Two-thirds of people experience neck pain. That means for every three people you meet, two are suffering from some type of neck pain. The good news is if you are one of these people you are not alone. The bad news is, knowing this doesn’t solve your pain. A new pillow, however, might just alleviate some of the pain in your neck and shoulder.
Before we dive into how to choose the best neck pillow, let’s talk about remedies for neck pain while sleeping. You could try one (or all) of these to avoid neck pain.
- Changing your mattress might help.
- A cheaper option is to change your pillow to one that has been designed to help with neck pain while sleeping.
- You can look at how you are sleeping. The best sleeping position for upper back and neck pain is to sleep on your side or your back.
- Alternatively, if the pain persists you can seek out medical advice for the pain.
A few things could be the cause of neck pain after sleeping but it is more often than not because you are sleeping on the wrong pillow. The proper way to sleep to avoid neck pain is to lay your head on a pillow that is going to provide the right support and alignment.
Before you dive in and buy the first pillow you find, you want to consider a few things, like the position you sleep in. A pillow that is best for side sleepers is not going to be the best pillow for stomach sleepers.
Take your time, browse through our list of recommended pillows for neck and shoulder pain and find the one that works best for you.
Try a water pillow
The Waterbased technology used in this pillow has been clinically proven to relieve pain in your neck and shoulders. Reducing the pain you experience when sleeping, will mean you get an uninterrupted night’s sleep and wake up feeling recharged. The water in this neck pillow moves with your head so you don’t have to keep adjusting it to get comfortable. The added advantage of this water pillow is that it is adjustable, you can add more water if you are looking for a higher pillow, and take water out for a lower option. Water pillows aren’t for everyone but if you are up to trying something new, then this is the pillow to try.
Gently restore your spine
If you struggle with a stiff neck, a chiropractic neck pillow is going to help by restoring the cervical curve of your spine. This may not look like the most comfortable pillow but looks can be deceiving. The shape of the pillow releases tension in the neck and shoulders, which helps to soothe headaches and migraines. It is made from dense, firm quality memory foam and is compact and lightweight. This pillow is as good as a visit to the chiropractic, and a lot cheaper.
Consider an orthopedic pillow
Orthopedic pillows are designed to support your body and align the spine correctly. The Cosium Orthopedic pillow may look a little strange but it is one of the most comfortable neck pillows you will find. It promises you the best sleep you have ever had as well as a natural relief from pain. It is suitable for both back and side sleepers who are looking for a solution to their neck and shoulder pain. You can’t really go wrong with an orthopedic pillow.
A thin pillow for stomach sleepers
Stomach sleepers need to sleep on thin pillows. In fact the thinner the better. When you sleep on your stomach, if the pillow is too high it will place pressure on your neck. This will result in stiffness in both your neck and shoulders. The thin gel memory foam used in this pillow aligns the spine, which helps to improve breathing and results in enhanced sleep. The infused gel particles in this pillow help with ventilation and cooling during the night.
Find extreme comfort
This pillow offers sleepers extreme comfort and claims to be the number one neck pillow. It does tick a lot of the right boxes and is definitely a firm favorite when looking for a shoulder pillow. The shredded foam used in this pillow promotes proper alignment in both back and side sleepers. Not only will this pillow help with neck and shoulder pain but it will also help with headaches and migraines. Allergy sufferers favor this pillow because it is hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant.
If luxury is important
A supportive, cervical pillow does not need to compromise on luxury. This pillow is the ultimate in both luxury and support, offering sleepers therapeutic support on quality material. We added this pillow to the list because it promises to help you fall asleep faster and deeper and who wouldn’t want that.
A Latex pillow for comfort
Another slim pillow, ideally for stomach sleepers but back sleepers will also find that this pillow works well for them. Even though this pillow is slim, it still provides support and alignment. Once the spine and neck are aligned, you may find that snoring is reduced and breathing improved. When everything is aligned and breathing made easy, a good night’s sleep will follow. Latex is chemical-free, durable and naturally antifungal as well as dust mite and mildew resistant.
There is absolutely no reason for you to suffer through pain in your upper body as a result of sleeping. Once you have found the cause of the neck pain after sleeping, you can work to find a solution. These are our favorite pillows when it comes to neck and shoulder support. We are confident that at least one of these pillows will work for you.