Do Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation Need to Sleep on a Hardboard Bed?

Many people believe that patients with lumbar disc herniation should sleep on a hardboard bed. As a result, some people go to great lengths to replace their comfortable mattress with a hardboard bed, while others add a wooden board over their mattress. However, when lying on a hardboard bed, they may feel uncomfortable. So, do patients with back pain necessarily need to choose a hardboard bed? What is the reasoning behind it?

The human spine has four normal physiological curves, which include the forward curvature of the cervical and lumbar spine and the backward curvature of the thoracic and sacral spine. A hardboard bed provides full support for the spine while lying flat, and resting in bed helps reduce pressure on the intervertebral discs, thereby alleviating back pain symptoms.

However, hardboard beds lack elasticity. In patients who are thinner or elderly, the bony protrusions of the body can be pressed against the hard surface of the bed, causing discomfort. This is particularly problematic for elderly patients, who may even develop pressure ulcers (bedsores).

Therefore, when selecting a mattress, the key factors should be "comfort" and a "moderate level of firmness," rather than adhering strictly to the idea of a "hardboard bed." A mattress that is too hard increases the pressure on the areas of contact, leading to discomfort. A mattress that is too soft may fail to maintain the normal curvature of the lumbar spine, which prevents adequate support and causes fatigue. Additionally, a mattress with excessive elasticity may subject the lower back to external forces, leading to muscle strain and pain.

Keywords: Lumbar disc herniation, mattress