Living with any chronic disease is not easy. This is certainly true of living with fibromyalgia (fi-bro-my-al-gia). Fibromyalgia is a challenging and life-changing disease. For many patients, the search for pain relief is an ongoing daily process, including pain relief at bedtime. Lots of suggestions are often made, including adding comfort to a bed with a mattress topper. But with so many out there to choose from, which is the best mattress topper for fibromyalgia?
The best mattress topper for fibromyalgia should help relieve aching joints and muscles and offer a better night’s sleep in general. It should also sleep as cool as possible, no matter what the season and hopefully last for as long as its price merits.
A tall order it might seem for any product, but fortunately there are an increasing number of products that fit the bill, as we will examine in more detail here.
Take Note Sleep hygiene : Since fatigue is one of the main symptoms of fibromyalgia, getting good quality sleep is essential. So aim to get sufficient sleep and develop healthy sleeping habits of going to bed and waking up at the same time on a regular basis.
What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
The main symptoms of Fibromyalgia are:
- Experiencing deep or burning pain in the neck, low back, hips, trunk and shoulders
- Experiencing tender points anywhere on the body that hurt when pressed
Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue and sleeping problems
- Headaches
- Anxiety and depression
- Brain fog
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Benefits of a Mattress Topper
If you can’t invest in a new mattress right now, consider adding a mattress topper. Here are five reasons to buy a mattress topper if you’re a fibromyalgia sufferer:
1. Restores Spring and Support to an Aging Mattress
If you are not ready to purchase a new mattress yet but are not satisfied with the performance of the one you have – especially if its aging – a mattress topper can help restore the spring and support your mattress once offered – or maybe never really did – in a matter of minutes, no tools or DIY hacks required.
2. All Night Pain Relief
Much of the pain that people feel when they sleep – or when they wake – may not be the fault of their mattress completely, but a bad mattress will not help matters. Some mattress toppers offer targeted pressure point relief and extra support for the lower body, especially the hips and knees, leading to a better night’s sleep with less waking pain.
3. Adds a Cooling Layer of Comfort
Some mattress toppers can also add cooling to a bed that sleeps hot – something that is often the case for older memory foam mattresses. Gel mattress toppers are especially goof for this, as they prevent the sticky, swampy feeling sleeping on some memory foams can result in.
4. Adds Softness
Everyone – but especially those who suffer with fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic pain – needs to sleep on a mattress that offers good support. But that does not have to mean sleeping on a bed that feels as hard as rock. A mattress topper can add a soft layer of cushy comfort without compromising the much-needed support your mattress provides.
5. Cleaner, More Sanitary Sleeping Environment
Over time, even when cared for well, an aging mattress can begin to look and feel grimy. The addition of a mattress topper can restore that clean, fresh new bed feel and some can even offer an additional layer of antimicrobial and hypoallergenic protection.
Best Reviewed Mattress Toppers for Fibromyalgia
Once you have decided to try a mattress topper for fibromyalgia and start shopping, you will quickly discover that there are a lot of them to choose from, making it seem like finding the best one for you is not going to be easy.
One of the best uses you can put a mattress topper is to solve the problem you see above. A sagging mattress. A mattress that no longer offers enough support, and may, if it is sagging badly enough, lead to you sinking awkwardly into it, can aggravate the nighttime pain many fibromyalgia sufferers deal with, and certainly will not offer the pressure point relief that a good mattress will.
As you shop you will find that the best mattress toppers can be divided into types. To help you make a better shopping decision we are going to take a closer look at each type of mattress topper and at some of the best buying options in each ‘category’.
1. Memory Foam Mattress Toppers
Memory foam is both supportive and adaptive, meaning that over time your mattress topper with offer the kind of ‘custom’ pressure point relief and support you need to sleep – and wake – as pain free as possible.
The one thing – as we mentioned – that some find is a drawback of sleeping on memory foam is that it can sleep hot, which is why looking for a memory foam mattress topper with cooling technology is always a good idea as well. Here is a look at two great options well worth considering.
Amerisleep Lift
The Amerisleep Lift mattress topper has a lot to offer. The memory foam it is crafted from makes use of a patented technology the manufacturer has dubbed HIVE – which stands for ‘harnessing intelligent ventilation and energy’ and describes a foam made up of supportive hexagons that look like the cells in a beehive.
The topper features five separate comfort zones, which are designed to provide targeted support for your head, neck, hips and back. And even the mattress topper cover helps, as it is made using Celliant, a fiber that is FDA approved as a medical device to help increase circulation and blood flow, resulting in, may say, more restorative sleep.
Click here to view this topper on Amerisleep
Milliard 3 Inch Memory Foam Topper
If you tend to sleep hot anyway, and many people do, you will benefit from a cooling mattress topper. This one offers cooling gel beads that shift with your body to ensure your body stays at just the right temperature. The support offers customizes with every night slept on it and as it is also a very affordable choice it offers a better night’s sleep for less.
Click here to view this topper on Amazon
2. Cooling Memory Foam Mattress Topper
If you know that hot sleeping is one of your biggest problems, and your current mattress really is not keeping you cool, then a memory foam mattress topper that focuses on that very issue while also providing the support you need is something you should be on the look-out for as you shop. Here are two notable examples.
Bear Pro Topper
Bear mattresses are known for their cooling properties, as the memory foam used is infused with copper, a natural conductor that draws excess heat away from your body without leaving you too cold. That same technology is used in their mattress topper.
In addition to the copper powered cooling the Bear Pro Mattress Topper also offers excellent, adaptive support and features a Celliant cover, adding to the restorative benefits of making use of it.
Click here to view this topper on Bear
Linenspa Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper
This foam mattress topper offers a layer of cooling gel in addition to its breathable memory foam to help ensure that your body stays at just the right temperature throughout the night.
It is also available in two depth – 2 inch or 3 inch – to allow you to choose how much extra support you want and need to add to your bed.
Click here to view this topper on Amazon
3. Latex Mattress Topper
Latex is an all-natural substance and very eco-friendly too. When used as a mattress – and as a mattress topper – latex offers support and comfort with a little extra spring, and cooling that is 100% natural. Here are two excellent latex mattress topper examples of this.
Latex for Less Topper
Sleeping on the 100% natural latex mattress topper will help relieve pressure point pain especially in your lower body by distributing your weight in just the right way, even if you move in your sleep a lot.
It also offers great natural cooling, is exceptionally durable, surprisingly easy to care for and, as the name suggests, is offered at an affordable price, a plus as latex is often more expensive than other options.
Click here to view this topper on Latex for Less
Pure Green 100% Natural Latex Topper
If you prefer softer – but still effective – support, then this mattress topper may be right for you. It offers the pressure point relief needed, but is springer and more forgiving, offering that ‘sleeping on a cloud’ feeling many crave.
It is also crafted from 100% natural latex sourced from organic supplies, making it an eco-friendly choice that also naturally sleeps very cool.
Click here to view this topper on Amazon
4. Down Alternative Toppers
If you have always wanted to sleep on a feather bed but prefer not to buy a down mattress topper – either because of allergies or personal preference – then a vegan friendly down alternative mattress topper is an excellent choice. Here is a look at two of our favorites:
Plushbeds Alternative Down Bed Topper
This pillowy soft mattress topper offers more support than you might think, and while it may feel like you are sinking into it there is plenty of pressure point relief and support.
The down alternative is hypoallergenic and vegan friendly, and its chambered construction helps keep the down in place, preventing lumps and bumps.
Click here to view this topper on PlushBeds
D & G Overfilled Topper
If you really want that luxurious feather bed feel, then this very lofty mattress topper may be right for you. As it is overfilled it offers lots of support, but that support feels light and cozy. It also feels cool, as the down alternative fill is infused with cooling gel beads to help ensure your sleep is as cool as it is comfortable.
Click here to view this topper on Amazon
5. Fiberbed Mattress Topper
A fiberbed mattress topper is one that makes use of synthetic and/or natural fabrics to offer additional comfort and support. These are two great choices.
Plushbeds Natural Wool Topper
Wool is soft, durable, a natural temperature regulator and very eco-friendly. This Plushbeds mattress topper makes wonderful use of everything wool has to offer to provide good extra support and lots of soft feeling comfort. And with no chemicals or foams included at all it is hypoallergenic and non-toxic, addressing two concerns many have over other mattress topper choices.
Click here to view this topper on PlushBeds
BioPEDIC MemoryLOFT Deluxe Topper
This 3-inch thick mattress topper combines shredded cotton and memory foam for excellent support and pressure point relief that sleeps soft. To help keep you cool it features a cotton cover that will do so naturally and look great too!
Click here to view this topper on Amazon
Can Mattress Toppers Cause Back Pain?
If it is too hard technically mattress toppers could cause back pain, but that is rare, as one of the main reasons to choose to use a mattress topper is to relieve back pain by offering additional, targeted support to enhance the job your mattress is already doing.
How Thick Should A Mattress Topper Be?
Most mattress toppers are 2 inches in depth, with some offered at 3 inches as well. There is no right answer here though, it really depends on how much support you are comfortable with.
What Are the Best Sheets to Use with a Mattress Topper?
The one thing a mattress topper can do is complicate your bedsheet situation. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing bedsheets for your new mattress topper enhanced bed.
Size
A mattress topper adds at least two inches – sometimes more – to the height of your bed, which could mean that your fitted sheet will no longer fit, and your flat sheets won’t tuck in.
That often means choosing a deep pocket sheet set, to ensure that your bed is comfortable, your mattress topper stays in place and that your sleep is not disturbed by getting tangled in your sheets.
Click here to view this deep pocket sheet set on Amazon
Cool Factor
There is little point in spending money on a mattress topper that cools you down if you are going to cover it with sheets that make you hot. Opting a cooling bedsheet option like cotton, linen or bamboo will prevent that from happening!
Cotton Percale
Cotton is a soft and breathable material and the most popular fabric choice made of natural fibers. Long-staple cotton is the better option for bedsheets over short-staple cotton since the fiber is more luxurious and soft.
The term “percale” is a type of weave with a simple criss-cross pattern that are known for their extreme breathability. They are crisp to the touch and get softer with each wash. Cotton percale sheets is a popular choice amongst hot sleepers or, those living in warmer climates.
Click here to view this percale cotton bed sheet set on Amerisleep
Linen
A bedding fabric that’s harvested from flax and is naturally cooling. A great choice for people with sensitive skin and of course hot sleepers. It’s rustic in appearance, antimicrobial and quite durable and gets only softer with each wash. The downside to linen sheets is that they wrinkle easily.
Click here to view this linen sheet set on Amazon
Bamboo
Bamboo sheets are known for being smooth and soft, breathable, durable and hypoallergenic. If you’re looking for the next best thing to silk or high quality cotton, bamboo bed linen is another great choice for hot sleepers.
Click here to view this sheet set on Amazon
Feel
Bedsheets should feel good to the touch and to your body when you sleep on them. Higher thread count sheets offer a smoother feeling that will complement the nice plush feel of your new mattress topper.
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This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.