Can't Sleep? It May Not Be Your Bed's Fault

By Dr. Don Nixdorf, Chiropractor Approximately 14% of Canadians suffer from insomnia. Its safe to assume that a significant number of these individuals are having trouble sleeping because of chronic pain.

Just because you hurt after laying in your bed all night, doesnt necessarily mean its time to trade in your mattress. Its important to look at all of the different variables in your life before jumping to any conclusions. Consider this: If youve been sleeping on the same mattress for over a year and your pain developed suddenly, there is a good chance your bed hasnt changed all that much and that some other factor is causing your discomfort.

Did you load any boxes, luggage or groceries from you car recently? Do you perform duties at work that may bring on a repetitive stress injury? Have you been in a car accident?

Have you changed your diet or do you still have that extra holiday weight? Maybe you overdid it at the gym or went a little further on your daily walk? There are countless sources of injury and it is very common for the pain to manifest in the morning after a period of inactivity (laying in your bed all night in this case).

Poor sleeping posture can often magnify pre-existing spine conditions. Some of the best positions for sleeping are laying flat on your back and laying on your side with a pillow between your legs to keep your hips and spine in line. Pillows are also very important when it comes to sleep.

Make sure your pillow isnt too high, but does provide ample support for the curve in your neck. If you need advice on how to improve your sleeping posture, your family chiropractors office is a great place to start. In some cases, your bed may be responsible for your pain.

The ideal sleeping surface is one that is firm with some give in the top to support the natural curvature of the spine. If your mattress has lost its shape, it wouldnt be a bad idea to consider an upgrade. Many mattress retailers even provide a trial period for you to test your new bed.

The moral of the story? It can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of your pain and it is extremely frustrating when it interferes with your sleep. Dont wait another night in pain.

Talk to your family chiropractor and together you can answer the question of whether or not to a new mattress is in your future.