Lower back pain is bad enough when you are going about your daily business, but it can become even more frustrating when you are trying to sleep. Even worse, sometimes the act of sleeping seems to make the pain more severe when you wake up in the morning. If this is the case, chances are your mattress isn't helping your condition. The following tips can help alleviate the pain or at least make it more manageable.

Tip #1: Choose an adjustable mattress

The softness or hardness of a mattress is a personal choice, but the areas that provide the most support can have a direct effect on your back pain. An adjustable mattress allows you to dial in the support levels, along with raising and lowering the feet or head, so you can create a personalized bed that doesn't bother your back. If you sleep with a partner, opt for a split adjustable bed so you can both be comfortable.

Tip #2: Get help with adjustments

The perfect adjustments will take some trial and error, but your chiropractor can help you zoom in on the perfect settings more quickly. First, determine your usual sleeping style – back, stomach, or side. Generally, the position you awake in naturally is probably your main sleeping style. Share this with your chiropractor so they can consider this along with the muscles causing your specific pain to help you decide on settings. For example, if you are a stomach sleeper and that is making the pain worse, your chiropractor may advise elevating your feet slightly so you will be less prone to rolling over onto your stomach.

For chiropractic care, contact a business such as Urban Wellness Clinic PC.

Tip #3: Skip the springs

No-spring mattresses are catching on for good reason – these provides good support without the worry of a wayward spring in the back. Springs break down over time, especially if you tend to sleep in the same position. Not only do broken down springs provide poor back support, they may even press against the back in an uncomfortable manner. Even if you go for a coil spring mattress, your chiropractor may still recommend purchasing a foam mattress topper to help cushion you against any spring issues. This is because the foam will form itself to the natural curvature of your spine, which can lessen pain.

Tip #4: Upgrade when necessary

Mattresses don't last forever, but there is no set-in-stone replacement time. Consumer reports advises getting a new one every five to seven years if you are over 40, but this is only necessary if the mattress is uncomfortable, if it is sagging, or if it is obviously lumpy. If you think your mattress could be to blame for your lower back pain, talk with your chiropractor to see if they think a new model may help alleviate your pain.