Fibromyalgia is a debilitating condition that causes chronic musculoskeletal pain. Along with widespread pain it is characterized by tender points, painful areas located in certain parts of the body. Fibromyalgia causes sleeping problems, fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety. Choosing the right mattress for fibromyalgia can help tackle sleep issues.
However, getting the right type of mattress can be tricky to find. We’ll share our insider tips and reviews of our favorites to help you pick out the perfect mattress for fibromyalgia relief.
Best Mattress for Fibromyalgia: Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: PlushBeds Botanical Bliss
- Best Foam Mattress: Puffy Lux
- Best Hybrid: Leesa Legend
- Best for Hot Sleepers: eLuxury
- Best Value: BedInABox
Fibromyalgia and Sleep
Fibromyalgia is a difficult condition, period. It’s difficult to diagnose – for many years it was often dismissed as something that ‘was in people’s heads’ and wasn’t diagnosed at all. These days, as the medical community is working hard to better understand it fibromyalgia is classified, according to the Mayo Clinic, as a condition that causes ‘widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.’
Difficulty sleeping is very common among fibromyalgia suffers, in large part because the chronic pain they suffer from keeps them awake. To relieve some of that pain, and to prevent you from waking up in even more of it, choosing the right mattress can be a big key to doing what doctors recommend and making serious efforts to improve the quality of your sleep.
What To Consider Before Buying A Mattress
Shopping for a mattress in general these days can be quite a daunting task, as there are so many options to choose from. As this is not an inexpensive purchase doing your homework before making a choice is a must, especially if you suffer from fibromyalgia and are looking for a bed that will help relieve your pain and sleeplessness, not make things worse.
In a moment we are going to be taking a look at some of the specific products we have chosen as our top picks. But first we wanted to share a few basic tips to keep in mind as you shop in general.
You Need Great Support
Modern mattresses have evolved beyond the simple innerspring with metal coil models that were features in the average bedroom for so long. While the popular options – latex, memory foam, hybrid innerspring– all have their benefits and drawbacks for those with fibromyalgia the firmness and support levels of any mattress are key.
Initially ‘softer’ beds feel like they would be more comfortable to sleep on, but that feeling usually lasts about a night. A soft mattress, one that offers very little support, usually leaves people waking up sore and achy, the last thing anyone, least of all someone suffering from a chronic pain condition, needs.
A very firm, unforgiving mattress is often not the right choice either though. These hard mattresses often do not accommodate movement very well and leave a sleeper feeling like they are sleeping on a board rather than a mattress, something that is not conducive to a comfortable night’s sleep.
You May Need Cooling
Waking up hot and sweaty is not pleasant for anyone, and if a chronic pain condition means you already often struggle to fall asleep then it is a very unwelcome development indeed. Your mattress may be contributing to ‘hot sleep’ however, and so looking for one that actively provides cooling may be an excellent idea.
| Material | Heat Regulating |
| Springs | Great |
| Latex | Great |
| Memory Foam | Fair |
| Gel | Great |
| Hybrid | Great |
You Need to Be Able to Take a Test Run
Trying out a mattress for ten minutes in a store is not a great way to find out if it is the right one for you. And if you shop online for a new mattress, which an increasing number of people do, you will not even get that opportunity. Careful consideration of reviews and other buyers’ opinions helps, but in the end the only way you can really be sure that you have made the right mattress choice is to sleep on it for a few nights (at least)
It’s for this reason that those ‘X night trial’ offers you will see attached to the purchase of some mattresses is so important to take into consideration. These trials allow you to ‘road test’ the mattress and return it, something that is very helpful. Just make sure you understand the terms attached to the trial before you make your purchase.
The Best Mattresses for Fibromyalgia Reviews of 2020
As we mentioned, there are a lot of mattresses out there to choose from. To help you make the right choice for you we took a long hard look at some of the most popular mattress choices on the market right now. Taking into account both the results of our own testing, and the opinions and reviews of others who had purchased the same options, this list is what we came up with.
1. Best Overall: Plushbeds’ Botanical Bliss
Why We Like It: Cool sleeping organic latex meets great support.
The Plushbeds’ Botanical Bliss checks a lot of boxes off a great mattress wants list. It is primarily made up of natural latex – organically certified in fact – which means that it sleeps cooler than many memory foam mattresses, certainly a plus when trying to stay asleep, and yet still offers very similar comfortable support.
Even if the organic nature of the bed isn’t a deal maker for you the comfort might be. Available in two firmness choices and three different heights it isn’t hard to create a more customized mattress package that will best suit your needs. And the fact that the latex used is primarily Dunlop latex means that the support it offers should help prevent morning pain by relieving pressure points without leaving you with the feeling that you are sinking.
PROS: 100% Organic eco-friendly latex, antimicrobial properties, offers good support and pressure point relief, 100-night trial, uses Dunlop latex which is generally more durable than talalay latex, 3-thickness options and 2-firmness options, 25 years warranty, free shipping, USA-made.
CONS: People with a latex allergy can’t use this mattress, is one of the more expensive options on our list.
View the PlushBeds mattress here
2. Best Foam Mattress: Puffy Lux
Why We Like It: Supportive Comfort with a Focus on Pain Relief
The name probably says it all; this is a mattress designed for comfort and secure feeling sleep. It is very popular with those who suffer from daily chronic pain, as you will see if you check its many positive reviews.
This is, they say, because it offers excellent pressure point relief without feeling too hard or unforgiving and the double layer of memory foam – with the top layer especially designed to provide extra cooling – means it does not sleep as hot as some other memory foam mattresses. Many report waking in less pain than they had in a long time after sleeping on the 12″ Puffy Lux mattress for the first time.
Other pluses include free express delivery, the ability to make use of it with almost any bed frame – including a futon – and a 100-night trial to take it for a real test run.
Pros: Excellent, ‘personalized’ support and pressure point relief, firm without feeling too hard, express delivery and a 100-night trial, suits all sleeping positions, free shipping, lifetime warranty, made in the USA
Cons: Is only available in a single firmness level, does need to be set aside for 24 -28 hours after delivery to ‘offgas’
View the Puffy Lux Mattress here
3. Best Hybrid Mattress: Leesa Legend
Why We Like It: Pain relief and great support from a very technologically advanced mattress
A hybrid mattress is one that makes use of at least two different bedding technologies to provide a great night’s sleep. In the case of the 12-inch thick high-end mattress Leesa Legend it is three; microcoils, pocket springs and a top layer of memory foam.
While some might think that coils are old-fashioned there are many who feel that they still provide the best overall support of all. Those who liked this bed – and that includes us – feel that the microcoils do exactly what they are supposed to – provide great hip and shoulder support – while the pocket springs make the mattress feel firm and stable without being too hard and the top layer of memory foam offers a more customized ‘fit’ than an innerspring only mattress might be able to.
Pros: Multiple bedding technologies offer great support and pressure point relief, especially for the hips and shoulders, tried and test innerspring technology offers firm but comfortable sleeping, great for combination sleepers, hypoallergenic mattress cover made of organic cotton and merino wool, cooling mattress, 100-night trial, 10-year warranty, made in the USA.
Cons: Only available in one choice of firmness, some buyers report the set up was difficult, even with two people involved, the mattress is heavy and can be burdensome to lift and move.
View Leesa Legend mattress here
4. Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers: eLuxury
Why We Like It: If memory foam is usually too hot for you to sleep on, you’ll love the cooling gel
Gel memory foam is one of the newer types of memory foam on the market. It is designed to sleep cooler than standard memory foam while still offering comfort and personalized support.
The 10-inch thick eLuxury mattress is made up of two layers of memory foam. The thicker, 7 inch layer is a more conventional memory foam that users report provides great motion transfer prevention and firm, but not too firm support. A top 3-inch layer of gel foam provides cooling as well as additional targeted pressure point relief for the hips and shoulders, something many found made a real positive difference to their waking pain levels.
Pros: Two layers of memory foam to provide personalized support, excellent motion transfer prevention, sleeps very cool thanks to the gel memory foam, 120-night trial
Cons: Some users report the mattress was a little too soft for their taste, the makers recommend the mattress be used with a separate mattress pad, something that adds $100+ to the cost.
5. Best Budget Buy Mattress: BedInABox
Why We Like It: A limited budget is no longer a bar to a less painful night’s sleep
The fact is that a mattress is often not an inexpensive purchase and not everyone can afford to pay more than $1,000 for a mattress. This may mean that you think you won’t be able to get a mattress that provides a decent sleeping experience and at least a reasonable level of pain relief. However, the 11-inch thick BedInABox Mattress proves that’s not the case.
This mattress is a 10-inch standard and gel memory foam mattress that, you guessed it, comes packed in a box.
Like many mattresses the BedInABox is made up of two layers; an eight-inch layer of standard memory foam and a 3-inch top layer of cooling gel memory foam.
Many users – and we are among them – were pleasantly surprised by the comfort and support offered by what is a mattress that costs half the price of many other options. They felt that the medium firm support was more than adequate amd the gel did sleep cooler than standard memory foam. While some admitted they would ‘upgrade’ when it was possible, and others felt that the ‘medium firm’ designation was a little too soft, many were very happy with their bargain purchase.
Pros: A reasonable level of support at a lower price, gel memory foam provides extra cooling, very easy set up, 20-year limited warranty, 120-night trial sleep, suits all sleeping positions,
Cons: Some users report a pungent smell that takes some time to off gas, too soft for some people’s personal support preferences
4 Simple Sleep Hacks for Fibromyalgia Sufferers
The first step to a better night’s sleep for many who suffer from fibromyalgia is finding the right mattress to rest on at the end of the day. There are, however, some other products that you can make use of to help you sleep – and wake – with less pain. Here’s a look at some of the most effective.
1. Try a Mattress Topper
Even great mattresses can sometimes be made even better with the addition of a mattress topper. These can be especially effective for those who suffer from chronic pain as it allows you to create a sleeping environment that is even more personalized to your needs.
2. Choose the Right Bedding
The best cooling mattresses will still sleep hot and uncomfortable if your bedding is uncomfortable, scratchy or too tight.
Cotton sheets are usually coolest and choosing a set that provides a looser fit is beneficial for many people. Don’t go too loose though, as getting tangled up in your bedsheets may cause more pain and discomfort than it relieves.
3. Don’t Forget a Comfortable, Supportive Pillow
Neck and shoulder pain – common for those who suffer from fibromyalgia – can really be aggravated, and even caused by a bad pillow. A good pillow should support the head, neck and shoulders and not allow for too much motion transfer as you move.
Memory foam pillows are often an excellent choice as they conform better to your personal ‘silhouette’. You should also remember that pillows have a far shorter useful lifespan than mattresses and plan to replace them at least every 12-18 months.
4. Try a Weighted Blanket
A weighted blanket is just what it sounds like; a duvet like ‘blanket’ that contains weights. Although they are not right for everyone some people find that they are very helpful, especially for decreasing anxiety that can often be one of the biggest reasons you can’t get to sleep. Used by many therapists for years for their patients, these special blankets are available in different weights and are becoming more affordable as they gain mainstream popularity.
The Bottom Line
We hope that after reading this guide you have a better idea about what mattresses, sleep technologies and methodologies might be able to help you get a better night’s sleep and the increased pain relief every fibromyalgia sufferer seeks.
Although we can recommend all the choices we made our personal favorite was the Leesa Legend mattress, as it makes use of three tried and tested mattress technologies and not only provided good support and pain relief but is very luxurious, a lot like a hotel bed, just a little more personalized to meet your needs.
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