Chronic pain can make it almost impossible to get a good night’s sleep. And what’s worse is that poor sleep can exacerbate chronic pain. You can find yourself in a seemingly never-ending cycle. But don’t despair. Read on to find out how the right mattress could help you get some much-needed relief.
Do you have chronic pain?
Feeling sore, but you can’t really explain what’s wrong? Failing to get any relief from common over-the-counter medicines? Struggling with exhaustion, frustration, and feeling a little helpless?
You could have chronic pain.
More than a third of UK adults suffer with chronic pain, making it much more common than you may think. But what exactly is it? And can a great mattress really help? Let’s take a closer look…
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is the term used to describe ongoing pain that doesn’t seem to ease. In most cases, pain has to last for at least 12 weeks to be considered chronic. However, if the pain stems from an injury or obvious cause, but continues beyond the healing time, it may also be categorised as chronic.
Unfortunately, pain with an obvious cause makes up just a small percentage of chronic pain cases. Typically, there’s not really a clear reason as to why it’s happening. Yet it can be life-changing. Chronic pain can disrupt your day-to-day routine, making it difficult to enjoy a high quality of life.
Why do I have chronic pain?
The reason we feel pain is because of the nerves between the brain and the body. If we hurt our leg, for example, the nerves send a message to the brain telling it what’s happened, and the brain interprets the message as a pain signal. While this system usually works well, there are times when the messages become distorted on their journey, with the brain interpreting non-pain messages as pain signals. This can mean you experience pain, even though there’s nothing actually wrong.
Can a mattress really help?
If we have a mild headache, or sinus pain, or a twisted ankle, there are over-the-counter medicines that can block the pain messages and stop them reaching the brain. This reduces feelings of pain. With unexplained chronic pain, however, there are no pain messages to intercept. There’s just a collection of other messages that the brain is incorrectly identifying as being pain messages. Unfortunately, this means that standard pain medications don’t always work for chronic pain.
So alternative solutions are needed.
In many cases, managing chronic pain will involve finding the right strategies and techniques that ease your symptoms. And one of the most effective methods to try is getting a better sleep.
Sleep and chronic pain
Sleep and chronic pain have a very, very close relationship. Of course, being in pain can make it challenging to get comfortable and rest properly. But what’s worse is that it’s a continuous loop. You can’t sleep well because you’re in pain, but you may be in more pain because you’re not sleeping well.
This is known as a ‘bidirectional relationship’. Studies have found that sleep that’s too short, or frequently disturbed or disrupted, can lower our pain threshold, making us more sensitive to pain. And the NHS suggests that a lack of sleep can make us feel exhausted and stressed, so we’re less likely to be equipped – both physically and mentally – to manage that pain in the best possible way.
It’s clear that getting a good night’s sleep is key to creating a strong pain management strategy. Especially when medication doesn’t quite hit the spot. And that’s where a great mattress comes in.
What mattress is best for chronic pain?
Although needs vary when it comes to mattresses, many scientific studies have concluded that medium-firmness mattresses seem to have the greatest impact on chronic pain.
Medium-firmness mattresses have been shown to be helpful in two distinct ways:
- Pain reduction
In a study exploring non-specific chronic back pain, participants saw more notable improvements in pain levels when sleeping on medium-firm mattresses compared to harder or softer mattresses.
- Sleep quality
In a different study, a 55% increase in quality of sleep was reported when participants suffering with chronic pain slept on a medium firmness mattress, compared to harder or softer alternatives.
Why do medium-firmness mattresses seem best for those with chronic pain?
It’s possibly because medium-firmness mattresses are something of a middle ground between support and comfort. They’re firm enough to prevent the body sinking fully into the bed, keeping the spine in alignment to prevent exacerbating pain, particularly in the muscles, joints, and tendons. They’re also soft enough to minimise some of the pressure on the joints. This creates a comforting feeling which encourages the body to relax, resulting in a longer and more restful sleep.
How quickly will I see results?
That really depends on a number of different factors. For example, your type of pain, the cause of your pain, the mattress you choose to invest in, and your sleep habits and environment.
It’s important to realise that a new mattress may not be a magical solution. And sadly, it’s unlikely to completely cure your chronic pain. However, with time, it could be key to helping you manage your pain better, and may go a long way towards helping you to enjoy a much better quality of life.
To really see the benefits, we recommend giving your new mattress a bit of time. You may not see vast improvements overnight. In fact, in some studies, improvement is progressive, happening gradually. In one study, chronic pain was lessened slowly over a period of one to four weeks.
A brand new you
Chronic pain can be debilitating. Its effects go far beyond pain itself, having a significant impact on practically every aspect of life. This could be anything from carrying out simple self-care tasks to working, socialising, exercise, shopping, studying, and more. But you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Mattresses can't cure chronic pain. But the right one can help you overcome the worst of it, manage your pain better, and live life to the fullest. View our collection and get ready for a brand new you.