Why You Need a Pillow for Neck Pain
A pillow for neck pain can counteract some of the damage that occurs when patients sleep at night. Often, a poor sleeping position causes neck pain. However, the wrong type of pillow also contributes to a sore neck in the morning. In fact, improper sleeping habits and gear contribute a significant percentage to cases of chronic pain. First, the worst sleeping position for neck and back pain is sleeping on the stomach. Specifically, the neck muscles are strained by being twisted to one side for hours at a time. At the same time, the body sinks into the bed and stresses the spine. Tossing and turning at night also injures the body. Pillows that do not support the head and neck put tension on the neck. Fortunately, there are pillows for neck pain that contribute to a better night’s sleep.1
Home Remedies Other Than a Pillow for Neck Pain
Traditional remedies to ease neck pain include applying an ice or heat pack, taking over-the-counter painkillers, and performing gentle exercises. A heat pack is best used for pain that has lasted for a day or more, and both the ice and heat packs should only be applied for twenty minutes at a time. Common over-the-counter pain medications are Advil, Aleve, and Tylenol. Patients may not want to move due to the pain, but immobilization can cause the muscles to tighten up and the pain to worsen. Gentle exercises, such as walking, yoga, and neck stretches, promote blood flow to the neck. Additionally, patients should maintain proper posture throughout the day to minimize further damage. A sagging mattress also contributes to poor sleep health, and patients may want to consider replacing their mattress.2
What Side Sleepers Should Know
Typically, a thicker pillow is a good pillow for a neck pain side sleeper. The thicker pillow for neck pain allows the neck and head to be centered on the shoulders. Body size also dictates pillow width, and patients who are smaller will need a slimmer pillow.3 Generally, a pillow that is too high or stiff contributes to painful neck flexing. Additionally, side sleepers can use a pillow with extra neck support to keep the spine straight.4
Stomach Sleeping Should Be Prevented
As previously mentioned, stomach sleeping is generally considered to be the most damaging position. It can cause back and neck pain, and the stress can cause long-term issues. Unfortunately, patients often develop their sleeping position preference early in life and many children sleep on their stomachs. Furthermore, some patients toss and turn at night and end up rolling onto their stomachs in their sleep. However, they should still try to start their night by falling asleep in a side or back position.5
Information for Back Sleepers
A pillow for neck pain that back sleepers should use has to be flatter and rounded to support the natural curve of the neck. Back sleepers can achieve the proper support by adding a small neck roll or by using a special pillow for neck and shoulder pain. For example, a memory foam pillow for neck pain conforms to the natural contour of the cervical spine. Both side and back sleepers can use feather pillows, but feather pillows collapse over time and they have to be replaced annually. Furthermore, patients should use a horseshoe-shaped pillow when they sleep in a reclined sitting position to prevent the head from dropping to one side.6
What is the Best Pillow for Neck Pain?
There are many contenders for patients to choose from when they look for a pillow for neck pain. First, the MyPillow Queen Classic Medium Support Pillow is built to resist collapse. Second, the Epabo Contour Memory Foam Pillow is uniquely designed to ergonomically support the head and cervical spine region. Third, the Purple Pillow contains a grid of polymers that does not flatten. Fourth, the Coop Home Goods Eden Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is a breathable memory foam pillow that comes with additional optional support. Fifth, the Emolli Contour Memory Foam Pillow shares an ergonomic design that is similar to the Epabo Contour Memory Foam Pillow. Sixth, the Cradle Me Cervical Pillow is hourglass-shaped and contains gel memory foam. Patients can consult their primary healthcare provider for recommendations in order to find the best pillow for neck pain.7
The Mediflow Waterbase Pillow for Neck Pain
One of the most popular, supportive pillows is the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow. In fact, a clinical study by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that the Mediflow ranked above other brands in every tested category. The pillow helped patients fall asleep more quickly, wake up fewer times throughout the night, sleep better, and wake up with less neck pain. In the study, the Mediflow was compared to two other types of pillows: a regular pillow and a roll pillow.8 The pillow comes in a variety of styles, and the original version contains fibers that float in a thin layer of water. Patients can control the pillow’s firmness by adding or removing water. The pillow naturally readjusts itself to the patient’s head motions throughout the night to maintain support so that the patient does not have to wake up and fluff it.9
Chiropractic Care
Another tool that patients can use to combat neck pain is chiropractic care. Chiropractor specialize in treating the spine, and back and neck pain are two of the most common complaints. Chiropractors treat neck pain by performing spinal adjustments on the patient, and they can also suggest stretches and exercises for the patient to try at home to combat misalignment and pain. A spinal adjustment is a sudden, controlled force applied to the joint to loosen it up and realign it. Moreover, adjustments allow pinched nerves and muscle spasms to relax. Chiropractors do not prescribe medications for pain, and they advocate for natural relief through adjustments, lifestyle changes, and regular exercise. As a result, chiropractors may also recommend a pillow for neck pain and modified sleeping positions to patients who awaken in pain. There are many natural treatment options for patients who suffer from common forms of pain.10
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Find out more about the Chiroflow Pillow.
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