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Sciatica is a common pinched nerve ailment that can be further exacerbated by one's mattress, especially mattresses that are no longer holding their shape. Durability, quality, and comfort are some of the largest factors with sleepers also requiring more back support and pressure point relief. With these indicators, we've analyzed hundreds of mattresses and the customer data to find the mattresses that may work the best.
+2.7x more pain relief
+2.6x better support
Listed top rated mattresses vs. average comparable mattressesTOP PICK: DreamCloud Premier
BEST OVERALL SELECTION: Helix Mattresses
BEST COOLING SUPPORT: Bear Star Hybrid
BEST SPECIALTY: Saatva Rx | Cloverlane
BEST BUDGET OPTION: Nectar Mattress
According to the Mayo Clinic, Sciatica is 'pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg' and usually only affects one side of the body. The symptoms that are usually experienced are pain in the lower back or leg, sometimes with a numbness or tingling sensation.
According to WebMD, symptoms can be relieved through both medications and exercise.
Some of the medications that may be helpful are over the counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen. Additionally, some may feel that muscle relaxers help as well. Lastly, if you have chronic back pain, anti-depressants surprisingly may help as well.
Some also feel their symptoms worsen when they lay down or sleep. This is why it is so important to have a mattress that alleviates the pain.
Although a mattress that alleviates the pain is important for a relieving the pain, staying bed ridden may not help solve the problem long term. Physical therapy can be a help if symptoms last beyond a couple of weeks. If this is you, you may want to reach out to your doctor. Healthline provides a helpful list of exercises to alleviate the pain.
Mattresses that have solid support, but also relieve pressure points help people with sciatica by relieving pain and allowing a better sleeping position. While some may believe that softer mattresses are good contenders, sciatica may flare up if the spine is not aligned (which can happen if there is not the adequate support). Medium firmness mattresses with memory foam, latex, or hybrid mattresses tend to offer the ideal blend of softness and support for those with sciatica.
Memory foam contours well to the unique curves of one’s body, but is not the most breathable material. As such, if you get hot easily or live in a warmer climate, you may be better suited by a mattresses with a top layer that helps keep you cool such as the Bear Mattress. Not only are all these mattresses highly rated by people with sciatica, but they all have memory foam that will contour to your body, along with a heat distributing top layer such as gel infused foam or moisture wicking fabric.
Our goal is to help you find your perfect mattress, but in the rare case it doesn't happen, the last thing you want is to be stuck with a headache and trying to exercise a return policy with a history of being unresponsive. To find the best mattress, our proprietary algorithm weighs reviews from sciatica sufferers as well as customer satisfaction scores more heavily to help you get the relief you need.
DreamCloud is one of the most exciting brands with 3 of the best rated hybrid mattresses available. The DreamCloud offers the highest value of any hybrid mattress, featuring ultimate support, balanced pressure relief, and a cashmere blend top. The DreamCloud Premier is a fluffy dream that doesn't sacrifice support, great for all-around sleepers. Their DreamCloud Premier Rest adds a pillow top with a 16'' profile for the pinnacle of sumptuous, plush comfort. With customers reporting a deeper sleep and a 365 night trial, this is one of the best luxury bargains anywhere. Now available in Canada.
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.8/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.7/10
Price Value: 9.7/10
Back Support: 9.7/10
Price: $349-$2198
Helix is one of the most innovative companies in the mattress-in-a-box space and was one of the first brands to offer a wide selection of tailored firmnesses based on body type. Over the years, they've expanded beyond their original 6 comfort designs to also offer a thicker, more supportive collection of Luxe mattresses and a high-end, ultra-luxurious Elite collection. With high ratings for comfort across their offerings and a powerful sleep quiz to help you choose the right match, Helix really puts a focus on delivering quality mattresses for every type of sleeper.
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.7/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.6/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.6/10
Price: $936-$4498
Bear offers 5 top-rated mattresses. Their Bear Original memory foam has won acclaim with athletes on a budget. For those looking for a pressure-relieving feel, the Star Hybrid and Pro Hybrid are great options. Sleepers looking for the responsive feel of natural latex will enjoy the Bear Natural hybrid mattress. Lastly, their Elite Hybrid, features both cooling foams and zoned support to provide sleepers with a luxurious sleep experience. From the Celliant® fibers to copper cooling, customers love these mattresses for their superior cooling, muscle pain relief, and balanced back support.
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.6/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.5/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.5/10
Price: $786-$4996
Saatva has innovated over time with their mattresses. Their original Saatva Classic mattress is one of the best mattresses online for those looking for a traditional innerspring mattress feel. With an edge on quality, Saatva invested in better coil technology in their Classic, and lavish layers in their foam Loom and Leaf and all-latex Zenhaven mattresses. Over the years, they have innovated further, with their Saatva Latex Hybrid, the Solaire number bed, Saatva HD for larger sleepers, pocket coil Memory Foam Hybrid, and their pain-relieving Saatva Rx.
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.6/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.5/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.5/10
Price: $925-$5050
Nolah came to market in 2016 when they crafted their very own foam, called Nolah AirFoam®, as a response to the memory foam mattress industry. Its innovation is that it retains less heat than other memory foam or common 'visco elastic' foams. It is easier on the hips and shoulders, making it ideal for side sleepers. With multiple mattress options, good customer satisfaction scores, and a tailored mattress for plus sized sleepers, Nolah is a brand anyone can feel good about!
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.6/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.3/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.4/10
Price: $699-$2499
One of the most popular mattress brands, Nectar has revolutionized the all-foam mattress industry with designs that focus on universally comfy firmness and support. With 3 all-foam mattresses and even some newer hybrid options, customers have reported enhanced cooling and supreme pressure relief in the Nectar Premier & Luxe. With value-add benefits like a full year trial and 'forever' warranty, quality materials for the price, and 'Buy Now, Pay Later' financing options, it should be a serious consideration for value-conscious shoppers. Now available in Canada. From the UK? See our review for the UK version.
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.6/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.7/10
Price Value: 9.8/10
Back Support: 9.4/10
Price: $349-$2598
Cloverlane is a new luxury brand by Resident Home. With a thick 15" mattress profile that boasts more layers than many online competitors, Cloverlane has been endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association with zoned and lumbar-enhanced layers focusing on spine health. With 3 firmness options, free white glove delivery, 365 day trial, and free returns, Cloverlane offers a serious disruption for the luxury mattress market by offering designs comparable to mattresses $1,000s more expensive.
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.6/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.5/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.5/10
Price: $999-$2598
Puffy is an online mattress brand that makes four mattresses: The Puffy Cloud Mattress, The Puffy Lux Mattress, The Puffy Royal Mattress, and The Puffy Monarch Mattress. Each of these offer a highly rated, pressure-relieving feel that is making a splash in the mattress in a box industry. Folks find Puffy's mattresses more plush than many other options, which is great for those with a lighter body type. With a goal of providing a balanced, fluffy feel for less than in-store and a lineup that includes both all-foam and hybrid designs, Puffy is worth a second look!
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.5/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.4/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.1/10
Price: $1949-$6698
Brooklyn Bedding is a quality-focused mattress maker that produces a variety of mattresses with different firmness options. Manufacturing all of their mattresses in their own Arizona based factory, Brooklyn Bedding is able to pass on competitive prices and value to their customers. Also, read about their specialty brands: ultra-firm Plank Mattress, plus-size friendly Titan Mattress, and eco-friendly Ecosleep.
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.5/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.4/10
Price Value: 9.5/10
Back Support: 9.6/10
Price: $274-$2665
Loom and Leaf has a lot to offer -- standing at just about 12 inches thick, it has many layers of high-end foam that help alleviate pressure points but also properly cradle the spine. If you are frustrated by mattresses that don't properly support your back and spine, Loom and Leaf can definitely help. It has a medium firm option that is approved by chiropractors and other spine gurus. Also, its firmness and thick layers help with long term durability.
Overall Score for Sciatica: 9.4/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.3/10
Price Value: 9.3/10
Back Support: 9.3/10
Price: $1195-$3150