What Are The Signs Of A Bad Mattress? (2025)

Have you been wondering - Can sleeping on a bad mattress cause back pain?

The answer is yes!

While back pain isn’t necessarily down to your mattress, it can cause and aggravate back pain.

Bad mattresses don’t provide the support you need, particularly when it comes to promoting good spinal alignment.

Sleeping in a bed that doesn’t support your body can lead to back pain that’s worse in the morning than in the day or evening. 

“Bad mattress back pain” and “bad mattress lower back pain” are common searches among people suffering from a bad back, trying to answer questions such as:

• Does a bad mattress cause back pain?
• Can a bad mattress cause upper back pain?

If this sounds like you, it’s probably time to invest in a new mattress.

Check out our article on the best mattresses for back pain if you need help finding something to ease your back pain.

Are soft beds bad for your back?

Noticing back pain after you sleep?

Your mattress might not be bad; It could be too soft or firm.

Very firm or soft beds may not provide the right level of support, either preventing you from sinking in or letting you sink into your mattress too much.

An unsupportive or worn-out mattress can cause a variety of health issues.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most commonly asked questions about the effects of a bad mattress to see if your health problems are related to your mattress.

Can a bad mattress cause body aches?

An unsupportive mattress can cause the body to rest in unnatural positions, resulting in discomfort and aches across various parts of the body.

Can a bad mattress cause sciatica?

The link between a bad mattress and sciatica is clear.

A mattress lacking support, particularly around the lower back, can force the spine into unnatural positions.

This puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to pain and discomfort that characterises sciatica ^[7].

Can a bad mattress cause a pinched nerve?

Much like with sciatica, a bad mattress can cause a pinched nerve.

This usually happens if your mattress is unsupportive or your sleeping position is incompatible with your bed.

Try sleeping on your back or placing a pillow between your legs.

This should help align your spine and alleviate pain from a pinched nerve.

Can a bad mattress cause rib pain?

A sagging or unsupportive mattress can be a direct cause of rib pain. 

The lack of proper spinal support leads to pressure on the rib area, particularly if the area of the mattress around the ribs is too firm.

The answer is similar if you’re wondering, can a bad mattress cause costochondritis ^[8]?

Costochondritis (inflammation where the ribs meet the breastbone) can have many causes.

While it usually gets better on its own, some people have found that a spring mattress caused or worsened their costochondritis ^[9] and that this was solved by swapping to a comfortable memory foam mattress.

Can a bad mattress cause hip pain?

Unfortunately, the wrong mattress can lead to hip pain.

Bad mattress hip pain can occur when an unsupportive mattress sets off pressure points, like the hips and shoulders.

If you’re experiencing hip pain, particularly if it is worse in the morning, your mattress may be too old, uneven, firm, or even too soft.

Can a bad mattress cause knee pain?

Knee pain, while not usually caused by a mattress, can be worsened by the wrong one.

A bad mattress can put pressure on your knees, leaving them sore.

Opting for a more supportive mattress or knee pillow can help relieve your knee pain.

Can a bad mattress cause leg numbness?

Leg numbness might be because your mattress is not providing proper support, leading to greater pressure on some areas of your body.

A leg pillow, better mattress, or topper could help reduce leg numbness.

However, leg numbness can also be a sign of a more serious condition like diabetes ^[10].

If you experience continued leg numbness, you should seek advice from your doctor.

Can a bad mattress cause kidney pain?

A mattress shouldn’t cause pain in your kidneys.

Some studies have linked VOCs ^[11](volatile organic compounds) to nausea, eye and throat irritation, and liver and kidney damage ^[12].

But it’s important to note that in most countries, including the UK, VOC levels in mattresses are considered low, with minimal risk associated with using them.

In addition, kidney pain is often mistaken as back pain.

For those unsure whether they’re experiencing back or kidney pain, kidney pain tends to feel higher on the back and “deeper” in the body.

The easiest way to extend the lifespan of your mattress is to rotate or flip it every 3 to 6 months.

This helps prevent dents and ridges from forming in your mattress (one of the most common causes of mattress deterioration).

You should also consider using a mattress protector, which acts as a barrier against various spills, sweat, and bacteria.

A mattress topper can also help lengthen the lifespan of your mattress by providing an additional layer of padding.

While your mattress won’t exactly fall apart when the 10-year mark hits, it will no longer be as supportive as it once was.

So, how long should you keep a mattress?
Well, you’ve probably seen information telling you to get a new one every 7, 8, or 10 years.

These are the average lifespans of most mattresses.

When it comes to how often to replace a mattress, the answer is a little more nuanced.

Ultimately, you need to learn how to know if your mattress is bad.

To do this, you should look for bad mattress symptoms, such as lumps, sagging, or creaking.

And if you notice any of these signs of a worn-out mattress, consider replacing it.

Here's our cheat sheet for people trying to work out: How do you know if your mattress is bad?

Some common mattress problems include:

• An uneven mattress surface, including lumps, ridges, and sagging.
• A squeaking or creaking noise.

Sleeping on an old mattress can also leave you:

• Feeling tired, either struggling to fall asleep or sleeping poorly.
• Worsened allergies (old mattresses can accumulate dust mites, allergens, and bacteria).
• Waking up with aches and pains (especially back pain).

While these symptoms don’t necessarily make a mattress bad, they are common problems people face when they’re sleeping on the wrong mattress.

For instance, you may be struggling to sleep well if you’re facing a sleep disorder.

Feeling constantly tired or waking up with aches and pains could also be “mattress too firm symptoms”.

But, ultimately, if you notice several of these bad mattress symptoms, it’s likely because you’re sleeping on a worn mattress, a broken mattress, or a mattress that simply isn’t the right fit for you.

If you think it’s time to buy a new mattress, why not check out our articles on how to buy a mattress online or our guide to the best UK mattresses?

One of the first mold in mattress symptoms most people notice is a musty smell.

Mold can also aggravate breathing conditions like asthma and cause redness or itching around the eyes, nose, and skin.

If the mold is more advanced, you may also be able to see blue or green spots on your mattress.

You can try vacuuming the mattress on both sides, cleaning it with a damp, soapy cloth, and letting the mattress dry in a well-ventilated area (ideally in direct sunlight).

However, this may not work, depending on how advanced the mold growth is.

If after cleaning, you still notice an odour, you may need to invest in a new mattress.