Pillow Side Sleeper Shoulder Pain

When Should You Call Your Doctor About Your Painful Shoulder

If your shoulder hurts from sleeping on your side at night,Request an Appointment Online or call 305-520-5625.

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The Best Material For A Side Sleeper Pillow

When picking a pillow based on its construction materials, there are several factors to consider. Every material has its benefits some overlap and some dont. By now, you know you need a medium/firm, tall pillow, preferably wide and flat or contoured for extra support.

But there are questions of hygiene, heat management, airflow and even sustainability that might be important for you to ask. When you know what matters to you, youll know which pillow to pick.

This is a great time to consider the value of a good pillow protector. If you fall in love with a particular pillow, pairing it with the high-quality pillow protector can add to its benefits and overcome any shortcomings it might have. Having a machine washable cover will also help you maintain hygiene and keep your pillow clean after any spills and accidents.

So, what qualities should you look for in pillow materials?

Is the material breathable?

Breathability is a matter of airflow and determines whether pillows sleep hot or cool. It also affects the hygiene of the pillow, as a stagnant pillow is a breeding ground for bacteria.

A latex pillow is an excellent choice for side sleepers seeking breathability. Theyre also quite firm and mould to the contours of the head and neck naturally. Latex for pillows can be produced naturally or synthetically. For those with health issues, an organic latex pillow is hypoallergenic and antibacterial, making it great for asthmatics and those with eczema.

Coop Home Goods Knee Pillow

Price: $

Customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Side sleepers may benefit from sleeping with an extra pillow between their knees. This can help better align the spine.

This adjustable knee pillow is ergonomically shaped for comfort. Its designed to help side sleepers create more space between the legs. More space helps reduce hip pressure and maintain proper spinal alignment.

The pillow cover is made from polyester and bamboo-derived rayon and can be hand-washed. The fill is all CertiPUR-US certified polyurethane memory foam. Its hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.

This pillow comes with a removable foam insert, so you can control the pillows thickness and density. You cant wash the fill or the insert.

The manufacturer provides a 100-night sleep trial and return window if the pillow doesnt work for you, as well as a 5-year limited warranty.

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The 7 Best Orthopedic Side Sleeper Pillows

Here are the best side sleeper pillows for neck pain, how to pick a side sleeper pillow, and our detailed reviews below:

SleepBetter Iso-Cool Memory Foam Pillow

Memory foam contour pillows are usually made with synthetic foam, which is firm and durable .

Memory foam consists of millions of spherical open cells made from polyurethane with additional chemicals added to increase density.

Contour pillows are orthopedic pillows, designed to keep your neck and spine aligned, made with heat-sensitive foam that acquires the shape of the head sleeping on it.

They are also very helpful for sleep Apnea sufferers, people who tend to snore, and who suffer from lower back pain and insomnia.

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Memory Foam Pillows Pros

2. High neck pain-relieving potential.

3. Contoured support.

4. Quiet under all conditions.

5. Wont clump or shift

6. Low maintenance.

7. Relatively lower price than Buckwheat and latex.

8. Resistance to allergens, anti-microbial

Cons

1. Loft/Thickness may not suit individual needs, not adjustable.

2. Initial off-gassing, synthetic ingredients.

3. Tend to heat through the night.

4. Average longevity/durability

5. Not cuddly

Through our research, we found that the Sleep Better Iso-Cool Memory Foam Pillow is one of the best contour pillows for side sleepers, and heres why:

1. It has microscopic beads that absorb heat and feels cool all through the night.

2. 100% cotton cover, 300 thread-count, zippered

How We Chose The Best Pillows

Choosing where to rest your head for the next few years is a big decision. Heres how we narrowed down the best of the best:

• Reviews. You know a pillow is good when people are lining up to rave about it without getting anything free for doing it. We sifted through the piles of pillows and pages of reviews to find products that real customers genuinely love.
• Variety. Side sleeper? Back sleeper? Regular neck pain? Whether you need to accommodate that crick in your neck or breastfeed your bb, we have options that will take you through all walks of life, from day to night.
• Company rep. Is this company legit? We only feature companies that make it through our vetting process, which is designed to catch unsupported health claims, safety concerns, or shady business practices.
• Warranty and sleep trial. This is one sitch where trying before you buy is clutch. We prioritized products that let you sleep on your purchase , often for months before you commit. We also looked for products that offer warranties in case anything goes wrong.

• Height: 7, 10, or 12 inches
• Size: 24 x 24 in.
• Fill: memory foam
• Firmness: medium-firm

Back sleepers, rejoice: A pillow shaped like a wedge of cheese just might offer the restful slumber you need.

You get 30 days to try it at home, which is shorter than others out there but it also doesnt cost as much as competitors.

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$12499 From $9999 At Eli & Elm

The supportive Eli & Elm Side Sleeper pillow has a curved cutout that creates room for your shoulder when sleeping on your side, setting this pillow apart from the rest. We found the extra room quite comfortable and also appreciated how it let us hold onto the edges of the pillow while sleeping on our side, keeping our arms and hands more comfortable too. As a bonus, we loved that we felt like we were cradled when we slept on our backs too, so its a great choice if you shift positions often.

The pillow is filled with a blend of latex and polyester that is adjustable and removable. Similar to other adjustable pillows, you can take out as much fill as you want to achieve the exact height and firmness level thats most comfortable. We found the pillow came with plenty of fill for those that like a firm pillow, though we had to remove some to soften it up. If you like an extra-firm pillow, Eli & Elm offers an option to buy extra fill. It took a few nights of trial and error before we figured out the optimal amount of fill, but once we did we found the pillow very comfortable.

The Side Sleeper has two slight drawbacks. First, we found that the pillow sleeps slightly hot not so much so it disturbed our sleep but if you are sensitive you may want to keep that in mind or plan to accessorize with some of our recommendations for hot sleepers.

Why Should You Use An Orthopedic Pillow For Side Sleeping

The goal of using an orthopedic side sleeper pillow is to keep your head in neutral alignment, meaning your head is sitting squarely on your shoulders without bending back or reaching forward. Side sleepers suffering from neck and shoulder pain need a firmer and higher pillow to fill the gap between the ear and outside shoulder.

Sleeping with a too-soft or too-thin pillow will make your head lie too low, creating a downward bend in your neck. A too-thick pillow will create an upward bend.

The ideal neck pain side sleeper pillow provides enough height to keep your spine aligned, but is not too thick to bend your neck upwards out of alignment.

A study conducted by the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine has shown that a cradle pillow with neck support combines the benefits of standard, cervical, and shoulder pillows, and is most comfortable in terms of head, neck, shoulder, height, and overall comfort.

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What To Consider When Purchasing A Pillow For Shoulder Pain

If you take pillow manufacturers at their word, then every pillow on the market today will reduce shoulder pain and deliver nightlong comfort regardless of your needs or preferences. However, very few pillows are designed to specifically target and alleviate shoulder pain. Furthermore, a pillow that is not soft, firm, thick, or thin enough can cause added discomfort based on your body type, head size, shoulder dimensions, and sleep position.

Before buying a pillow for shoulder pain, check the following specs and reach out to the manufacturer if you cant track down any of these details.

These Bestselling Pillows From Amazon

Amazon

Fill: Down alternative fill | Trial period: 30-day return policy | Adjustable: No

Amazons bestselling pillow has gel memory foam filling and a rectangular shape that offer an ideal combo for side sleepers. Its important to have a pillow that contours to the head and neck, and this pillow does just that. Its no-shift design makes it ideal for the side sleepers who switch sides during the night and dont want to constantly adjust to find that perfect angle for a quality nights sleep.

What the reviews say: With more than 155,000 reviews,happy sleepers agree that the Beckham pillows are the ideal balance of firm and soft. When you lay down on them your head sinks into the pillow but is still supported enough to stay slightly elevated, writes one 5-star reviewer. For side sleeping, this is one of the very few pillows where it is just the right height and I dont have to use a second pillow with it, writes another.

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Can I Buy The Medcline Shoulder Pain Relief System Wedge On Its Own

We currently do not offer the wedge component of the MedCline Shoulder Pain Relief System on its own. Each system includes the wedge, an insert pillow for comfort, the body pillow, and a set of cases for each. The three pillow components are meant to work together to provide pain relief as well as comfort. We encourage you to try the system as a whole.

The Best Sleeping Position For Shoulder Pain

Your shoulder is what the doctors call a ball-and-socket joint. This means that the top of your upper arm bone is rounded – the “ball” – and it rotates around in the concave part of your shoulder blade – the “socket” – leading to the range of motion your shoulder has. That ball is kept in the socket by a bunch of muscles, soft tissues and tendons. The group of muscles and tendons around your shoulder joint is called your rotator cuff. When these muscles and tendons are strained by laying in one position for a long time , this is broadly called a rotator cuff injury. One type of common rotator cuff injury involves the strain of the rotator cuff tendons by an awkward sleep position: aka, “sleeping on it wrong”. The compression of your shoulder into an unforgiving mattress can also restrict blood flow to your arm, resulting in the pins-and-needles feeling. These various issues with side sleeping can make you wake up sore, or worse, interrupt your sleep.

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Best Budget Pillow For Shoulder Pain

There are many budget-friendly pillows available that can help relieve shoulder pain, making it easy to find the perfect solution. Hollowfibre pillows are often a slightly cheaper option, and you can choose soft, medium or firm to suit your sleeping position.

Slumberdown pillows, in particular, have some great options if you’re limited by budget. Pillows range from super support pillows all the way to luxury pillows for a more comfortable night’s sleep.

What Is The Best Way To Sleep If Your Shoulder Hurts

If youre experiencing pain when you sleep on your shoulder, some of these tips may help make sleeping more comfortable:

• Avoid sleeping on the affected shoulder. Adjusting your sleeping position to the opposite side or to your back or stomach may help take pressure off an aching shoulder.
• Utilize a pillow. Most of us change positions in our sleep. If youre concerned about rolling onto your sore shoulder, try placing a pillow in a way that will prevent you from doing so.
• Stay active. Regular exercise can boost your blood flow and circulation. This, in turn, may help the muscles and tendons in your shoulder to heal faster if you have an injury. Additionally, performing gentle shoulder stretches or exercises may help reduce shoulder pain.
• Know your limits. Avoid activities during the day that could lead to further irritation of your shoulder.
• Use OTC pain relievers. Try taking an OTC pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, shortly before bed.
• Practice good sleep habits. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Turn off any TVs, computers, phones, or other screens shortly before bed. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol in the evening.

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Choose The Right Loft

According to Josh Tal of Josh Tal & Associates Sleep and Health Psychotherapists, people who sleep on their sides need to look for a pillow that provides support for the shoulder, neck and head, and allows for a neutral, supportive position. Because of this, Tal says, side sleepers usually prefer a pillow with more loft to cradle the head, paired with an indentation to comfort the shoulder and a potentially an elevated bump in the bottom of the pillow to support the neck.

Also, keep in mind that everyones neck is different, so the type of contour or density of fill that achieves this will vary from individual to individual. If youre smaller-framed, you may need a lower loft pillow if youre bigger, you may need a higher loft pillow to keep the neck aligned with the spine.

How We Chose These Products

Everyone needs a pillow, but not all of them target shoulder pain. We relied on physical therapy experts like Scantalides to share their short list of tried-and-tested brands that accommodate those with sleep-deprived joint and muscle issues. We took the most popular and highly reviewed pillows for a test-spin to check them out in person and see how they impacted our sleep, while also keeping characteristics like fabric quality and eco-conscious efforts in mind.

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Sleeping Pure Luxury Side Sleeper Natural Latex Foam And Down Alternative Pillow

The Luxury Side Sleeper Natural Latex Foam and Down Alternative Pillow is designed specifically for side sleepers, and its unique shape is more like a crescent than your standard rectangular pillow . This shape supports your head and neck and helps keep your spine in optimal alignment. This pillow is filled with latex foam filling and poly silk, and it can be raised or lowered so sleepers can find their perfect head position.

How Can I Use A Body Pillow To Relieve Shoulder Pain

A recent small study of eight people found that using a body pillow to sleep on their left-hand side reduces body pressure on the hips, shoulders, and across the body.

However, this was a small-scale study, so more research is necessary to investigate the benefits of body pillows for relieving shoulder pain.

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Why We Love The Layla Kapok Pillow

• Back sleepers should feel comfortable with this pillow, but they might have to take out some of the filling first.
• The Kapok filling gives the pillow a fluffy, down feel without sacrificing support.
• The covers CuTEC copper yarn and kapok fill promote cooling.

Price: $109$129, with a 120-night sleep trial and five-year warranty.

Osteoarthritis Of The Shoulder

Osteoarthritis happens when cartilage, which provides cushioning between your bones, begins to break down. It can affect various joints throughout the body, including your shoulder.

Shoulder osteoarthritis can naturally occur as you age. It can also happen due to previous injuries that affected the shoulder joint, such as a rotator cuff tear or a dislocated shoulder.

Symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis can include:

• pain, which is initially worse when you move your shoulder but can eventually occur while at rest or while sleeping
• stiffness or loss of range of motion
• grinding or clicking sounds that happen when you move your shoulder

Treatment can include using oral or topical pain relievers as well as specific physical therapy exercises for arthritis in the shoulder.

Corticosteroid injections can also help with inflammation. Surgery may be recommended if nonsurgical treatments dont help relieve your shoulder pain.

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How Can You Prevent Shoulder Pain From Sleeping On Your Side

There are several ways to minimizing the time you sleep on your painful shoulder.