A top-of-the-line, all natural latex mattress can help mitigate the symptoms of a wide range of medical problems, especially those with a relation to the back, spine, and nerves. If you have sciatica, a latex mattress may be able to help.

When you have serious sciatica pain in the low back, hips, and legs, a good night's sleep can seem like an impossible dream. Poor sleep and painful nights can leave you feeling sleep deprived and helpless. But with the right mattress combined with the right medical care you can get the sleep you need to live a better, healthier, happier life.

What is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve, the largest in the body, runs from the lower back down along the back of the thigh. The nerve can become pinched or pulled in a variety of locations throughout the low back, pelvis, hip, and leg, resulting in the sciatic pain known as sciatica. In many cases, sciatica is mild, occasionally causing mild to moderate pain that can usually be treated with an anti-inflammatory. In other cases, the pain can become so severe that the person with sciatica has trouble standing or bearing their own weight on the affected leg.

Latex as an "Orthopedic Mattress"

Back in the 1950s, medical industry produced the first orthopedic mattresses based around the idea that the proper alignment and support at night could improve posture during the day. Just as orthopedic shoes or braces could improve skeletal alignment, clinicians thought, so an orthopedic mattress could improve your spinal alignment. Unfortunately, the first few generations of orthopedic mattress could actually increase pain instead of decreasing it.

Botanical latex foam mattresses bring the idea of the orthopedic mattress into the 21st century. Latex foam is flexible yet comfortable, supportive yet soft. A customized latex bed combines unbeatable pressure relief with the support and buoyancy that can help relieve the pain of a misaligned lumbar region (the lower back). Such misalignment is often though not always the cause of sciatica.

Dealing with Sciatica

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, lower back pain can be caused by several medical conditions involving the muscle and skeletal structures of the low back. From spinal degeneration from repeated use to infections, Lower Back Pain including sciatica can be caused by a wide range of medical problems. Usually, in the case of sciatica, muscular or nerve-related problems are the culprit though more serious conditions can also co-occur with sciatica.

No matter where the sciatic nerve is pulled or pinched, proper alignment of the skeleton and musculature can relieve the pressure on the nerve thus decreasing or even eliminating sciatic pain. In more severe cases, an anti-inflammatory will be necessary to reduce the inflammation in the sciatic nerve even if the original cause is ameliorated. The right mattress, combined with proper medical and/or chiropractic care, can help you get your sciatica under control.

Latex and Sciatica

A latex mattress:

• Cradles your body, supporting your spine's natural alignment while you sleep.
• Helps alleviate symptoms of multiple medical problems, including fibromyalgia, arthritis, and even spinal injury increasing your chances of improving sciatic pain.
• Is long-lasting and resilient. All-natural latex regularly lasts 10-20 years and may last as long as 40 so you get trustworthy, comfortable sleep night after night.

If you have moderate to severe sciatic pain, a latex mattress can help you get a good night's sleep again. With the right thickness and the right firmness, you can find a mattress that is soft on painful muscle tissues but offers comforting support to the spine and pelvis.

The Research

The American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation published a study in 2006 that found a significant relationship between quality of sleep and back pain worse back pain, worse sleep. Another 2006 study in Applied Ergonomics found that mattresses which caused pressure points or spinal distortion led to increased back pain during sleep.

Research in the Journal of Chiropractic Care asked participants to switch their older mattresses for brand new and medium-firm mattress systems. Those who did experienced a significant decreases tiffness and pain in the back, when compared to a control group. A medium-firm, comfortably supportive latex mattress may help alleviate your pain.

Sciatica and Latex Mattress Options: The Bottom Line

The wrong mattress can exacerbate maladjustment of the skeletal system, nerves, and musculature, seriously hurting your chances of sleeping well. A high quality botanical latex mattress can help you get better sleep, alleviate your back pain, and get you on the road to healing. Consult with your doctor to find the best tools for your particular condition, so you have the best chances of alleviating your pain quickly and effectively.

Legal and Medical Disclaimer: The content provided within the pages of this website should not be construed as medical advice for any specific person or condition. Please consult your licensed physician for any questions you have regarding your health. This website's sole intent is for educational purposes only.