Pillows

[Shazzzy]

Hi there can i ask what / how many pillows do others use to help with chronic neck pain?

[Ginsing]

Hi That is such a difficult question, I think that since I cracked and chipped my vertebrae in the neck some 24 years ago I have used every thing from 1 to 6. In other words it really depends on your pain levels. At the moment I sleeep (if you can call it that) sitting half upright so I have 5 with a v neck pillow as well. Anything that helps you get comfy do hard and fast rules. You will soon find the best for you good luck

xgins

[Missbb]

Hi,

I use 2 pillows.1 very soft and the other medium.i find it helpful if I put the soft pillow on the top. Got the soft ones from next £25 4 a pair and the medium ones from dunelm also £25.use all 4 when I'm just sitting up in bed.

Hope this helps x

[Hidden]

I have 2, 1 med 1 soft customised with some stuffing out of a spare duvet inside the pillow case. ontop of med 1 which is on the bottom. Hope that makes sense.....sue

[gilonius]

Hi - I'be been juggling with pillows recently. The only thing that's worked is 3ins full memory foam mattress on bed - one feather pillow and a rectangle of memory foam to rest my ear on and cradle my neck. It's really important to keep your neck as straight as possible. The higher the pillow stack the more your neck is pushed out of allignment..

[butterflygirl1]

Hi I use a memory bamboo pillow from Dunelm it is the only one I use unless I am sitting upright and then I use a V shaped pillow I suffer with chronic neck pain due to spondylosis and Fibromyalgia and find that this is the only pillow that doesn't leave me stiff in the morning, the bamboo material is suppose to help you sleep as well but as we all know with Fibro that is never going to happen I hope you find the information helpful and that you soon get a little relief from the pain. Sending you very gently fluffy hugs xx

[fibro]

I'm afraid i have to come across as different, I only use one pillow!

As i suffer with chronic neck pain as well as my spine isn't straight.

A pillow is soething that s just personal to you, everyone is different!

I have to use one of those special neck care pillows. I use a Tempur memory foam one. I change it every couple of years as even those lose density. I have to save up as they cost about £120 a pillow. My husband uses one too and although he doesnt have neck problems cant sleep without it. He sleeps with the smaller ridge and i have to use the larger ridge.

these neck care pillows are really for back sleepers. I sleep on my back and dont move all night either. I have only used one pillow for most of my life.

Sitting up in bed i woukd be using as many as i can find around me to support me, but then its usually cushions rather than pillows.

In the days before memory foam i did find a latex foam one but although kept its shame didnt iffer thevsupport of the neck pillows.

Hollow fibre offers very little support and feather depending in the depth and make up can be good. I did manage at one time to be able to find a feather one that was encasing a spring like feature similar to a spring matteress. Thats was quite supportive, but like any i woukd change them every year. Some pillows can be washed in the machine but you have to dry them for hours and hours. The neck pillows can be a pain as they dont fit properly into pillowcases!!

[Christina1958 in reply to fibro]

I agree. I use this pillow and it is fabulous.

[crop]

If u stand straight against a wall your pillow should apparently only be width of space between neck and wall xx

[Lizzielizzie0]

I can remember the horror with which I forked out £40.00 for a SINGLE pillow (poverty doesn't usually allow for such purchases as so many of you will know) from Ikea. However, I have to say that I dearly love the strangely shaped thing and I'm sure it's saved me from the worst of my upper body night time aches. It's supposed to be for 'side sleeping' (which is all I can do now), takes maybe a week of getting used to and may make for a bit more pain in the meantime, but once you get it how you want it, you may want to call it a pet name and take it everywhere you go. Not good for folk who wriggle a lot in their sleep probably and worth trying in the shop first.

I also use two back to back cheap memory foam pillows to prop me sideways and another beyond that to support whichever wrist is nearest the mattress. Just as well I sleep alone, really.

The Ikea pillow is called 'GOSA LILJA pillow, side sleeper', it's still £40.00 and this is the link:

ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/prod...

Worth considering for a Christmas present if it works for you?

[maryharrison]

I was advised by my OT to use a Putnam pillow I have chronic neck pain fibromyalgia and Hypermobility Syndrome xx

[Hidden in reply to maryharrison]

Hi Mary, same here, what is a Putnam pillow please?

xxxzebxxx

[maryharrison in reply to Hidden]

Hi Zeb73 it is a foam pillow that is curved underneath where you fit your shoulder in and it lifts it up to snuggle into your neck crevice x

[Hidden in reply to maryharrison]

Sounds great Thankyou for getting back to me

Where can you get one from?

xxxzebxxx xx

[maryharrison in reply to Hidden]

They sell them on eBay and Amazon x

[Hidden in reply to maryharrison]

cheers mary xx

[Hidden]

Hi Shazzy

I have a bean bag base and about 6 pillows, which form a V shape and then a cylindrical one for the base of my back when sitting in bed, which is most of the time because its where I'm comfortable

I will buy a V pillow eventually whenever I have the spare cash

warming, healing fluffies for you

xxxzebxxx

[vixen49 in reply to Hidden]

I have a memory foam and Polly ester pillow

[Shazzzy]

Thanks for all answers will experiment with all til i get some relief.

[GrumpyG]

Hi, I can't sleep with any pillows now as they tend to make my neck pain worse xxx

[jillylin]

I have one of those chiropractic neck pillows which I find very helpful. It took a bit of getting used to though. My sister, who also has Fibro, has one of those memory foam ones which she swears by.

Hugs

Jillxx

[TheAuthor]

Hi shazzy

I vary the pillow no each night depending on how I feel and where the pain is. Hope that helps a little.

Take care and wishing you all the best

Ken x

[lekcam]

Hi shazzzy, you are supposed to use one pillow if you sleep on your back and two if you sleep on your side to fill the space between neck and bed.

[cowren]

I have crumbling discs in my neck I have pain relief injections in my neck I have spent an absolute fortune on pillows I bought the best on from lidl the cheapest and the best visco neck pillow under a tenner and can't sleep without it xx

[unio06]

I found memory foam to firm so I boughta latex one and love it. it doesn't make me hot like foam and I am saving up fo a mattress too. I have a flat pillow that has a bit of memory foam with microfiber underneath it

[RIBBONPINK]

I USE BOLSTER PILLOW AND AIR POCKET PILLOW HELPS GIVE MORE SUPPORT .

[Matrix]

I had chronic neck problems have tried many pillows .I have found a thin pillow with loose filling that you can mould. Around your neck is best it really helped my problem,what I did was buy a feather one and pull a lot of it out .

[Sharolina]

Just over a year ago, Adult Social Services provided me with adjustable mattress elevators to raise me up to a sitting position and also raise my knees. It changed my life also overnight! I use it with a feather pillow and also a V shaped one, which really helps to support my head from falling side to side.

The best thing, is that because pain and discomfort are different from day to day, I can alter the bed to adapt to me. It hasn't really improved my sleeping, but at least I don't wake up in the morning with a severe neck and shoulder pain as much.

If you haven't contacted your social services, it's worth it as they will assess you and give/fit any equipment that will be helpful. It is also invaluable as evidence of physical needs, when it comes to proving your case with benefit agencies etc. Sx