Mattresses offering inadequate spinal support or pressure relief can contribute to your aches and pains. When combined with sleeping positions that put more pressure on your hips, such as sleeping on your side, the combo can create a less than stellar sleep setup. Unfortunately, investing in an entirely new mattress isn’t always an option, but the best mattress toppers for hip pain offer a more affordable alternative. We spoke with Fallon Maylack, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in St. Louis, to uncover the typical causes of hip pain at night and how a mattress topper can provide relief. You could also be dealing with osteoarthritis, sciatic-piriformis syndrome, or even tendinitis. But one of the most common issues for many side sleepers is hip bursitis or an inflammation of the bursae, according to Maylack. The hips have two main bursae, which are small sacs that contain fluid between the bones and soft tissues. “Typically for hip bursitis, the problem is too firm a mattress,” says Maylack. Super-firm mattresses often lack the pressure relief found in softer options. As a result, the pressure on your hips from lying on your side isn’t mitigated by the mattress. A softer mattress will cradle the hips and provide pressure relief, which is why Maylack suggests it to reduce hip pain. Otherwise, he recommends opting for a memory foam or plush mattress topper to get relief. Of course, the opposite is also true. If there’s no support in your mattress—because it’s too soft or too old—then your hips may sag too deeply into the mattress, creating a similar issue. Unfortunately, it’s much harder to add firmness to a mattress than for one to provide extra cushioning. Once you understand how your current mattress is falling short, it’s easy to find a topper to counteract these concerns. So as long as your current mattress is the culprit behind your pain, adding a mattress topper should help reduce it. Typically, a topper somewhere in the middle ground between plush and firm will offer enough support and pressure relief to keep your hip bone from hitting your mattress. Remember: Too much cushioning could also offer too little support. Additionally, there are a few key specifics that you should keep in mind when purchasing a mattress topper: Unlike traditional memory foam, it also runs cool with the added perks of being both dust- and allergen-resistant. Along with a cool-to-the-touch cover, it offers thick 3-inch padding, which transforms your mattress to relieve pressure on your back and hips. Shipping is completely free, and the box is fairly no-nonsense in terms of wasted materials. One reviewer said that they “no longer wake up with lower back pain or muscle soreness as if I’ve been in a fight.” Really, what more could you ask for? Although the mattress topper ships for free in a box, it doesn’t need any time to fully expand. This makes the 3-inch pick great for travel, as it can easily be rolled up and packed for trips. Customers love the elastic anchor bands, but one reviewer noted that she wishes the cotton cover was washable. Hot sleepers will also be impressed; the bamboo-polyester cover allows for ample airflow and doesn’t retain heat. Plus, the bottom of the topper is covered with grippy nubs that help hold it onto the surface of your mattress with the help of a slip-over design. It comes in a box that’s just large enough to fit the folded topper with free shipping through FedEx. One reviewer purchased this topper to relieve her hip and shoulder pain and reports that it transformed her firm mattress and relieves pressure. The brand is incredibly eco-conscious when it comes to packaging, which is recyclable and minimal. One reviewer even noted that she is pregnant and the topper still managed to alleviate her hip pain and her husband’s neck pain. “I am eight months pregnant and am sleeping so well,” the excited reviewer wrote. Shipping is free and it comes rolled-up in a box with minimal packaging. One customer left a review about how much they loved the medium-firm option, saying that it “is hard enough for my back, yet resilient and forgiving enough for my hips and shoulders.” By infusing copper gel into the dense material, it helps keep you cool while also adding durability to the mattress, so it maintains shape for years to come. Shipping is completely free, and the topper arrives in a box that’s just big enough to accommodate the topper itself. While they don’t allow returns, they will give you a full refund if you aren’t satisfied (and they’ll arrange for you to donate your topper to a local charity). One customer said that she bought a new mattress that was simply not soft enough to allow her to sleep comfortably. This topper transformed her sleep quality starting from night one, and she says that “every night since has only been getting better.”
