Sleeping on your back or on your side is recommended, if possible, for people with neck pain. A fairly low pillow is better in this position. Additional support can be provided by adding a small rolled towel or a small roll-shaped pillow placed under the neck. For all sleeping positions with neck pain, you should use a pillow under the neck that provides support, such as a rolled towel or cervical pillow.
Take a large beach towel, roll it up and place it on the base of your pillow. The roll will provide a great place to rest the neck groove, keeping the spine aligned. This roll will work if you are lying on your back or if you are lying on your side and often works great for people with neck pain. Using pillows to support your arms while sleeping on your side or back can also help reduce tension and pain in your neck.
A person may also try placing a pillow between the knees if he sleeps on his side, or under them if he sleeps on his back, to reduce tension or pressure on the spine. For the pillow, look for a height that keeps the head in a neutral position to reduce strain on the neck. A pillow that is too low will cause the jaw to point towards the ceiling; too high and the jaw points towards the chest. Cervical contouring pillows work best for most people, says.
The head rests in a depression in the center. The neck rests on a lower side when lying on its back or on a higher side when lying on its side. There are several sinus conditions, including infections, that are known to cause symptoms, including neck pain. Even better, a small cylindrical pillow in the neck crease supports the neck and keeps the head neutral on the mattress.
You can also try using a soft feather pillow that fits your head or a pillow with neck support. Creativity with pillows can greatly help prevent and reduce pain in many parts of the body. For side sleepers, placing a firm pillow between the knees helps maintain the natural alignment of the hips, pelvis, and spine. Side sleepers should choose pillows that are thick enough to keep their head and neck aligned, but not so thick as to tilt their head up or down.
People with neck pain may want to look for a mattress that offers complete support to the entire spine without any sagging points or pressure. A qualified medical professional can recommend a comprehensive treatment plan to help reduce neck pain while you sleep. If you sleep on your back, choose a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck, with a flatter pillow that cushions your head. While it is best to choose recommended sleeping positions, it can be difficult for those who find an unaccustomed sleeping position as stressful as the pain they are experiencing.
Not much research urges an automatic recommendation for pillows with mixed fillings such as memory foam or latex with shredded foam and a gel insert. It gives the pillow a more dynamic look, which I think is very attractive and also gives the pillow more strength. This can be achieved by placing a small neck roll on the pillowcase of a flatter and softer pillow, or by using a special pillow that has a built-in neck support with a slit for the head to rest. A person should talk to a doctor about neck pain if it is severe or unexplained, interferes with daily life or sleep, does not respond to basic treatment, lasts more than 1 week, or has other worrying symptoms.
In addition to using treatments to relieve this neck pain, make sure that future sleep includes a good pillow to support the neck.
