Hip pain
There is no better feeling then waking up rested and ready for the day. But, what happens if you struggle or feel pain in your hip that either keeps you from falling asleep or wakes you during the night? Hip bursitis causes pain and tenderness that often gets worse when you try to sleep. The wrong mattress makes pain from hip bursitis worse, and the right one can provide much needed relief. After reading our guide below, it should be clear what the best mattress for hip pain should provide.
Understanding Hip Burstis
A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between moving tissues of the body. There are two major bursae of the hip.
1. Bursitis, or inflammation of a bursa, is usually not infectious, but the bursa can become infected. Treatment of noninfectious bursitis includes rest, ice, and medications for inflammation and pain.
2. Infectious bursitis (uncommon) is treated with antibiotics, aspiration, and surgery
Other hip pain causes may include:
1. Arthritis – Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most common causes of hip pain, especially in older adults. Arthritis leads to inflammation of the hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. The pain gradually gets worse. People with arthritis also feel stiffness and have reduced range of motion in the hip.
2. Hip Fractures – With age, the bones can become weak and brittle. Weakened bones are more likely to break during a fall.
3. Tendinitis – Tendons are the thick bands of tissue that attach bones to muscles. Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of the tendons. It’s usually caused by repetitive stress from overuse.
4. Muscle or Tendon Strain – Repeated activities can put strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the hips. When they become inflamed due to overuse, they can cause pain and prevent the hip from working normally.
5. Hip Labral Tear – This is a rip in the ring of cartilage (called the labrum) that follows the outside rim of the socket of your hip joint. Along with cushioning your hip joint, your labrum acts like a rubber seal or gasket to help hold the ball at the top of your thighbone securely within your hip socket. Athletes and people who perform repetitive twisting movements are at higher risk of developing this problem.
When to see a doctor
You may not need to see a doctor if your hip pain is minor. Try these self-care tips:
- Rest – Avoid repeated bending at the hip and direct pressure on the hip. Try not to sleep on the affected side and avoid prolonged sitting.
- Pain relievers – Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may help ease your hip pain.
- Ice or heat – Use ice cubes or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to apply cold treatments to your hip. Conversely, a warm bath or shower may help prepare your muscles for stretching exercises that can reduce pain.
If self-care treatments don’t help, make an appointment with your doctor.
How your mattress can help with Hip Pain
Sleeping positions are important in reducing bursae inflammation. If your mattress places pressure on affected joints, it limits circulation and increases swelling. A mattress that relieves pressure points and evenly distributes weight becomes necessary not just to feeling rested, but to overall quality of life.
When you lie down, the heaviest parts of your body exert the most pressure on your mattress. Conventional mattresses allow those parts of the body to sink, springs push back against skin, and foam creates an indentation that restricts air flow.
If you’re a side sleeper, one hip and shoulder press into the mattress. Your top knee slopes toward the bed, pulling your spine out of alignment. Because your hips and shoulders are heavier than the rest of your body, your head and feet may rest higher.
During the night, pressure builds where your body experiences it most and you eventually turn over to relieve pain. In addition, your lower back slumps down into the mattress below the ribcage, creating additional pressure on your hips.
If you sleep on your back, your hips and shoulders still sink. Your lower back and behind your knees sag, preventing your hips from staying in the correct position. In the morning when you wake up, joints, tendons and bursae that were already irritated are even worse.
What is the best type of mattress for hip pain?
It’s important to think carefully about the type of mattress you want. If you don’t choose the right mattress, it won’t provide the level of support that you hoped for. For instance, someone will benefit from a softer mattress while those with back pain could need something firmer that offers more support. You need to look at the different mattresses and find the best one for you. Here are some of the different options you can consider.
Air mattress
One of the biggest benefits of an air mattress is that you adjust the firmness levels on either side of the mattress. This allows you to alter how soft or firm it feels, but that’s not all. The latest models use modern tech that uses air chambers, allowing pressure on the body to be relieved. Most commonly used for medical purposes, it’s largely considered the best choice when selecting a mattress for Hip Bursitis, Arthritis, Back Pain & more.
Open spring mattress
This is a budget-friendly choice that could certainly provide a fantastic bed for the kids or even guests, but may not be something that you want as your main mattress. Often known as a continuous-coil or even an open-coil mattress, they have a clever design. The metal pieces are coiled into springs while there is also a rod/wire to make sure that they stay the right shape. They’re even easy to turn over when necessary.
Pocket spring mattress
This is a more advanced spring mattress and can once again be suitable for a wide range of different individuals. You can get a pocket spring mattress designed for a range of different needs including medium, firm or soft varieties. The design of this mattress also ensures that they are breathable, ideal for hot summer evenings. You will however, have trouble turning these mattresses due to the weight, and they are often filled with natural materials. Worried about weight issues? There’s no need with these mattresses as the different springs allow the pressure of weight to be spread evenly.
Memory foam mattress
To know whether a mattress works or not, you naturally have to test it. Some people find the right mattress for them by copying the product number they find on a hotel bed. However, you can test mattresses from providers by taking advantage of trials they have that allow you to see whether it works or not. For instance, Natural Form has a 100 Night Sleep Trial Guarantee. If you still find that the mattress you have chosen isn’t right for you within 100 nights of sleep, you can receive a 100% refund.
Latex mattress
Filled with foam, these mattresses are breathable, so they are perfect if you have allergies, asthma or issues with overheating. These mattresses are durable too and are great if you need solid support for your back. However, like the pocket spring mattress, they are also heavy enough that turning is difficult.
Faqs
Can a bad mattress cause hip pain?
If your mattress places pressure on affected joints, it limits circulation and increases swelling. A mattress that relieves pressure points and evenly distributes weight becomes necessary not just too feeling rested, but to overall quality of life.
What does burstis in the hip feel like?
Hip Burstis symptoms include joint pain, tenderness and possible aches. You may also see swelling and feel warmth around the affected area. The pain is often sharp in the first few days. It may be dull and achy later.
The does my hip hurt in bed?
Common hip pain causes may include:
- Arthritis – Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most common causes of hip pain, especially in older adults. Arthritis leads to inflammation of the hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. The pain gradually gets worse. People with arthritis also feel stiffness and have reduced range of motion in the hip.
- Hip Fractures – With age, the bones can become weak and brittle. Weakened bones are more likely to break during a fall.
- Tendinitis – Tendons are the thick bands of tissue that attach bones to muscles. Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of the tendons. It’s usually caused by repetitive stress from overuse.
- Muscle or Tendon Strain – Repeated activities can put strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the hips. When they become inflamed due to overuse, they can cause pain and prevent the hip from working normally.
- Hip Labral Tear – This is a rip in the ring of cartilage (called the labrum) that follows the outside rim of the socket of your hip joint. Along with cushioning your hip joint, your labrum acts like a rubber seal or gasket to help hold the ball at the top of your thighbone securely within your hip socket. Athletes and people who perform repetitive twisting movements are at higher risk of developing this problem.
