Menu

Best Mattress for Sciatica

Corey Majeau

Sciatica is pain which runs down your sciatic nerves, affecting your back, hips, legs, and buttocks. It tends to impact your daily life as it’s prominently present. It can even begin to affect your sleep quality if it becomes too bothersome.

However, sleep is the best time for your body to recover from pains and if sciatica is keeping you up, you’ll never find the relief you need. The solution to this is finding a mattress which provides you with more than ample support during the night and relieves pain so your body can recover from the damage sciatica does during the day.

RankProductHighlights
#1DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress

CHECK PRICE

Read Our Review

  • Sizes: Queen
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Layers: 6
  • Warranty: Everlong (lifetime) warranty
#2Casper Sleep Original Hybrid Mattress

CHECK PRICE

Read Our Review

  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Layers: 4
  • Warranty: 10 years limited warranty
#3ZINUS 12-inch Cloud Memory Foam Mattress

CHECK PRICE

  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Mattress Type: Foam Mattress
  • Layers: 4
  • Warranty: 10 years limited warranty
#4Nectar Mattress

CHECK PRICE

Read Our Review

  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Mattress Type: Foam Mattress
  • Layers: 5
  • Warranty: Nectar Forever Warranty (lifetime)
#5Suiforlun 12-inch Pillow-Top Hybrid Mattress

CHECK PRICE

  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Layers: 4
  • Warranty: 10 years limited warranty
#6Ashley Furniture Signature Design Mattress

CHECK PRICE

  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Layers: 4
  • Warranty: 10 years limited warranty; see details for specifics

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica can be a chronic pain which runs through the lower part of your body, lower back, hips, bottom, and legs. It can feel like numbness which increases overtime and during specific parts of your day, especially at night. You can experience the pain on either one or both sides of your body.

With more severe cases of sciatica, it can begin to conflict with your bladder functions, in which case persistent professional treatment should be sought. One of the biggest issues everyone with sciatica experiences is an interference with sleep.

Sciatica creates a vicious cycle in which you can’t sleep properly because of the pain, which only makes the pain hurt more the next day. The best solution to this is a mattress which can relieve pains and pressure points on your body so you can sleep properly and allow your body to naturally recover during the night without interruptions.

What to Look for In Your Mattress?

A quality mattress isn’t enough to conquer sciatica. There are more specific features which you must investigate in order to receive the best support from your mattress.

  • Pressure relief should be at least above average to help you sleep better, regardless of the level of pain you incur from sciatica.
  • Motion isolation, so your partner doesn’t risk waking you up and disrupting your sleep, and vice versa.
  • Edge support, to help you get in and out of bed.
  • Ease of movement, so you’re never stuck in one stiff position.

Pressure Relief

Pressure relief comes from materials which conform closely to your body. Memory foam or latex are typically the first options, the former being the reigning one. This prevents pressure from building up in vitals spots on your body, neck, back, legs, shoulders, hips. The exact areas which need relief are targeted and joints and muscles are given some alleviation.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation is very important, considering how easily sciatica acts up. You don’t want to wake your partner when you’re attempting to find a comfortable position nor do you want your partner to wake you up and trigger a new wave of pains in the middle of the night.

Edge Support

Edge support is extremely essential. Edge support allows you to climb in and out of bed with ease, allowing you to crawl out in any awkward position and not ruin the support around the ends. You won’t roll off of your bed, no matter how much you move, and you can sit on the edge without causing too much deformation.

Ease of Movement

When you’re sleeping with sciatica, chances are you will be moving around quite a bit. You want a mattress surface which allows you to easily do so without snagging you in one spot. A highly responsive mattress is the best choice in this case since you can move around fluidly while still not disrupting your partner. Sleeping in one position for too long can make your joints stiff and complement nighttime pains with sciatica.

Firmness

Firmness is a preference. Some people enjoy soft mattresses while others prefer firm ones. But sometimes, there are requirements to meet even if it doesn’t match your preferences.

When it comes to sleeping with any pains, it’s always better to look for firmer options. These provide greater support underneath you and help create balanced spinal alignment.

Interior Filling

— Memory Foam or Polyfoam

Polyfoam is the standard foam which is used inside mattresses and other bedding accessories. It’s usually the cheapest option you can find on the market, though its benefits are quite limited. It does provide good motion isolation, pressure relief, and does not create any noise.

Polyfoam, however, will almost always off-gas. You’ll have a strong chemical odor coming out from your mattress the first few days you have it, so be sure to leave it outside. Foam collects body heat which can leave you sleeping hotter than you’d like. Polyfoam isn’t the most supportive on its own, so there may be sags and indents after a while and edge support isn’t the best either.

Memory foam is a newer foam which is used popularly. This foam contours to the shape of your body with greater precision and helps relieve pressure points better than any other material. There is ample motion isolation and it creates no noise.

But like standard foam, it has weaker edge support and can indent easier. There are also chances of bodily odors and perspiration sinking into the mattress which will leave a nasty smell, and heat builds up very easily inside of memory foam.

— Innerspring

Innerspring is most probably the mattress type you’ll look for when support is your primary motive. There are four different coil types you can find when looking at innerspring mattresses:

  • Bonnell coils are hourglass shaped coils, though not the most supportive
  • Offset coils are hourglass shaped as well, but with a straightened bottom for greater hinge effect
  • Continuous wire coils are rows of a single steel wire which joins one another at the sides to amplify the hinge motion
  • Pocketed coils are what you will mostly find in a hybrid mattress. Every single coil is individually wrapped in cloth or fabric to minimize the chance of noise as the coils move and reduce motion transfer over the mattress surface.

Innerspring mattresses are relatively cheaper than other options and are more responsive for a better night’s rest regardless of movement. They have stronger edge support than other mattress types and help you sleep cooler with better airflow throughout the structure.

Innerspring mattresses, however, do have a much shorter lifespan than other mattresses, and are not the best at providing pressure relief. There is a much greater chance of the wires and coils inside creating noise while you move around, which can disrupt sleep, and there is minimal motion isolation which becomes bothersome when sleeping with a partner.

— Hybrids

Finally, there is the hybrid mattress. This mattress combines all the elements of memory foam, latex, and innerspring to get a luxury mattress.

With the use of memory foam, you can get close conformation to your body and pressure relief while you sleep. Latex can be used to cool down the memory foam or it can be gel-infused to pull body heat away from the surface. You also get the benefit of motion isolation from foam being the top layer of the bed. The innersprings offer the right amount of support underneath and edge support all around the ends of your bed.

Which Mattress Type is Best?

If sciatica is what you’re suffering from, then a hybrid would be your best bet. You get the support and responsiveness of innerspring along with the conformation and pressure relief only memory foam can give you. Partner this with gel-infusions and you have a cooling, comforting bed that will help make every night much more comfortable.

Best Mattress for Sciatica

1. DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress

SPECS:

  • Sizes: Queen
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Layers: 6
  • Warranty: Everlong (lifetime) warranty

Best Overall Mattress for Sciatica

DreamCloud has been recognized as the fastest growing e-commerce retailer and has the luxury hybrid mattress worth the wildfire. This mattress is made for every kind of sleeper and comes in one standard size of Queen.

All Amazon orders of this mattress are backed by a 180-night trial alongside an ever long warranty which lasts a lifetime.

There are six layers to this mattress, a combination of both foam and innerspring. The top is a Luxe quilted euro top, with a cooling memory foam layer underneath infused with gel. It combines the benefits of conformation and heat distribution.

There is responsive support on top of the pocketed innerspring coils, which help improve overall spinal alignment with more precise support. There is a foam layer underneath for key stability and finally there is a stay-put foundation which prevents the mattress from sliding around. Thanks to the combination of memory foam on top and innerspring in the middle, the mattress provides sleepers with motion isolation and sufficient edge support.

ProsCons
  • Edge support
  • Motion isolation
  • Pressure relief
  • Made for every sleeping position
  • Only comes in Queen size

Who Should Buy This?

This mattress gives you everything that you need to stay comfortable and well supported when you’re sleeping with sciatica. The edge support, pressure relief, and motion isolation are all there to ensure you’re not missing out on any relief you could be provided.

CHECK PRICE

2. Casper Sleep Original Hybrid Mattress

SPECS:

  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Layers: 4
  • Warranty: 10 years limited warranty

Best Environmentally Friendly Mattress for Sciatica

Casper’s original hybrid mattress comes with zoned support for a more efficient and balanced job at keeping your spine aligned and body comfortable. Softer foam is located near your shoulders while firmer foam is found around the lower part of your body.

This structure is practically ideal for people who suffer with sciatica as the firmer sections of the mattress support all the areas in which the pain is found.

Being a combination of innerspring and memory foam, it’s important to ensure that the upper layers are breathable and do not retain too much heat. Therefore, Casper has an Airscape perforated breathable foam which allows air to regularly flow through the structure of the mattress.

The ergonomic alignment of this mattress ensures that every sleeper type can enjoy this mattress to the fullest. Each mattress is made with 121 recycled plastic bottles. These mattresses help recycle waste and make better, higher quality products to last a lifetime.

ProsCons
  • Environmentally friendly mattress
  • Edge support
  • Pressure relief
  • Made for every sleep position
  • Strong chemical smell

Who Should Buy This?

Being environmentally conscious is never a bad thing. Purchasing from a producer who strives to encourage wildlife preservation and recycling helps fund their initiative. Casper, recycling 121 bottles with every purchase, becomes an ideal option for many who wish to make a difference while never giving up on the quality product they deserve.

CHECK PRICE

3. ZINUS 12-inch Cloud Memory Foam Mattress

SPECS:

  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Mattress Type: Foam Mattress
  • Layers: 4
  • Warranty: 10 years limited warranty

Budget Pick

There are three layers of foam within the mattress with a plush microfiber jacquard cover on top for surface protection. The three layers include 2 inches of conforming memory foam which cradles the body, 3 inches of softer comfort foam that allows you to sink into the mattress, and 5 inches of durable, high-intensity base support foam for even spinal alignment and shape retention.

This mattress is best suited for petite to average-weighted sleepers who sleep on their sides. Twin-sized mattresses can hold up to 250 lbs while sizes full and above can hold up to 500 lbs comfortably. The memory foam within this mattress is green tea and active charcoal infused for a cooler and more beneficial sleep. You can purchase this mattress in varying thicknesses of 8, 10, and 12 inches.

All foam used is CertiPUR-US certified and the mattress comes compressed in a box. Allow 72 hours for it to off-gas and regain former shape.

ProsCons
  • CERTIPUR-US certified
  • Motion isolation
  • Pressure relief
  • Firmness may be uncomfortable for some

Who Should Buy This?

Relief from sciatica doesn’t have to come at a higher price. You can still find quality materials and mattresses within a sensible budget, and Zinus is a perfect example of such. With a completely foam structure, it still gives you the support and comfort you need without straining the bank account.

CHECK PRICE

4. Nectar Mattress

SPECS:

  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Mattress Type: Foam Mattress
  • Layers: 5
  • Warranty: Nectar Forever Warranty (lifetime)

Best Foam Mattress for Sciatica

This mattress from Nectar is a 100% foam mattress made to suit the needs of every type of sleeper. It comes in a wide variety of sizes, so everyone gets the mattress they need.

There are five layers to this mattress, three being the foam layers, and two being covers. The top layer is gel memory foam, which keeps your weight evenly distributed over the mattress surface throughout the night without the build-up of excessive heat. It bounces back almost immediately to prevent lumps and indents. Underneath, there is a response transition layer which promotes motion isolation and helps make it easier to move around at night. The base layer reinforces support to make sure you don’t go sinking too deep into the mattress and there is abundant pressure relief on vital areas.

There are two covers, the top and bottom covers. The top cover is a removable quilted cooling Tencel mattress cover which keeps the mattress surface breathable and soft. You can remove and wash this routinely when it’s dirty. The second cover underneath is the non-slipcover which prevents it from sliding and shuffling in the bed frame at night if you move around often.

ProsCons
  • Two premium pillows included with purchase
  • Motion isolation
  • Pressure relief
  • Ease of movement
  • Considerably firm, may not be the ideal choice for softer sleepers

Who Should Buy This?

This mattress is great for someone who wants a cheaper alternative to more expensive hybrid and latex mattresses. It’s also the perfect choice if memory foam is your go-to sleep solution. Combining affordability and support, every layer of foam within this mattress helps relieve your sciatica pains.

CHECK PRICE

5. Suiforlun 12-inch Pillow-Top Hybrid Mattress

SPECS:

  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Layers: 4
  • Warranty: 10 years limited warranty

Best Hybrid Mattress for Sciatica 

Finally, we have the best hybrid mattress from Suiforlun. With a 3-zoned construction, this mattress ensures that you have consistent head-to-toe comfort all night, every night, for as long as you’re using Suiforlun.

This mattress has four layers inside consisting of one cover, innerspring and two layers of foam. The top layer is cooling gel memory foam, which couples the benefit of contouring and cooler sleep into one layer. There is a support layer and then the coils underneath. There are 960 individually wrapped heavy-gauge coils which help improve motion isolation and provide more support with greater precision. Two rows of coils near the ends of the bed are made firmer to ensure you have ample edge support when getting in and out of bed.

The top layer is quilted with a partnering knitted cover and 3D Spacer mesh side panels for maximum air circulation. This keeps the mattress cool, breathable, and free of odors. All materials used are CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX certified, and Suiforlun has a promise of healthy and eco-friendly materials being used to benefit the environment.

ProsCons
  • Motion isolation
  • Edge support
  • Pressure relief
  • Cooling and breathable construction
  • Shorter lifespan

Who Should Buy This?

This mattress combines all the preferred elements of a memory foam and innerspring mattress into one perfected piece made to tackle sleepers who suffer from chronic pains. The zoned support makes sure that every part of your body is contoured properly, not only your lower half.

CHECK PRICE

6. Ashley Furniture Signature Design Mattress

SPECS:

  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Layers: 4
  • Warranty: 10 years limited warranty; see details for specifics

Best High End Option

One of the best ways to alleviate or find it comes along with sciatica pain is to change the mattress you are currently using and instead invest in one that has both the cushion and support your body needs during slumber.

When we sleep, our bodies automatically relax into its natural position and if your mattress doesn’t support this or you spend the night being tense; then you are definitely going to wake up with aches and pains. This is especially true when you have sciatica as this condition is a result of nerve damage, muscle deterioration, and other factors.

The Ashley Furniture Signature Design Mattress is a hybrid of various memory foams to offer the ultimate experience in comfort and support.

ProsCons
  • Four foam layers offer a wider airflow channel to keep the sleeping surface cool
  • Only requires approximately 4 hours to inflate to 12 inches
  • Firm cushioning provides support with enough of a “give” to offer comfort
  • Side sleepers reported that the mattress was too firm for them
  • Can have a stronger scent at the beginning but should dissipate

CHECK PRICE

Conclusion

Everyone deserves an upgrade when it promises better quality and relief. A mattress made to support and comfort you at night, with pressure relief and motion isolation is the best option against sciatica. Though there is no one perfect mattress for everyone who suffers from sciatica, there is a massive variety in the saturated market today, and surely there is one mattress which will provide you with the support you need.

Leave a like if this article helped you, or comment on your own experiences if sciatica and mattresses is a tango you’ve danced to before. Also, be sure to share this article with others you know who need some relief.