In the quest for a good night’s sleep, one often overlooked but critical factor is the mattress we choose to rest upon. For many of us, back pain can be an unwelcome companion that disrupts our daily lives and disturbs our sleep patterns. While there are various contributors to back pain, from posture to physical activity, the role of a mattress cannot be underestimated. In this article, we will delve into the relationship between mattresses and lower back pain, exploring how the right mattress can potentially alleviate discomfort and promote spinal health, while the wrong one may exacerbate existing issues. 

The tough thing about lower back pain is that it is different for everyone, so there is not just one mattress that can improve the pain. Back pain can vary greatly because of sleeping habits, level of physical activity, age, occupational factors, medical conditions, and more. Experiencing back pain can significantly impact one’s mood and productivity, so it is no wonder that people are constantly looking for ways to improve their level of pain. 

If you want to alleviate back pain and get better sleep, you need to find the right mattress for your spine. This can be a daunting task because of the endless options of mattresses to choose from, but with adequate help, you can find the perfect one for you.

What Factors Should You Consider When Looking For a Mattress

Your mattress should provide ample back support, similar to how a pillow keeps your neck supported. When your spine is aligned as you sleep, it allows the muscles and ligaments to rest while you are inactive. If your spine is misaligned, it puts a strain on it as you sleep and your muscles are forced to work to support the misalignment. 

The best mattresses are usually a good mix between a soft and hard firmness. The medium firmness gives enough support to keep your spine aligned and adjust to your specific body curves.

It is a common thought that sleeping on a harder mattress may be better for your back than a soft mattress because of the support that a harder mattress offers. While sleeping on a hard mattress or even the floor can occasionally be good to reset your spine alignment, consistently sleeping on a hard mattress won’t make your back feel better. 

On the other hand, too soft of a mattress doesn’t give your body enough support to rest your muscles as you sleep. Your challenge is to find the right balance between the two types of firmness that supports your back the best.

Do Your Research

Take Notes of Which Mattresses You Like

Most of the time, discovering what type of mattress feels best on your back takes time and effort. As you go throughout your business, if you stay at a hotel or friend’s house and find that you slept well and wake up without back pain, take note. Mattresses have model numbers that will identify what brand and model that specific mattress is, so write the number down to know how to find it later. 

Learn What Support Feels Best

As you try out different mattresses, you can also take notes about the specifics of the mattress. You can see if you like mattresses more when they are memory foam or just regular. You can also try out mattresses with a box spring, or some alternatives like wood slats, a platform bed, or metal bed frames. There are many different factors that play into a good mattress for you, so make sure to try out a lot of different brands and styles to know which you like best.

Some modern mattresses have the feature of lifting either end of the mattress to adjust to your body depending on the specific day. This feature is intended to help relieve pressure on your back and keep your spine aligned. Back pain may not be the same every single day, so this can be a good option that adapts to your specific needs. 

Try it Out

It can be tempting to buy a mattress from the store that feels amazing on your back for a few minutes, but it may not live up to expectations long term. Some mattress companies offer an extended trial period where you can return your mattress within a certain amount of time if you are not satisfied with your experience.

Create Ideal Environment

A better night’s sleep comes from not only a great mattress, but from your sleeping environment, as well. Back pain can come from sleeping in odd positions or tossing and turning through the night. 

Just like researching mattresses, you can research what type of environment helps you get the best sleep. Some factors that can play a major role in sleep are the temperature of the room, the amount of light in the room, and the sound level. 

Seek Professional Help

Learning what your preferences are when it comes to mattresses and lower back pain can be a lengthy process, but it is worth it to relieve the pain and discomfort. If you find that you continue to have lower back pain even after improving your mattress, you may consider getting a chiropractic adjustment and be treated by a professional.

It is a common thought to wonder if it hurts to get a chiropractic adjustment. With all the videos on the internet of chiropractors creating loud cracks from the adjustment, people don’t know much about adjustments other than the scary sounds. 

What is a Chiropractic Adjustment Good For?

Chiropractic adjustments can be very beneficial for the recipient to relieve back pain and improve flexibility and mobility. For those who have never received an adjustment, stepping into the office can be intimidating, so learning more about the process can relieve nervousness and let the experience be a positive one.

A chiropractic adjustment is meant to apply controlled and sudden force to a spinal joint in order to realign the spine. Adjustments are great for people with various different problems and reasons. Individuals who suffer with back pain, neck pain, headaches and migraines, sports injuries, automobile accident injuries, and other problems can have their pain improved by having a chiropractic adjustment. 

What to Expect at an Appointment

Each chiropractic adjustment is personalized and specific to the patient. The chiropractor will talk with the patient and learn about their current medical situation to prevent any unnecessary pain and determine the best approach. The chiropractor may also adjust their technique based on the health of the patient. For example, pregnant women may be positioned differently to maximize the experience.

If the adjustment is performed by an experienced professional, the process should be comfortable and painless. The chiropractor will have you lay down on a table with your back facing towards him and then proceed with the adjustment. He will usually tell you what he is doing so you aren’t surprised when he applies force to your back.

Although most of the adjustment process is in the hands of the chiropractor, there is something you can do to improve the experience. Patients who are too tense can create tightness in the back that may create pain, and it can prevent the proper alignment from forming. Try to relax and breathe during the adjustment so your muscles aren’t tight and your back can be properly realigned. With the combination of skilled professionals and relaxation, there should be no pain during the adjustment.

Why the Loud Pops?

Now onto the scary popping sounds. These loud pops happen as the vertebrae adjust into their proper place. Tiny pockets of gas between the joints are released, which results in the same sound you hear when “popping” your knuckles. This is completely normal to experience when receiving a back adjustment and is not cause for concern. It is also okay to not hear a popping sound. The sound is not indicative either way that the adjustment was performed correctly.

Can an Adjustment Make You Feel Worse?

Once the adjustment is complete, you should feel revived. The initial release of pressure of the spine is relieving and should make your back feel loose. Although the initial feeling is loose, your body may need some time to get used to the new adjustment of your muscles and bones. 

Subsequently following the appointment, your back and neck will be sore from the inflammation, similar to a sore feeling like you haven’t worked out in a while. Icing sore areas can relieve pain and calm down inflammation.   

Another side effect that some people may experience is illness in the immune and digestive systems. The adjustment may improve nerve communication, which promotes the immune system to function better. This may cause some initial sickness as the body adjusts to the improved nerve communication. The digestive system can also be affected by adjustment, although it is not a common side effect.

Preventative Measures You Can Take

There are some preventative measures you can take to ensure the most optimal experience at the chiropractor’s office. Drinking plenty of water before and after the adjustment helps the body flush out toxins, and lubricates the muscles and joints. You should also plan time to rest and recover after the adjustment. It may be tempting to push through any soreness or pain, but giving yourself adequate recovery time will help you heal faster.

It’s easy to wonder if a chiropractic adjustment will hurt, but the pain that follows the treatment won’t last forever. The most important thing to remember with a chiropractic adjustment is that it is designed to restore the body’s alignment. Oftentimes this means that multiple treatments are needed to maintain the alignment. With consistent care, your back can have a new healthy normal and feel amazing. 

Uninhibited and pain free movement in the shoulders, arms, and hands is something we all too often take for granted. We rely on our upper extremities for everything, but that blithe reliance can work against us in cases of nerve damage and neuropathy. Here at Grant Chiropractic, we are happy to help those suffering from brachial plexus neuropathy. Dr. Grant can treat patients with the condition whether it is the result of an accident or a chronic concern.

What Is Brachial Plexus Neuropathy?

Brachial plexus neuropathy is a form of peripheral neuropathy that occurs when the brachial plexus is damaged. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that provides sensation and movement to the shoulder, arms, and hands. Any damage to that network can limit movement, minimize feeling in the arm and shoulder, and inspire pain.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of brachial plexus neuropathy is numbness in the affected region (shoulders, arms, or hands). Along that same line, the upper extremities can experience debilitating weakness. In more extreme cases, the numbness may be replaced with pain that feels like tingling or burning. Patients may also feel abnormal sensations in the shoulders, arms, wrists, or hands. 

Causes

Brachial plexus neuropathy is generally caused by one of two issues: a herniated cervical disc in the neck or thoracic outlet syndrome.

Herniated Cervical Disc

The spine is made up of bones (vertebrae) and the rubbery cushions (disks) that sit between them. These discs have been compared to jelly donuts. The exterior, the annulus, is similar to a tough rubber, supporting the vertebrae and keeping them from scraping against each other. The interior, the nucleus, is much more pliable, often compared to jelly.

A herniated disc (also called slipped or ruptured discs) occurs when the nucleus pushes through a tear in the annulus. When this happens, the disc often puts unnatural pressure on the spinal cord, causing neuropathy. While herniated discs happen most frequently in the low back, they can happen anywhere along the spine. The cervical discs are in the neck and chiefly affect the shoulders and arms.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

The term thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) describes a group of disorders that occur when the nerves or blood vessels between the collarbone and first rib (the thoracic outlet) are compressed. Thoracic outlet syndrome is often the result of an injury, perhaps sustained on the field or in an auto accident. It can also be caused by congenital conditions—such as having an extra rib—and pregnancy. In some cases, the cause of the condition may be unknown. 

Because the nerves in cases of thoracic outlet syndrome are compressed, affected patients may suffer from neuropathy of the brachial plexus or other areas.

Diagnosing

Neuropathy of the brachial plexus can be diagnosed through clinical examination and tests, including ultrasound, chest x-ray, and MRI of the head, neck, and shoulder. However, sometimes a simple examination of the arm, hand, and wrist can reveal a problem with brachial plexus nerves without all the fuss. 

Treating Brachial Plexus Neuropathy

Fortunately, the prognosis for neuropathy patients is generally promising, especially if the condition is identified and treated early on. If the underlying cause is not identified or treated in time, the result may be prolonged nerve pain and partial or complete loss of movement or sensation. Patients should seek help as soon as they experience symptoms.

The treatment for brachial plexus neuropathy is most effective when it is geared toward treating the underlying cause of the condition. Occasionally the problem will resolve itself on its own, though it is wise to seek professional help. A general practitioner is likely to recommend braces, splints, physical therapy, or even surgery in addition to prescribing pain medication. A chiropractor, on the other hand, will have effective natural strategies that get to the root of the issue.

Neuropathy Caused by Herniated Disc

Those suffering from brachial plexus neuropathy caused by a slipped disc will find that chiropractic care is the best solution. A chiropractor can deliver spinal adjustments and decompression services that help restore the disc to its proper position and relieve the pain caused by misalignment. Such procedures are mechanical, delivered either by chiropractic instrument or by the chiropractor’s hands, and nonsurgical. This means that they are safer and that the initial relief is essentially instantaneous instead of waiting months for recovery.

Electrical stimulation, functional stretching, and trigger point myofascial release are also highly effective methods for relieving neuropathy pain. As a doctor of the spine, a chiropractor helps patients take care of their bodies to avoid further injury in the future.

Neuropathy Caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

If your brachial plexus neuropathy is the result of thoracic outlet syndrome, chiropractic adjustment can provide relief. The process is natural, simple, and straightforward, and the result is restoring the skeleton to its proper alignment, again protecting the brachial plexus. A chiropractor is also likely to recommend stretching and myofascial release of the anterior scalene muscles.