Pillows for neck pain

freakyogre

Hello,

I have had quite a sore neck for a while now and all I can think is causing it is my pillows. I have replaced them about 3 times in the last 18 months, but it hasn't helped.

I don't really know what I need though. I tend to sleep on my side or front and very rarely fall asleep on my back (not sure if that would help). I have soft pillows and firmer ones and try and rotate them. I tend to only use one as when I do fall asleep using two, I tend to wake up in the night and end up throwing one on the floor!

Every so often my neck will be really sore (last week it suddenly started hurting a lot and is very stiff and hasn't improved since - i've also had headaches since then which are very painful with sudden movements, although may not be connected to this)

Can anyone recommend any pillows that may help? What kind do I need to look for?

Thanks for any help.

flissh

Hi freakyogre,

I have suffered with neck pain on and off for years. Mine was sometimes triggered by pillows, if I stayed in a hotel with big ones, or fell asleep propped up on two pillows, things like that.

In the end I bought a pillow from Ikea. It is a memory foam type one, (but cheaper than others I have seen!) and is sort of a small rectangular shape. I have just googled the Ikea web site and looked at the pillows on there, they call them back/side sleepers.

It has been such a sucess. I rarely get the problems I had before. I am strict with myself though. I never sleep without my pillow ( I even stuff it in my suitcase if I go away!) I am careful if I lie on the sofa etc.

Hope you find something to help, because it really is horrible when you have to struggle through your day with a sore neck.

natstally

I also use one of those pillows from Ikea, mine's the one with an extra cutout bit in the middle of the front so you can kinda put your shoulder in it when you are sleeping on your side. It's the GOSA LILJA but you might want to try the cheaper shaped ones first just in case you don't like it. I hate using normal pillows now!

freakyogre

Thanks for your replies and sorry I haven't replied sooner!

My nearest Ikea is about 2 hours away, but I will look out for something similar.

It's been a bit better this week (and I think I have been sleeping on my back more, so maybe that helps - 'think' as I try to fall asleep in that position, but don't know if I stay like that!)

IronMaidenFan

natstally wrote: »

I also use one of those pillows from Ikea, mine's the one with an extra cutout bit in the middle of the front so you can kinda put your shoulder in it when you are sleeping on your side. It's the GOSA LILJA but you might want to try the cheaper shaped ones first just in case you don't like it. I hate using normal pillows now!

Used this pillow for quite a few years now - tried a few different ones but this is the best. I suffered for years with a bad neck and headaches but no more now I sleep on the Gosa Lilja - I could never go back to a normal pillow and even take mine on holiday with me.

rockie4

Another fan of the GOSA LILJA here I take it with me when I go anywhere as I can't stand sleeping on anything else.

It's done wonders for my sore neck!

sillyvixen

my mum gets a sore neck, due to arthritis, with normal pillows and has a pillow she has used for years - it is a funny shaped lip that curves into your neck and is quite firm throughout - she takes it everywhere with her when she goes away - she now says it is getting soft and would like a new one for birthday/christmas - we would get her one - but she cant remember where she got it and have not seen a simular one in a long while?