Help Me Find Pillow For Stiff Neck!

dogstarheaven

I've posted this onto previous thread on Moneysaving Arms, but no-one's replied, so I thought it'd be best posting it here under new thread instead...

i'm currently looking for a decent neck pillow for my horrid pain that ive been suffering with for the past 8mths. ive had neck stiffness on and off for the past couple of yrs (i'm 40 female and worked with computers most of my working life). tho' in the past yr, ive had really aching shoulder probs too and the physio didn't really help. i want a really decent pillow but with many kinds on the market, i'm baffled as to choose the right one. i'm kinda on the brink (as in today - well, i really need to buy one vvv soon as i'm not sleeping well, with tossing and turning and snoring so says my put-upon partner who's not a v happy bunny in the mornings nowadays:() - of buying a memory foam 3-in-1 type. there's one from John Lewis http://www.johnlewis.com/105918/Style.aspx
at £35 a pop, but i don't want to find it a waste of money. there are other cheaper memory foam ones there, and at other places, but they're not contoured to give me the support i need for my neck.. do you think the memory foam ones are the best, or are there anything else i could look for? i don't think the U-shaped ones would be that comfortable, but then again, I haven't tried one to know...:o

what do others think? i'm so achey in the mornings with both the neck and shoulder, that it's hard at times to physically get up properly. the pain carries on throughout the day, at times more noticeable if i'm carrying things or doing too much. has anyone been referred to a clinic before if their NHS physio didn't work? i've yet to get my assessment at the back pain centre in notts.

belfastgirl23

My DH has neck problems mainly brought on by too much computer time. He bought one of the memory foam shaped pillows that you link to here and he has found it really helpful. We also have a memory foam mattress and since we changed this he's had very little trouble.

I would also suggest it might be worth seeing a sports physio or masseur who might give you exercises to help you deal with this problem. I have a friend who also has neck problems stemming from a car accident years ago and she thinks doing some gentle daily stretching exercises really helps.

Tim_Deegan

The moulded type are only suitable for some people. What I find best are the memory fill type. These are the shape and size of a normal pillow, but are filled with memory foam granules instead of being moulded. This means that the pillow will shape to your natural position, rather than forcing your neck into the shape of a moulded pillow.

If you want extra height, then it is best to use a normal pillow under the memory fill one.

Many neck problems stem from the shoulders, and can be helped by better support from your mattress. What type of mattress do you have, and what position do you sleep in?

stormcloudgathering

I use a very thin Tempur one for chronic neck pain and it's worked wonders. I also bought a very cheap memory foam one and regretted it after a week as it went solid! My husband loves it though.

Tim_Deegan

stormcloudgathering wrote: »

I use a very thin Tempur one for chronic neck pain and it's worked wonders. I also bought a very cheap memory foam one and regretted it after a week as it went solid! My husband loves it though.

I wouldn't pay the high prices charged for Tempur, as you can find just as good quality for far less.

Errata

TBH I'd wait until the hospital appt and ask advice. Depending on the cause of the neck pain a pillow that seems to make things better may actually be making them worse. In the interim you may find a good feather pillow which can be punched into different shapes may help matters.
It's not uncommon to find neck pain in early middle aged people who've worked with computer screens, keyboard and mouse for many years. Unfortunately many companies think Ergonomics is a place in Alaska.

Tim_Deegan

Errata wrote: »

TBH I'd wait until the hospital appt and ask advice. Depending on the cause of the neck pain a pillow that seems to make things better may actually be making them worse. In the interim you may find a good feather pillow which can be punched into different shapes may help matters.
It's not uncommon to find neck pain in early middle aged people who've worked with computer screens, keyboard and mouse for many years. Unfortunately many companies think Ergonomics is a place in Alaska.

That's the beauty with memory fill pillows. The granules will move the same as feathers will to shape to your natural position.

dogstarheaven

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

The moulded type are only suitable for some people. What I find best are the memory fill type. These are the shape and size of a normal pillow, but are filled with memory foam granules instead of being moulded. This means that the pillow will shape to your natural position, rather than forcing your neck into the shape of a moulded pillow.

If you want extra height, then it is best to use a normal pillow under the memory fill one.

Many neck problems stem from the shoulders, and can be helped by better support from your mattress. What type of mattress do you have, and what position do you sleep in?

i didn't know that there was another type of memory pilow, with a memory fill. that just adds more pressure for me to decide:cool:

i used to sleep sideways, but my main problem is my right shoulder where i cannot put pressure on it at all in bed (yes, i carry my bag on this side too, but only sometimes do i remember to use the left-side too:o) so have to maintain sleeping on just my left-side. apparently, my partner complains of me snoring and tossing n' turning throughout the night (never used to) and this started happening in the last month or so.

the mattress i have is fairly firm, it's on a high divan bed, quite well-upholstered and once a yr gets turned-over. I don't find soft, bouncy beds that comfortable, so i've always had them firm (I don't mind sleeping on the floor).

the physio i had wasn't that helpful. she advised some basic exercises but I have them ineffective. I think I have about 6wks to wait for my back pain clinic assessment.

I came across a gel called http://www.biofreeze.com/products.php which I found at a craft fair a few weeks ago, and was sold by an ex-sports therapist. he advised me a simple exercise for the neck and gave me a quick therapy session with tracking down the main pain in my shoulder and neck. i think it helped at the time, but I've yet to use the biofreeze gel regularly (keep forgetting).

I'm still none-the-wiser with all the info you've put up for me.. i think i'm kinda a little more clued-up with getting a memory-type one, but still the jury's out.. anymore help ppl?:T

silverfoxuk

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

That's the beauty with memory fill pillows. The granules will move the same as feathers will to shape to your natural position.

Do you mean this kind of thing?

King Koil Memory Fill Pillow £20

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/King-Koil-Memory-Fill-Pillow-/260380663934?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bedroom_Bedding_PP&hash=item3c9fe5a07e

Tim_Deegan

dogstarheaven wrote: »

i didn't know that there was another type of memory pilow, with a memory fill. that just adds more pressure for me to decide:cool:

i used to sleep sideways, but my main problem is my right shoulder where i cannot put pressure on it at all in bed (yes, i carry my bag on this side too, but only sometimes do i remember to use the left-side too:o) so have to maintain sleeping on just my left-side. apparently, my partner complains of me snoring and tossing n' turning throughout the night (never used to) and this started happening in the last month or so.

the mattress i have is fairly firm, it's on a high divan bed, quite well-upholstered and once a yr gets turned-over. I don't find soft, bouncy beds that comfortable, so i've always had them firm (I don't mind sleeping on the floor).

the physio i had wasn't that helpful. she advised some basic exercises but I have them ineffective. I think I have about 6wks to wait for my back pain clinic assessment.

I came across a gel called http://www.biofreeze.com/products.php which I found at a craft fair a few weeks ago, and was sold by an ex-sports therapist. he advised me a simple exercise for the neck and gave me a quick therapy session with tracking down the main pain in my shoulder and neck. i think it helped at the time, but I've yet to use the biofreeze gel regularly (keep forgetting).

I'm still none-the-wiser with all the info you've put up for me.. i think i'm kinda a little more clued-up with getting a memory-type one, but still the jury's out.. anymore help ppl?:T

I know it is more expense, but it sounds like a pocket sprung, or pocket sprung with memory foam mattress would help. I know this isn't what you are used to, but on a firm open coil sprung mattress you are putting a lot of pressure on your shoulder.

Tim_Deegan

silverfoxuk wrote: »

Do you mean this kind of thing?

King Koil Memory Fill Pillow £20

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/King-Koil-Memory-Fill-Pillow-/260380663934?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bedroom_Bedding_PP&hash=item3c9fe5a07e

Yes that's the type of thing.