This mattress gives you optimal airflow and breathability.
- You can have a restful sleep at night with the support the mattress gives to your muscles and joints.
- Suitable for all types of bed frames
Why we hate it :
- The mattress is prone to sagging and wearing off quickly.
5. Lull Premium Mattress – Maintaining Natural Posture
Features
- CertiPUR-US certified
- 100-night trial
- 10-year warranty
- Therapeutic support
- Even distribution of body weight
- Provides an excellent contour to your body
- Breathable top-tick fibers
Lull premium is a three-layered memory foam mattress that helps you get a good sleep at night. It is designed to give your body the support and contour it needs to stay pain-free.
The mattress is constructed with breathable top-tick fibers and open-cell foam structure that allow it to provide optimal airflow to your body. The mattress is designed with a high-density core support layer that encourages you to maintain the natural posture of your body.
Why we like it :
- The mattress is made from non-toxic chemicals
- It comes with good motion transfer
- Stays with you for years to come.
Why we hate it :
- The smell of “the new mattress” might bother you for some time.
Want to learn more about Lull Mattress? Check out Lull Mattress Review.
Fibromyalgia Sleeping Tips
Dim the lights and relax your mind
Turn off your TV, put your tablet away and stop checking your mobile before going to bed. Just unwind yourself and calm your mind. Free your mind from the racing thoughts. Worrying would only worsen your pain so try to distract yourself by reading a fascinating book. If you find it hard to stay calm, you could keep a worry and gratitude journal to shut your mind off.
Make exercise a priority
People who have fibromyalgia might find it hard to push themselves to exercise. However, exercising could help you deal with your pain in a better way. There are specific relaxation exercises that strengthen your body by encouraging its natural healing process. You could try yoga or low-intensity aerobic exercises. You don’t need to exert yourself and make things complicated, try walking for a mile or two. It is a nice mood-booster as well.
Keep a consistent sleeping routine
For fibromyalgia patients, it might be challenging to stick to a method. However, if you don't make consistency the key, fibromyalgia might be a challenging condition to deal. Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. You'll see the difference in your pain and pressure points.
Wrap Up
It is a difficult task to sleep with fibromyalgia and is a constant struggle for patients to deal with the never-ending pain. You might toss and turn all night to have a comfortable position to reduce your pain. If you want to heal quickly and lead a healthy life, choose the right mattress to ease your pain out from our top 5 picks.