Why does the back of my neck always hurt? What are some remedies for neck pain while sleeping? If you’re asking these questions, you may be suffering from neck pain and headaches.
Neck pain is an extremely common issue that affects a lot of people. It can occur for several reasons like injuries, medical conditions like arthritis, and heart conditions, one of the most common reasons for neck pain is improper posture and incorrect use of bedding.
If you suffer from neck pain, you should consider a proper way to sleep to avoid neck pain. The following are some of the best sleeping position for upper back and neck pain:
- Sleeping on your side in the fetal position with your knees pulled close to your chest.
- Sleeping on your back with a pillow under your lower back.
- Sleeping on your stomach with a pillow under your abdomen to support the back.
However, it’s not enough to correct your sleep position, you need to also use the best pillow for neck pain and headaches. But there is no single best pillow for neck pain — a pillow that may be suitable for someone else may just worsen your neck pain.
For example, the best pillow for neck pain for side sleepers will be a soft one with a high loft but the best pillow for neck pain for stomach sleepers will be a firm pillow with a low loft. As such, different sleep positions need pillows suitable for them.
In this article, we discuss what is the best pillow for neck pain and headaches for all kinds of different sleep positions and people.
Contour Memory Foam Pillow By Elite Rest — Best Pillow for Neck Pain for Side Sleepers
Contour Memory Foam Pillow By Elite Rest is a memory foam contour pillow. As a contour pillow, it has a variable loft height. The higher end of the contour has a loft height of 4 inches and the lower end has a loft height of 2.75 inches.
This pillow is the best for side sleepers because you can rest your neck on the elevated contour — it basically acts like an in-built neck roll. The elevated contour covers the distance between the mattress and your head. It’s also rounded to support the gentle arch of your neck.
Furthermore, this is a memory foam pillow, which means it conforms to the shape of your neck and shoulders perfectly. In doing so, it offers optimal neck support to all the pressure points, alleviating neck pain and headaches.
Memory foam has a tendency to absorb heat, which is why memory foam pillows run the risk of leading to night sweats. However, this pillow comes with a highly-breathable and machine-washable 100% cotton cover that facilitates air circulation and keeps your cool.
Elite Rest Slim Sleeper — Best Pillow for Neck Pain for Back Sleepers and Stomach Sleepers
Elite Rest Slim Sleeper is a natural latex foam pillow with a loft height of 2.75 inches. When you sleep on your back or stomach, your head shouldn’t elevate too much as that will block your air passage. This pillow’s loft height is just enough to support back sleepers and some stomach sleepers.
This pillow also has ergonomically rounded sides that support the natural curves of your neck. When you rest your head on it, this pillow will raise your head just enough for perfect spinal alignment. Furthermore, natural latex foam is a comfortable but firm material. As such, your head won’t sink at night and will remain stable in alignment.
Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper — Best Pillow for Neck Pain for Stomach Sleepers
Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper is the best pillow for neck pain for stomach sleepers because it has an extremely low loft height of only 2.5 inches. Stomach sleepers generally suffer from neck pain because their pillows are too high, which blocks the air passage and keeps their necks flexed.
This pillow has a low loft so your head stays in a neutral position. Furthermore, it’s made of memory foam, which is the perfect material for neck pain because it conforms to the shape of your neck and shoulders, offering optimal support. This pillow also comes with a breathable cotton cover to keep you cool at night, which is essential because your face will be pressed against the pillow.
Coop Home Goods Premium — Best Neck Support Pillow for Combination Sleepers
Coop Home Goods Premium is the best neck support pillow for combination sleepers because it has an adjustable loft. This is a shredded memory foam pillow, which means you can add or remove filling to adjust the loft height. As such, you can make this pillow as high or low as you need based on your sleep position.
A common issue with shredded memory foam pillows is that the filling parts and you have to constantly re-fluff them. However, this pillow comes with a cross-stitched design that keeps the memory foam filling in small pockets, thus maintaining even distribution of memory foam filling.
ViscoSoft Cooling Arctic Gel Pillow — Best Contour Pillow for Neck Pain
ViscoSoft Cooling Arctic Gel Pillow is the best contour pillow for neck pain and it’s ideal for hot sleepers. This is a contour memory foam pillow, which is ideal for side sleepers and back sleepers. However, memory foam runs hot because it traps your body heat.
This pillow rectifies that issue. The memory foam in this pillow is infused with wave-flow cooling gel that absorbs all the heat, thereby keeping you cool throughout the night. The cooling gel in this pillow is approximately 30% cooler than those in most pillows. As such, this is the best contour pillow for people with neck pain, side sleepers, and hot sleepers.
