Shoulder Pain And Sleep
According to Ruben Gobezie, M.D., founding director and chief of surgery at the Cleveland Shoulder Institute, discomfort in bed and sleep problems are common issues for people with shoulder pain. Patients frequently feel discomfort regardless of which sleep position they employ. Some also feel numbness, tingling, and muscle spasms.
While any of the conditions listed above could contribute to shoulder pain-related sleep problems, Dr. Gobezie notes three specific conditions are the most common culprits:
- Bursitis, an inflammation of the bursa sacs that cushion bones around joints in the body. Inflamed bursa produce more liquid which can lead to painful swelling.
- Biceps tendinopathy, a condition that occurs due to prolonged deterioration of the biceps tendon that connects shoulder bones and muscles. Tendinopathy is characterized by sharp pains around the tendon.
- Tears and other injuries to the rotator cuff, a grouping of muscles that cushions and stabilizes the shoulder joint.
Before seeing medical attention for any of these conditions, Dr. Gobezie recommends taking anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You can also try sleeping in a recliner, applying ice or heat to the pain-affected areas, or wearing a compression sleeve.
Neck Pain Pillow Glossary
CertiPUR-US certified: This is a standard for polyurethane foams, including memory foam. Pillows that are CertiPUR-US certified are made without heavy metals, flame retardants, ozone depleters, phthalates, and formaldehyde. They also have low VOC emissions.
Hypoallergenic: Pillows that are less likely to cause allergic reactions are called “hypoallergenic.” In general, hypoallergenic pillows are made of synthetic materials, like foam or polyester. Bedding filled with down or other animal products is more likely to cause an allergic reaction. Currently, there is no certification process that a manufacturer must go through in order to call its pillows hypoallergenic.
What Are The Best Pillow Sizes
Make sure you choose a pillow size that fits your body and bed just right!
Standard Size
Standard pillows are the most common type of pillow out there. Standard pillows fit on a twin bed, or two of them can adequately fit on a full or queen-size bed.
Super Standard
Super standard pillows are slightly larger than standard pillows. This slight increase in size can help you to better maximize your surface use of a twin bed, for example.
Queen
A queen-size pillow is more compatible with a full or queen-size mattress. Furthermore, as with all pillows, the larger they are, the more sleeping surface you create for your neck and head on your bed.
King
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What Pillow Do Chiropractors Recommend
We asked chiropractor about what he recommends when it comes to pillow shopping. “Its important to get the right pillow as we spend up to a third of our life time in bed, so thats a lot of time influencing our posture passively,” Keel explains.
“Our neck has a natural C curve that needs supporting so that our neck joints are not unduly stressed if were lying on our back. On our sides we need enough support to maintain the imaginary line from the base of our skull to the tip of our tail bone. Pillows can definitely help cause and help cure neck problems, so getting one thats right for you is key.
“If you sleep on your side buy a pillow that is thick enough and dense enough to maintain its depth throughout the night. Too high and the neck will kink upwards and too low it will kink downwards.
“If you can sleep exclusively on your back then you don’t need as much pillow depth as for on your side. A pillow with less density will allow you to snuggle your head comfortably so that its not raised up causing you to lose the natural curve of your neck spine.”
Keel recommends that you don’t sleep on your front or front side, so as not to cause too much neck rotation.
“The pillow you choose will depend somewhat on the quality and softness of your mattress, your body shape and size, so try some out in the shop before buying if you can,” he explains. Alternatively, look for one with a trial policy so you know its right before committing.
What Type Of Pillow Is Best For Side
The best pillows for side-sleepers feature specially contoured designs that help relieve pressure on your neck and shoulders, allowing you to sleep comfortably and wake up pain-free.
Another key feature? The fill of your pillow. Memory foam is best at evenly distributing your weight, but it can also be heavy and hot. Look for a pillow with breathable memory foam or even better, one that contains shredded memory foam that can be removed to adjust the height and thickness of your pillow. The more you customize your pillow to your body, the more comfortable it will be, both for sleeping and when youre awake.
Now grab a sleep mask and your favorite mattress topper and get ready to drift off in comfort, because weve rounded up the best pillows for side-sleepers with neck and shoulder pain. Keep scrolling to shop our picks!
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Best Customizable: Layla Kapok
If you prefer to customize your pillow, look no further than Layla’s Kapok. This adjustable-loft pillow is made with fibers from Kapok trees that the brand harvests in Indonesia. They’re finely shredded to create an incredibly soft and lightweight down alternative.
The material’s extra fluff provides phenomenal support for side sleepers, as well as back sleepers, by keeping your head and neck in healthy alignment. Plus, it’s wrapped in a polyester and viscose blend cover that allows enough stretch for the pillow to adapt to your unique dimensions.
Buy It: Layla Kapok Pillow,
Royal Therapy Memory Foam Pillow Queen Cervical Pillow For Neck Pain Contour Pillow Pillow For Neck And Shoulder Painneck Pain Pillowside
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Product Details
Bamboo-derived Rayon Behind every great nights sleep is our cervical neck pillow with an ideal shape, height, and density.This contour neck pillow provides just that, offering you a perfect balance of orthopedic support and plushness.
Unlike traditional contour pillow for side sleepers, our special foam is engineered to make a more ventilated, adjustable cervical pillow.Our memory foam cervical pillow is designed to relieve neck and shoulder pain by providing the correct sleeping posture.
The unique 3-layer design allows you to adjust the memory foam contour pillow for optimal orthopedic support so you can sleep comfortably all night.Simply remove the middle layer of memory foam to customize your comfort level.
Made from a CertiPUR US memory foam pillow for neck pain works with your bodys temperature to provide the highest quality sleep.Thick enough for personal comfort zones, yet slim enough to encourage sound sleep and spinal alignment throughout the night.
| 24 x 14 x 5 inches |
Reviews From Real Customers
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Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow
Price: $$
Customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
If you hate the sinking feeling of memory foam, opt for a pillow made of latex foam instead. Supportive natural latex helps cradle the head and neck while you rest easy on your side. The organic cotton cover is said to be breathable, easy to clean, and soft to the touch.
The pillow is also hypoallergenic and available in a low or high loft. High is likely the best choice for side sleepers.
Side sleepers like that the pillow provides plenty of neck support without being too firm. A handful of customers also appreciate that it doesnt sleep hot like memory foam.
The brand offers free shipping, a 30-night trial, and a 3-year warranty.
The Best Pillows For Side Sleepers To Prevent Neck Shoulder And Back Pain
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Chances are good that you or someone you know is in search of better Zs and fewer morning aches.
The Better Sleep Council recommends the side-sleeping position for people with bad backs, since it can ease pain in the hips and lower back area. Thats good news for a lot of people side sleepers make up 70 percent of the population, according to a survey by Consumer Reports.
Still, having the right pillow for your sleeping position can mean the difference between a restful sleep or a night of tossing, turning and pillow-adjusting.
A pillow should be about 4 to 5 inches high to properly support your head, neck and shoulders. This is especially important when lying on your side, because the curve of your neck and spine is at the mercy of your pillow.
Side sleepers should typically look for a firm pillow with a gusset, which is the extra side paneling around a pillow to give it extra height, structure and loftiness. Most gussets are about 2 inches, giving the head and neck the ache-free support they need.
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Common Causes Of Neck Pain
Research shows that about 30 percent of the population experiences neck pain at some point during their lives, typically during middle age. It’s a very common cause of discomfort that can affect people of all ages, says W. Christopher Winter, MD, president of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine.
Neck pain isn’t usually a cause for concern, but rather an annoyance. In younger people, neck pain is more commonly caused by injuries from exercise, Dr. Winter says. As we get older, degeneration starts to set in, and arthritis, pinched nerves, and herniated discs can all contribute to neck pain. And certain environmental factorslike the way you sit at a desk, exercise, and sleepcan make matters worse.
In particular, if you’ve been using the same old pillow every night for years, it may not be doing you any favors. “Many people are using pillows that have not been selected for their own body size and neck configuration,” Dr. Winter says. “It’s just the pillow that was around.”
Other Tips For Neck Pain Sufferers
A new pillow can help relieve quite a lot of neck pain, but there are additional ways to help alleviate your sore or stiff neck. Everyday tasks, especially looking down at your electronic device can affect your neck muscles, causing neck or back pain. Small lifestyle changes such as stretching, adjusting your posture when you notice yourself slumped over, and maintaining exercise can really make a difference when it comes to neck pain.
Using cold and hot compresses can also provide quick relief to an aching neck. If the pain continues to linger after investing in one of our best pillows for neck pain, you may want to head to your local massage or chiropractic office. An orthopedic pillow, or cervical support pillow, may go hand-in-hand with a chiropractors plan for treating your neck pain. Always consult a health professional before starting any kind of treatment.
Finally, its important to sleep on the right mattress. The best mattress for neck pain is going to be supportive enough to help promote a neutral spinal alignment. Youll also want to pair your pillow with your mattress. For example, on a soft mattress with sinkage, youll want a low-loft pillow to keep your neck in proper alignment, while a firm mattress necessitates a high-loft pillow to keep your head properly elevated.
Okay, folks, now that weve covered the main points to consider, lets wrap up with a look at my final thoughts!
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Do You Have Any Chronic Medical Issues
If you suffer from a particular medical condition that prevents you from sleeping comfortably, make sure that the ergonomic pillow you choose is designed to cater to it.
For chronic neck pain and poor cervical mobility, a contoured pillow is best. Similarly, choose a wedge-style pillow if you suffer from acid reflux and a CPAP pillow if you plan to use the pillow with a CPAP machine. By adapting your purchase to your medical condition, you are more likely to experience a more restful sleep with your new ergonomic pillow.
Eve Memory Foam Pillow
Were tried and tested the memory foam pillow from EVE, and were more than impressed with it. For the price, it seems relatively simple in construction. However it seems to be one of those if it aint broke, dont fix it situations. Theres no fancy technology here, just a memory foam pillow with small holes to allow air flow, wrapped in a washable hypoallergenic cover.
Buying an EVE? Make sure to check out my EVE Voucher Codes page first and save some easy money!
Considering its not 100% customisable like some other memory foam pillows, we found that it is firm enough to correctly support the neck and spine, while at the same time being soft enough to reduce pressure around the neck area. It costs £59, which is the mid-range price, but we think its worth more. If you use a voucher code youll be able to get it even cheaper. Whats more, the EVE pillow comes with a 14-night trial period. If you dont like it, just send it back for a full refund. Find out what we thought about it here.
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Best For Combo Sleepers: Purple Harmony Pillow
Why We Like It: The Purple Harmony Pillow was thoughtfully designed with a unique internal grid structure and hypoallergenic latex core to support your head and neck in any sleeping position.
Its Worth Noting: This pillow is on the expensive side, but they do offer a 100-night trial period.
We know: $179 is a lot for a pillow. But for that price, youre getting a near-perfect design thats more than worth it if youve tried out dozens of pillows to no avail.
Purples pillows use a proprietary honeycomb-patterned grid thats been specifically formulated and engineered to provide both head and neck support and optimal airflow. That unique design creates comfortable support from the moment you lay down and its responsive if you move around throughout the night. The grid is paired with a premium Talalay latexwhich Purple says wont irritate allergies the way a natural rubber latex might. Talalay latex shares the contouring properties of memory foam but stays cooler. Thanks to those internal materials, this pillow wont fall flat over time or with use, either. Hot sleepers will appreciate the moisture-wicking, breathable mesh cover that keeps you from overheating.
While youll be spending a pretty penny on this pillow, the brand offers a 100-night sleep trial if you try it and feel like it doesnt live up to the hype.
Price at time of publication: $161
Product details:
- Trial or guarantee: 100-night sleep trial
Our Neck Pain Pillow Testing Methodology
We put each of the pillows in this guide through several tests, including sleeping on each for at least three nights. When shopping for a pillow, the most important factors to consider are comfort, return policy, and adjustability.
Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:
Comfort: I tested each of the pillows for at least three nights. For reference, I’m 6 feet tall and 215 pounds. I mainly sleep on my side but can find comfort in any position. Each morning, I would record how comfortable I felt on the pillow, if I experienced any neck pain, and how well I slept. Since several factors play into pillow comfort, including your body type and sleeping style, the firmness of your bed, personal preferences and more, I also enlisted the help of six neck-pain sufferers on the Insider Reviews team to help me test.
Return policy: The only way to find out if a pillow is truly right for you is to sleep on it for several nights. We gave preference to pillows that had a trial period of at least 60 days and a return policy free of loopholes, like requiring the customer pay return shipping.
Cleaning: I cleaned all of the pillows according to the manufacturers’ directions. Many had removable machine-washable covers. A few, including the MyPillow pillows, were entirely machine-washable. However, it was hard to gauge when they were completely dry. I rated each pillow on how easy it was to clean and how cleaning impacted the feel.
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The Best Therapeutic Cervical Pillow For Neck Pain Pillo1 Size Large
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Product Details
Put pain, stiffness, and restless nights to bed for good and start dreaming big with Dr.PILLO1 is the perfect pillow for the cervical curve in your neck.Designed by renowned celebrity chiropractor Dr.
Tonight you can fall asleep 19% faster, increase your restorative REM sleep by 21.3%, as well as address issues of snoring, poor circulation, and more with PILLO1.Unlike oil-based memory foam pillows, Dr.
Pooling decades of experience and research treating professional athletes and various spine and stress injuries, Dr.Hall set out to create the most advanced and therapeutic pillow on the market, and achieved that goal with PILLO1.
You deserve to wake up pain-free each morning.Dr.Halls therapeutic PILLO1 pillow will improve your quality of life through better, more restorative sleep.
| 25 Inches |
Reviews From Real Customers
How Does Sleep Cause Neck Pain
Most people assume that activities only cause neck pain during the daytime, but this isnt always the case.
One of the most common causes of neck pain is sleeping in the wrong position.
Sleeping on your stomach can cause strain on your neck and back because you have to turn your head to the side or the back to breathe.
And sleeping on your side can also lead to neck pain because you put extra pressure on the spine and neck muscles, leading to inflammation and strain.
This is why it is so essential for side sleepers to use a pillow that supports the head and neck in the correct position, reducing pressure on these areas and helping to prevent neck pain.
If you suffer from neck pain from side sleeping, try switching to a different pillow or adding an extra support cushion under your regular pillow, like a cervical roll.
This can help to reduce pressure on the spine and alleviate any pain or stiffness you may be experiencing.
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