A herniated (or bulging) disc happens when the soft substance in the center of a spinal disc gets pushed out.¹ This can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in your back, neck, or legs. About 35% of people in the United States have a herniated disc, according to the American Chiropractic Clinics.² 

If you’re looking for the best mattress for herniated disc symptoms, you’re not alone.

“Herniated discs can cause pain, tingling or numbness especially in the lower back, buttocks or legs—which makes it harder to get comfortable at night,” said Ilyza Weiss, a doctor of physical therapy at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, New Jersey. She added that older adults might already have conditions like arthritis and stiff joints, which can lead to poor sleep. 

Our team of testers reviewed multiple mattresses that can help if you have a herniated disc. We chose the seven top mattresses for a herniated disc to bring you a variety of choices.

Our Top Pick

Saatva Rx

Best Overall

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• Exceptional pain relief
• Relieves pressure in all positions

• Cradles joints to ease pain

Helix Midnight Luxe

Best for Chronic Pain

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• Excellent at relieving pressure on back
• Promotes spinal alignment

• Easy to move around on

Nectar Premier Memory Foam

Best for Side Sleepers

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• Relieves pressure on hips
• Keeps spine aligned

• Contours around body for extra-comfy support

Best mattresses for a herniated disc in 2025

• Saatva Rx: Best Overall
• Helix Midnight Luxe: Best for Chronic Pain from a Herniated Disc
• Nectar Premier Memory Foam: Best for Side Sleepers with a Herniated Disc
• Bear Elite Hybrid: Best Cooling Mattress for a Herniated Disc
• WinkBed Luxury Firm: Best for Arthritis and a Herniated Disc
• Titan Plus: Best for Higher Weight People with a Herniated Disc
• Birch Natural: Most Accessible Mattress for a Herniated Disc

Comparing the best mattresses for a herniated disc

Top features of the best mattresses for a herniated disc

We looked for the following features when choosing the best mattresses for a herniated disc in older adults.

Pain relief score

Unique to NCOA, a high pain relief score refers to a mattress that’s easier to get in and out of due to a balance of bounce, support, and firmness and eases herniated disc pain. Pressure and certain movements can make herniated disc pain worse, so this score is important. 

Good pressure relief

We looked for mattresses with good pressure relief along the shoulders, back, and hips to help ease herniated disc pain for a peaceful night’s sleep. 

Spinal support

Mattresses that help keep your spine in a neutral position can help ease the strain on your back, and this can help protect your spine when you have a herniated disc.

Firmness

Experts and recent research say that medium to firm mattresses are best for dealing with pain, including herniated disc pain and back pain.³

Saatva Rx: Best Mattress Overall for a Herniated Disc

We chose the Saatva Rx as our Best Mattress Overall for people with a herniated disc because of its excellent pressure relief and support to help ease and protect against herniated disc pain. It scored high in support, pressure relief, and cooling features, all of which can work to help keep you as comfortable as possible for a quality night's sleep.

Our Top Pick

Saatva Rx

Best Overall

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• Exceptional at pain relief
• Relieves pressure in all positions

• Eases pain by cradling joints 

Saatva Rx features

• Our pain relief score: 4.32/5
• Accessibility score: 4.04/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 6.5/10

Why we chose the Saatva Rx as the Best Overall for a Herniated Disc

We chose the Saatva Rx as our Best Mattress Overall for people with a herniated disc because of its excellent pressure relief and support to help ease (and protect against) herniated disc pain. It had a great balance of pressure relief, firmness, and bounce to help soothe pain, especially pain from a herniated disc.

Our testers said the Saatva Rx was comfortable to sleep on in all positions, especially on the side, which experts say can help with herniated disc pain, as long as you have a pillow between your legs for spinal support. Testers liked how their weight felt evenly distributed, with no pressure on joints. This is important for keeping pressure off the spine and any painful areas of disc herniation. 

Saatva also offers free white-glove delivery, which is the only brand in our review that does this free of cost. It means they will deliver your mattress, set it up in the home, and remove the old mattress. For those with mobility or dexterity issues, this could be a huge perk. But Saatva is also the most expensive mattress on our list, so it could be out of some people’s budgets. 

Saatva Rx pros and cons

Our testing experience with the Saatva Rx

The Saatva Rx is a hybrid mattress specifically designed for people with chronic back and joint conditions. 

One of our testers, Sheila, a 70-year-old average-weight combination sleeper, tried the Saatva Rx in all positions and felt comfortable and supportive in each. “It feels really good on my side. I really love this mattress,” she said. “I feel supported down my side, my legs, and my shoulder does not have pressure on it. My weight feels evenly distributed, the mattress is hugging my body gently and feels really good.”

She felt the same pressure relief when lying on her back. “My butt is sinking in a little bit more but I feel like it’s even because the mattress is hugging my legs and shoulders,” she said. “I don't feel any pressure. My spine feels neutral and I would enjoy sleeping on my back on this mattress.” 

Even stomach sleeping, one of the least-common sleeping positions, was comfortable for Sheila. “Surprisingly I feel even on my stomach. Usually I feel more pressure in this position but this feels good,” she said. “My chest in this position usually feels more elevated but with this mattress it does a good job of contouring my body.”

It’s this body-hugging contour that cradles joints and can help ease back and herniated disc pain. Sheila rated the Saatva Rx an almost-perfect 4.5 out of 5 for pressure relief in each sleeping position. 

Sheila also liked the bounce and said it wasn’t hard to change positions on the Saatva Rx. “It feels good switching positions and the pressure is even throughout my body,” she said. “I feel like this mattress hugs you evenly.”

Good bounce can help you change positions. If you’re dealing with herniated disc pain, you want to be able to get into a comfortable position without hurting your back. 

But another tester reported the edge support (which refers to how stable the edges feel) isn’t as sturdy as other mattresses we tested. If you have mobility concerns, this can make it more difficult—and painful—to get out of bed safely. “My bottom sinks extensively and I am at least halfway down the edge of the mattress,” said a tester. Older adult testers gave the Saatva Rx an average 2.5 out of 5 for edge stability. If you need extra support or stability, we recommend the Birch Natural.

Who is the Saatva Rx right for?

The Saatva Rx was designed for people with chronic pain and joint issues. We like this mattress for anyone dealing with herniated disc pain, arthritis, and muscle pain. Because of its excellent pressure relief, it can be supportive for all sleeping positions. 

The Saatva Rx customer experience

• Trial period: 365 nights
• Shipping: Free
• In-home setup and mattress removal: Free
• Warranty: One-year limited

Customer service

You can contact Saatva customer service by:

• Phone: 860-452-3977, available 24/7
• Email: info@saatvamattress.com
• Live chat: Available via the chat icon on the website, 24/7
• Calling or visiting a viewing room

Payment options 

• Ways to pay
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Discover
  • American Express
  • Google Pay
  • PayPal
• Discounts? Yes, find more information here
• Financing: Yes, Affirm

Helix Midnight Luxe: Best for Chronic Pain from a Herniated Disc

We chose the Helix Midnight Luxe as our Best for Chronic Pain from a Herniated Disc because of its ability to relieve pressure on the back and neck in any sleeping position. Its balanced support and bounce, combined with its firmness, bring pressure relief where you need it most. 

Helix Midnight Luxe

Best for Chronic Pain

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• High pain relief score
• Excellent cushion and support for herniated disc pain

• Balanced responsiveness and bounce

Helix Midnight Luxe features

• Our pain relief score: 4.21/5
• Accessibility score: 4.06/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 6/10

Why we chose the Helix Midnight Luxe as the Best for Chronic Pain from a Herniated Disc

The Helix Midnight Luxe was our favorite mattress to help ease chronic pain because of its contouring memory foam layers combined with zoned coils for support. It has three layers of foam (one for pressure relief, one for cradling, and an inner base layer for support) that sit on steel coils. This support helps keep your spine aligned and can distribute your body weight when lying on your back or side. Even weight distribution helps take the pressure off joints like the hips, low back, and shoulders, which in turn helps ease chronic pain (including herniated disc pain).

The above-average bounce and responsiveness means you can move around in bed easier to change positions, especially if you have disc pain that’s bothering you. It scored average (a 3 out of 5) for its motion isolation, which is important for sleep quality because it helps dampen the movements of a bed partner. 

Helix also offers white-glove delivery, which isn’t offered by all mattress brands. While there’s an additional fee (starts at $119), this may be worth the money for older adults who have herniated disc pain. 

Helix Midnight Luxe pros and cons

Our testing experience with the Helix Midnight Luxe

The Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid mattress with three layers of foam and a layer of individually wrapped steel coils. 

Testers said the Helix Midnight Luxe had a great mix of firmness and support. A medium-firm mattress is usually best to support the spine, while still cushioning your hips and shoulder joints, according to research.³

Both hybrid and memory foam mattresses can work when you have a herniated disc, but you don’t want a mattress that’s too soft or too firm. “Too soft and your spine sags; too firm and you may get pressure points that can irritate the discs and other joints,” said Weiss, the physical therapist in New Jersey.

Our testers felt comfortable and supported on their sides and back with the Midnight Luxe. The mattress was able to cradle their joints, and one tester commented, “My hips feel aligned nicely. I don’t feel like I’m lacking support in any area.”

The Midnight Luxe also did a good job with pressure relief and support while back-sleeping. One tester noted, “I don’t feel any extra pressure on my lower back or hips. My body feels equally supported all over.”

Its average motion isolation means couples may feel each other’s movements. When testing, we found that movements might disturb those who tend to sleep lighter and awaken easily. “It made my body move and bounced me slightly. I’m a heavy sleeper, so that probably wouldn’t wake me up, but my husband’s a light sleeper so I think it would definitely wake him up,” said a tester.

Who is the Helix Midnight Luxe right for?

The Helix Midnight Luxe is a great choice for most people who are experiencing long-term pain, especially from a herniated disc. If you need a little more support in your joints like the low back and hips, the Midnight Luxe gives some solid pressure relief. 

The Helix customer experience

• Trial period: 100 nights
• Shipping: Free shipping
• In-home setup and mattress removal: $159
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

Customer service

You can contact Helix Sleep customer service by:

• Phone: 831-777-5976, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
• Email: help@helixsleep.com
• Live chat: Available via the chat icon on the website, Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET
• Contact form: https://support.helixsleep.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
• Calling or visiting a viewing room

Payment options 

• Ways to pay
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Paypal
  • Google Pay
  • Shop Pay
  • Amazon Pay
• Discounts? Yes, find more information here
• Financing: Yes, Affirm

Nectar Premier Memory Foam: Best for Side Sleepers with a Herniated Disc

We chose the Nectar Premier Memory Foam as the Best for Side Sleepers with a Herniated Disc because it offers great pressure relief when lying on the side.

We recommend the Nectar Premier Hybrid if you’re looking for something firmer, and the Nectar Premier Memory Foam if you’re looking for something softer with a traditional memory foam feel and better motion isolation. The contouring memory foam in both mattresses helps keep the spine in a neutral position and has a good mix of comfort and support.

Nectar Premier Memory Foam

Best for Side Sleepers

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• Relieves pressure on hips
• Memory foam contours around body for support

• Excellent spinal alignment for protecting from herniated disc pain

Nectar Premier Memory Foam features

• Our pain relief score: 4.2/5
• Accessibility score: 4.06/5
• Mattress type: Foam and hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 6.5/10

Why we chose the Nectar Premier Memory Foam as the Best for Side Sleepers with a Herniated Disc

The Nectar Premier Memory Foam is our Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with a Herniated Disc because no other mattress relieved pressure on our sides like this one. We tested both the Nectar Premier Hybrid and the Nectar Premier Memory Foam and found both mattresses to be great options for relieving back pressure and easing back pain.

Those who prefer more contouring to their bodies and exceptional motion isolation will want to look into the Nectar Premier Memory Foam. It ranked highest in our pressure relief tests and was also a favorite among our testers. For anyone seeking a firmer mattress, we recommend the Nectar Premier Hybrid, which also received near-perfect scores for side sleeping pressure relief from our testers. 

Side sleeping is the most popular sleeping position, but when you’re experiencing herniated disc pain, it’s important to make sure your spine is in a healthy position.⁴ “The key is to keep the spine in neutral—a straight line—and maintain the lower back curvature, known as lordosis,” said Weiss. She says side sleepers should place a pillow between their knees to keep the hips and spine aligned. This can decrease the pressure on the discs and nerves of the spine.

Nectar Premier pros and cons

Our testing experience with the Nectar Premier Memory Foam

Our tester for the Nectar Premier Memory Foam, Sheila, a 70-year-old average-weight combination sleeper, said she prefers a firmer mattress. “But if you like a soft mattress, this might work for you.” 

Despite preferring a firmer mattress, she loved how the Nectar Premier hugged her body, which is a characteristic quality of memory foam. “My body is sinking into the mattress everywhere, and it’s hugging me gently, which feels great,” she said while lying on her side.

When Sheila lay on her back on the Nectar Premier Memory Foam, she found great pressure relief. “It feels soft everywhere. My lower back feels contoured, and there isn't any pressure,” she said. 

Sheila tried lying on her stomach and was surprised how well the Nectar Premier Memory Foam kept her spine aligned, which is important to easing pain from a herniated disc. “I feel really good on my stomach because it is so soft,” she said. “My body is able to sink enough that my spine feels aligned. If you are a stomach sleeper you would probably like this mattress due to how contouring it is."

Testers kept mentioning how much this mattress “hugged” and “contoured” their bodies, which is a hallmark of memory foam. “I feel like the mattress is hugging my body,” said one tester. “My body is sinking into the mattress everywhere, and it’s hugging me gently. It’s very soft overall.” 

Testers rated the Nectar Premier Memory Foam a 3 out of 5 for edge support, which is slightly above average, but not the best. And because its memory foam is softer and cradling, testers said it was a little more difficult to change positions. “This mattress is pretty soft so I have to use more of my heels and arms to roll over easily and pick myself out of the mattress,” one tester said. 

If you’re looking for the mattress with the most stable edges that’s easy to move around on, we recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid. 

Who is the Nectar Premier Memory Foam right for?

Those who like the feel of memory foam with body-hugging contouring while side sleeping may appreciate the support and cushion of the Nectar Premier Memory Foam. It’s also a good choice for those who want some softness to their mattress and like to sleep on their side. Because of the infused cooling fibers in the memory foam, it sleeps cooler than other memory foam mattresses and could be a good choice for hot sleepers. 

Nectar Premier customer experience

• Trial period: 365 nights
• Shipping: White-glove delivery for added cost, free shipping
• Warranty: Limited lifetime
• Financing: Yes

Customer service

You can contact Nectar customer service by:

• Phone: 888-863-2827, available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT
• Email: support@nectarsleep.com
• Live chat: Available via the chat icon on the website, 24/7
• Calling or visiting a store

Payment options 

• Ways to pay
  • American Express
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Discover
  • Splitlt
  • Amazon Pay
  • PayPal
• Discounts? Military members, first responders, and health care professionals take note: you can get a 5% discount, although it cannot be combined with other offers.
• Financing: Yes, Affirm. Nectar also offers a lease-to-own option through Acima.

Bear Elite Hybrid: Best Cooling Mattress for a Herniated Disc

We chose the Bear Elite Hybrid as our Best Cooling Mattress for a Herniated Disc because it prevented heat buildup better than every other mattress we tested. It uses a zoned coiling system to provide quality support for the hips and low back, which can help keep your spine neutral. 

Bear Elite Hybrid

Best Cooling

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• Stayed cooler than any mattress we tested
• Good contouring for cradling painful joints

• Copper-infused memory foam

Bear Elite Hybrid features

• Our pain relief score: 3.53/5
• Accessibility score: 3.54/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 6/10

Why we chose the Bear Elite Hybrid as the Best Cooling Mattress for a Herniated Disc

The Bear Elite Hybrid was our choice for Best Cooling Mattress for a Herniated Disc because its cooling features prevented heat buildup better than any mattress we tested. It offers solid support to keep your spine to keep it in healthy alignment, and it contains copper-infused memory foam, which naturally provides cooling properties to hot sleepers.  

Studies have shown the best room temperature for quality sleep is 68–77 degrees Fahrenheit.⁵ But when temperatures increase to 77–86 degrees, your sleep quality can actually decrease 5–10%. During testing, the Bear Elite Hybrid helped relieve pressure in all sleeping positions, but especially on the side. 

Bear Elite Hybrid pros and cons

Our testing experience with the Bear Elite Hybrid

The Bear Elite Hybrid is a hybrid mattress made with memory foam and a layer of individually encased coils to provide support and pressure relief. 

Our testers thought the Bear Elite Hybrid was cool to the touch, but one tester noted, “It does feel a little warmer when I’m lying down because the bed cradles me a bit more.” ( not surprising, since retaining heat is the nature of memory foam). Those who like the feel of memory foam but are looking for some extra cooling features may like what the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress offers.

We tested out the temperature regulation by heating the surface of the mattress to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, let it cool for five minutes, and then took another reading. From the starting temperature of 64.9, the Bear Elite Hybrid cooled from its 90-degree warmup down to 68.4. This means it increased the temperature only 3.5 degrees. Since the average skin temperature is about 90–94 degrees Fahrenheit, this mimicked a person’s own body temperature heating the mattress.⁶

One tester, Sheila, a 70-year-old average-weight combination sleeper, liked how the Bear Elite Hybrid relieved pressure when lying on her side. “This feels really even on my side,” he said. “My spine feels neutral.” 

Another tester, Chris, a 66-year-old higher-weight back sleeper with spinal stenosis and sleep apnea, agreed. “My hips and spine feel pretty much aligned. No issues. And my body feels equally supported—no body part feels more elevated than the other.

Testers said the edges could have been stronger. They rated edge support a 3.5 out of 5, saying they needed to use their hands to help support them at the edge when standing up.  

Who is the Bear Elite Hybrid right for?

The Bear Elite Hybrid is a great option for those who sleep hotter at night and want to sleep on a mattress that can help regulate temperature. If you have a herniated disc and like the feel and contouring of memory foam, you may appreciate the cooling features that aren’t usually found on memory foam mattresses.

Bear customer experience

• Trial period: 120 nights
• Shipping: Free
• In-home setup and mattress removal: $100–$200
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

Customer service

You can contact Bear customer service by:

• Phone: 844-311-0035, available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
• Email: support@bearmattress.com
• Live chat: Available via the chat icon on the website, available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
• Calling or visiting a viewing room

Payment options 

• Ways to pay
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Paypal
  • Shop Pay
  • Venmo
• Discounts? Yes, find more information here
• Financing: Yes, Affirm and ShopPay

The WinkBed Luxury Firm: Best for Arthritis and a Herniated Disc

We chose The WinkBed Luxury Firm as the Best for Arthritis and a Herniated Disc because of its excellent pain relief scores during testing. The WinkBed Luxury Firm cradles pressure points, which can help ease arthritic joints and a herniated disc. It also has a solid bounce, which can make it easier for those in pain to change positions at night.

The WinkBed Luxury Firm

Best for Arthritis

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• Supports joints to ease arthritis pain
• Excellent pressure relief in all positions

• Easier to move around and change positions

The WinkBed Luxury Firm features

• Our pain relief score: 4.2/5
• Accessibility score: 3.99/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 6.5/10

Why we chose the WinkBed Luxury Firm as the Best for Arthritis and a Herniated Disc

We recommend the WinkBed Luxury Firm as the best mattress for older adults with arthritis and a herniated disc because it received high scores in pain and pressure relief.

If you have arthritis, the WinkBed has features such as a good responsiveness and bounce to make it easier to move around. Stiffness can be a common symptom for many people that live with arthritis, and this stiffness can be worse after lying in one position for too long.⁷ The WinkBed Luxury Firm also cradles and supports joints to help soothe arthritis or herniated disc pain.

Due to its firmness level and support, the Luxury Firm can be great for different sleeping positions. If you like to sleep on your side, it offers plenty of pressure relief, especially if your hips and shoulders have arthritis. Back-sleeping also can give a good level of cushioning and support for your low back, so you don’t sink too much into the mattress. 

The WinkBed Luxury Firm pros and cons

Our testing experience with the WinkBed Luxury Firm

The WinkBed Luxury Firm is a hybrid mattress with layers of foam and micro-coils to provide both support and comfort. During testing, we found exceptional pressure relief on the back no matter what position we tried. 

One of our testers, Patti, a 74-year-old lighter-weight combination sleeper, loved how it eased pressure on her side. “My shoulders are really even with my hips. I love this for side sleeping!” she said. “I don’t feel any pressure building at my shoulders and hips, but I still feel support.”

Patti also really liked the WinkBed Luxury Firm for back sleeping. “I feel great cushioning at my hips. Overall my body feels really aligned,” she said. She noted there was the slightest gap at her lower back, but that’s likely due to her lighter-weight. She said she’d usually place a small pillow under her lower back to provide extra support.

In addition to a pillow under the lower back, Weiss, the physical therapist in New Jersey, also recommended placing a pillow under your knees. “This slightly tilts your pelvis and flattens your lower back against the mattress, which reduces pressure on the discs.”

Testers also noted being able to move around on the mattress, even with the pillow top, without feeling stuck. But the edge support wasn’t as sturdy as we’d like, which can make it challenging to get in and out of bed if you have arthritis pain and a herniated disc. Our tester noted, “I feel like I can slide easily if I sit close to the edge. There’s too much sinkage to use my hands to get up and down.” 

Patti liked the coolness of the mattress, saying, “I like how fluffy and cooler the top is—definitely one of the top ones I've tested based on how cool it feels when I immediately touch it. The top of the mattress feels soft like memory foam, but actually doesn't feel like it traps heat like memory foam usually does.”

Who is the WinkBed Luxury Firm right for?

The WinkBed Luxury Firm may be a good choice for those who like to sleep on their side and live with arthritis and herniated disc pain. Because of its firmness level (6.5 out of 10), lighter-weight sleepers may find they need a pillow to support the low back when lying on their back to keep the spine curved naturally. 

WinkBed customer experience

• Trial period: 120 nights
• Shipping: Free
• In-home setup and mattress removal: No
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

Customer service

You can contact WinkBed customer service by:

• Phone: 855-946-5233, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
• Email: info@winkbeds.com
• Live chat: Available via the chat icon on the website, same hours as phone
• Calling or visiting a viewing room

Payment options 

• Ways to pay
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Discover
  • American Express
  • Google Pay
  • Shop Pay
  • Apple Pay
• Discounts? Yes, military and first responders
• Financing: Yes, Bread

Titan Plus: Best for Higher Weight Sleepers with a Herniated Disc

We chose Titan Plus as the Best for Higher-Weight Sleepers with a Herniated Disc because it earned near-perfect scores for relieving pressure on your back, and it’s designed specifically for higher-weight people. It has the highest weight limit (1,000 pounds) on this list. The Titan Plus is a hybrid mattress that is designed to be more durable to prevent sagging, offers a strong edge support, and works for any sleeping position.

Titan Plus

Best for Higher-Weight Sleepers

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• Excellent at relieving back pressure
• Highest weight limit on this list (1,000 pounds)

• Made specifically for higher-weight people
• Strong edges

Titan Plus features

• Our pain relief score: 4.36/5
• Accessibility score: 4.55/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 8/10

Why we chose the Titan Plus as the Best for Higher Weight Sleepers with a Herniated Disc

The Titan Plus is our choice for Best for Higher-Weight Sleepers with a Herniated Disc because it earned near-perfect scores (4.5 out of 5) for relieving pressure on the back.

It received top scores for pressure-relief and support, which helps to promote healthy spinal alignment and relief from herniated disc pain. It’s also made specifically for higher-weight people and has the highest weight limit on this list at 1,000 pounds. 

We liked the Titan Plus for its firm edge support—it had some of the strongest edges of any mattress we tested. It was highly rated for its pressure relief and ability to support spinal alignment and joints, particularly for higher-weight people. And its durable individually wrapped steel coils helps to prevent the mattress from sagging over time. 

Titan Plus pros and cons

Our testing experience with the Titan Plus

The Titan Plus is a hybrid mattress with several layers of memory foam and a base layer of 8-inch individually wrapped coils. It was specifically designed for higher-weight sleepers (though supportive for many sleepers of different body types). It’s the firmest mattress on this list, coming in at an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. 

But even our lighter-weight testers, who normally would prefer something softer, appreciated the Titan Plus’ pressure relief. “It’s a firm surface with no sinkage, and I think it’d be great for people with back pain because it keeps my spine in excellent alignment,” said one of our testers, Patti, a 74-year-old lighter-weight combination sleeper. “The space at my lower back is being filled in with no gaps. I feel flat and my spine feels in a straight line.” But Patti did add that you’ll like this mattress most if you prefer firmness.

We liked the pressure relief that distributed weight evenly, and kept our tester’s spine in a neutral position.

The motion isolation also received great scores, with one tester being able to feel some movements, but she didn’t think it would wake her up. “I can feel movement, but it definitely feels dampened,” they said. “This mattress seems like it sucks in the motion rather than lets it move around.” 

Our testers also liked the Titan Plus for its above-average cooling (from the gel-infused top foam) and smooth quilted cover. 

The edge support was a perfect 5 out of 5 for both sitting and lying down at the edge. Our tester felt quite secure on her side lying at the edge of the mattress and didn’t feel like she was going to roll off the bed. “The edge is just as supportive as the middle. I’m completely supported,” said Patti. While Patti is shorter, and couldn’t place her feet on the ground while sitting at the edge of the mattress, she didn’t need her hands to stand up, and didn’t feel unsteady when trying to sit down on the mattress.  

Who is the Titan Plus right for?

The Titan Plus can be a great choice for higher-weight sleepers who have a herniated disc or any other type of pain. Because it’s a firm mattress, it’s designed for those who are average- or higher-weight. Its strong edge makes a supportive surface for those who have some difficulty getting in and out of bed. The Titan Plus’s cooling features can be appealing for those who sleep warmer at night. 

Titan customer experience

• Trial period: 120 nights
• Shipping: Free
• In-home setup and mattress removal: Not available
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

Customer service

You can contact Titan customer service by:

• Phone: 623-624-1222, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Saturday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET 
• Email: support@brooklynbedding.com
• Live chat: Available via the chat icon on the website, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Saturday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET

Payment options 

• Ways to pay
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Paypal
  • Google Pay
  • Shop Pay
• Discounts? Yes, for military, first responders, educators, students, and medical professionals
• Financing: Yes, Affirm and Shop Pay

Birch Natural: Most Accessible for a Herniated Disc

We chose the Birch Natural as our Most Accessible for a Herniated Disc because of its high accessibility scores, its excellent bounce, and ability to support your spine in a neutral position. The responsiveness of the mattress can make it easier to move around in bed and change position if you’re dealing with pain from a herniated disc. 

Birch Natural

Most Accessible

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• Strong edges and easier to move around on
• Excellent bounce

• Supportive to keep the spine aligned 

Birch Natural features

• Our pain relief score: 4.55/5
• Accessibility score: 4.51/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 6.5/10

Why we chose the Birch Natural as the Most Accessible for a Herniated Disc

We chose the Birch Natural as the Most Accessible Mattress for a Herniated Disc for its high accessibility score and great pressure relief on the back.

Our accessibility scores come from rating features like how easily you can get into and out of bed, how easily you can change positions, and how stable the edge of the mattress feels. Having weak edges can even increase the risk of falling from losing your balance.  

The Birch Natural received scores of 5/5 for its edge support—for sitting at the edge to stand up and lying at the edge without feeling like you’ll roll off. It’s also made with natural and organic materials.

Birch Natural pros and cons

Our testing experience with the Birch Natural

The Birch Natural is a hybrid mattress with an organic cotton cover, layers of wool and organic latex, and a layer of individually wrapped coils.

One of our testers, Chris, a 66-year-old higher-weight back sleeper with spinal stenosis and sleep apnea, gave the Birch Natural perfect scores for edge support. “The edges bounce back quickly when I stand up on it. It stays just like it is. I can feel something on the inside that's firm and holding me up.” Chris also felt supported lying at the edge, and felt it was easier to move around, even right at the edge. “You stay up high on this mattress and you're not sinking down into it so it's easy to roll. It's very comfortable.”

Chris reported some lower-back pressure, but overall felt his weight was spread out while sleeping on their back. 

He thought his spine was in good alignment while side-sleeping. “I feel a little bit of pressure on my hips, but not bad. And just a little bit of the shoulders, but also not bad. I don't feel like I need any more support in any specific area,” he said. 

And when lying on his back, Chris felt good, even pressure relief. “I feel good. My butt isn’t sinking lower than my shoulders,” he said. “My body feels equally supported all over.” 

Testers did report that the Birch Natural might not be good for couples or light sleepers. “I can feel every single movement,” one tester said. “The bounce helps me get out of bed, but you can also feel each bounce. It feels really springy and none of the movement is dampened.” 

It’s also worth noting that Birch Natural has a short trial period (100 days—tied with Helix). If you want a longer trial period, we recommend Saatva or Nectar.

Who is the Birch Natural right for?

The Birch Natural may be a great fit for those who have mobility concerns and a herniated disc. Its above average bounce and edge support make it much easier to get in and out of bed and move around on the mattress. Those who are concerned about falls might like the Birch Natural for its sturdiness at the edge. 

Birch customer experience

• Trial period: 100 nights
• Shipping: Free shipping
• Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
• Financing: Yes

Customer service

You can contact Birch customer service by:

• Phone: Call 917-540-5525, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
• Email: info@birchliving.com
• Chat: Available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET
• Website: Submitting a contact form

Payment options 

• Ways to pay
  • American Express
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Discover
  • Shop Pay
• Discounts? Yes, the company currently offers a 40% discount for military members, first responders, law enforcement, health care workers, and teachers. This discount can’t be combined with other promotional codes. 
• Financing: Yes, through Affirm 

Our process testing the best mattresses for people with a herniated disc

To find the best mattresses for people with a herniated disc, we paid attention to mattresses that ranked well in their firmness level, bounce, support, and pressure relief. We also used pressure-sensing devices during our testing, as well as heating equipment and a heat-detection gun. We also invited older adults, some of which were experiencing pain at night, to test out mattresses and share their experiences.  

Pain relief

Our pain relief score measures how likely the mattress can help manage pain symptoms such as a herniated disc or arthritis. We looked at pressure relief, bounce, firmness, and edge support, and had our testers rate these features. We were especially interested if they felt any areas of pressure on joints or felt like their spine wasn’t in good alignment.  

Pressure relief 

Our pressure relief scores look at our testers’ experiences on each mattress and the results of our pressure map. This pressure map uses sensors that show how much pressure the body feels when lying on the mattress. Yellow, orange, and red indicate where pressure has built up, while blue and green show great pressure relief. 

Spinal support

We tested spinal support by having testers lie on their back, side, and stomach and asked how they felt in each position. We wanted mattresses that were supportive throughout the spine and kept the natural curves but were still supportive enough to cushion joints and relieve pressure. A mattress that offers plenty of support for spinal alignment is important for people experiencing a herniated disc. 

Firmness

We reviewed mattress firmness by having our testers lie in all positions to share how they felt about its comfort and support. Medium-firm mattresses are recommended for most sleepers for their cushioning on joints like the low back and neck. 

What to consider when buying a mattress to ease a herniated disc

There are a ton of mattresses out there, many of which promise to help you with your pain and sleeping better at night. It can be overwhelming trying to find the mattress that is going to help you get quality sleep. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to mattresses. And the pain of a herniated disc can feel different from person to person. In general, a medium-firm mattress is a good place to start, since it can help with pressure relief and comfort for joints, while still helping to keep your spine in good alignment. 

Based on our testing and research, we think these are the most important factors to think about when buying a mattress to ease the pain of a herniated disc.

Mattress firmness

Medium-firm mattresses are generally preferable to mattresses that are softer or firmer. This is because they provide a balance between support and cushion for joints. But firmness is relative, meaning it can feel different for each person. Someone who is a higher-body weight might need a firmer mattress to provide enough support, but a lighter-weight sleeper may need a softer mattress in order to get pressure relief and support to press into the mattress. 

Mattress type

The type of mattress you choose should be the one that’s most comfortable for you. Weiss said hybrid and memory foam mattresses can offer a lot of support and comfort when you have herniated disc pain. 

Memory foam is famous for contouring to the body like a light hug, which can help distribute weight and relieve pressure. Innerspring mattresses aren’t really known for their pressure relief, which is important when it comes to herniated disc pain. But they are bouncier than memory foam and aren’t as heat-retaining. Hybrid mattresses bring more of a balanced feel with foam layers and a coil base. Some of them even have a zoned low back support, which can help with a herniated disc. 

Mattress features

There are different mattress features that can help ease the pain from a herniated disc, including:

• Zoned support systems for proper spinal alignment
• Pressure relief on joints without excessive sinking
• Motion isolation that can help with undisturbed sleep 
• Edge support for safer movement in and out of the bed
• Temperature regulation for comfort

Pressure relief

Pressure relief is a big deal when it comes to herniated discs because having pressure spread out instead of concentrated in one spot can relieve joint stress and pain. 

Spinal support

Having good spinal support and contouring on the back can help you sleep more comfortably with a herniated disc. You might have a herniated disc in your low back or neck, and either way, you need a mattress that supports your whole spine and its natural curves. 

Sleeping position

Weiss explained that sleeping on your back or side can help get some relief from herniated disc pain. But she also advised using pillows for support. 

If you prefer to sleep on your back, use a pillow under your knees to help tilt the pelvis and flatten your lower back against the mattress, which will ease the pressure on your discs. 

Side sleepers want to remember to keep the spine in a neutral line and keep the lower curve of your back. To reduce pressure on the spinal discs and nerves, you can put a pillow between your knees to keep the hips and spine aligned. 

Stomach-sleeping isn’t recommended because it puts too much pressure on the spine and its tissues, which can make spine problems worse.⁹ 

Older adults may already experience stiff joints and arthritis, and the added disc pressure can lead to waking up more frequently or struggling to fall asleep.”
—Ilyza Weiss, physical therapist

Tips for improving sleep with a herniated disc

Weiss shared her knowledge and expertise as a physical therapist for what can help you sleep better when you have a herniated disc.

• Use a good pillow and mattress support that will keep your spine in healthy alignment and your neck and low back in line with their natural curves. 
• Try side sleeping with a pillow between the knees, or back sleeping with a pillow under your knees.
• Stick to a regular sleep routine to help your body relax.
• An adjustable base can be helpful. Raising the head slightly and elevating the legs takes pressure off the lower back and can reduce disc-related pain. 
• Talk to a health care provider if pain is waking you up often. Medication and more specific therapy might be needed.
• If you have seen a physical therapist for your herniated disc pain, you can do the specific movements you were taught to reduce pain and improve flexibility. This can help ease some of the stiffness. 

Herniated disc pain cannot really be relieved with a mattress, but the mattress is more comfortable with sleeping.”
—A member of our chronic pain and sleep focus group

How much do the best mattresses for older adults with a herniated disc cost?

The mattresses we included in our best mattresses for side sleepers range from $1,249–$3,295 for a queen-size mattress. Along with size, other factors that affect cost can include:

• Materials used in its construction
• Certifications
• Cooling layer or pillow top
• Free shipping
• White-glove delivery (where a mattress is delivered directly to your bedroom)
• Lifetime warranty or not

Table 2 Comparing the best mattresses for a herniated disc costs

*Mattress costs excluding promotions, discounts, or shipping charges

How to save money on mattresses

You want to make sure the mattress you buy is comfortable, pressure-relieving, and within your budget. There are a lot of ways you can save money on your next mattress. Here are some tips:

• Look for brands that offer financing plans to help spread out payments.
• Mattress brands typically offer sales, especially around big holidays like Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Black Friday.
• Look for coupons, sales codes, and discounts on the manufacturer website. 
• Stores often have floor models that are discounted down.
• Certain groups of people can be eligible for deals such as current or former members of the military, students, teachers, and others.

Frequently asked questions

 Questions? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.