(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best neck & cervical pillows

Pillows can help but they are not enough. You need to strengthen your neck and shoulder muscles and learn proper posture, sleeping posture is important. You might want to do some PT to learn the various exercises. Read about the McKenzie Method. There are books and YouTube videos. Modern life causes us to bend forward over our chests and this takes a toll on the neck. Learning to keep your head erect and shoulders back will help a lot.

As far as pillows go it's very individual. Something I love will be hell for someone else. I do get killer headaches from neck osteoarthritis and some pillows are definitely better than others.

Right now my favorite is a Jackson roll. It's a little thick at first but now it's a little flatter. Works great for side sleeping. I am 5'2", if you're a different height it might not be as good a fit for you.

If you sleep on your back then you can try a Tri-Core pillow, I like this for when I am reading with my reading wedge. It goes at the top of the wedge behind my head. I also use the Tri-Core when I do yoga nidra meditations, which are typically done lying on your back.

I can't use the Tri-Core for back sleeping because my head rolls to the side. You can use it for side sleeping. But if you want to lie on your back without head rolling then a Mooshi Squish works well.

I have a couple of memory foam pillows, including a contoured Tempur-Pedic and they're just not right. Plus in the winter they're too hard and too soft in the summer.

Thanks so much for the detailed info! I will look up some of the exercises and syndromes you mentioned.

As for a cervical pillow, is there any particular brand or style you recommend? Do you like memory foam or suggest some other type material? And what are your thoughts on the level of firmness? I've been using a side sleeper pillow for quite some time that seemed like it would be a great choice, but hasn't turned out so well, I guess. Here it is: Sleep Joy Pillow. Seeing that notch for the shoulder made me think it was genius, but the slightly mounded-up corners on either side of that notch seem to sort of smoosh into my nose and chin. Again, I bought this pillow back before it ever occurred to me that simply putting my arm under the pillow could be doing me all sorts of harm in and of itself. Now that I know, it makes perfect sense, what with all the nerves being compressed and joints being hyperextended.

Thanks again for your advice. :)

Ok, so I bought this about 8 years ago, so I couldn't find the exact one, but this is the closest I could find on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Q8JTVC?psc=1 I also didn't pay that much for it, if I remember it was ~$35-40 (the most I'd ever spent on a pillow lol). You might be able to find a lumbar support tempur pedic pillow and use it for your head since they make them smaller.

I also realized that I have this, which I've used for traveling https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/therapedic-reg-memory-touch-round-neck-pillow/1013506582 and used it to sleep on airport benches. It doesn't have the same height as a pillow and I would probably stack a towel or extra clothes underneath for long term sleeping. If you shop at BBB you can always get a 20% off coupon online or in the mail too.

Hope this helps!

I too am looking for the perfect pillow! I find the shaped cervical ones are better for my neck. Height is important (so your neck is straight). Right now I am considering the Purple pillow as well as some cervical pillows on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Therapeutic-Cervical-Pillow-PILLO1-Medium/dp/B004FOWXJS/ref=pd_ybh_a_20?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PTZZV9H3P6RZ1HGYYGPP

Mine is the smaller one, though I've been thinking about getting the larger one because it's a more comfortable, stretchy material. I had some trial and error at first with how much to inflate it, but since figuring that out I've found it great for back sleeping. I also don't use a normal pillow at home, but an ergonomic cervical one, so maybe that's another reason why I like the X.

Orthopedic pillow to sleep on. They can be life changing and aren’t too expensive. Lumbar support pillows for your chair/car might also be a good investment.

Otherwise. definitely seek out a good Physical Therapist and maybe pick up yoga.

I use a memory foam neck roll. I hate memory foam with a passion because it also made me feel like I was straining, but the neck roll provides the perfect amount of support for my neck without pushing my head forward.This is the one I picked up.

I also have scoliosis!

Currently I just use two extra firm cheap pillows (because they squish easy since they're cheap) but I'd always recommend a memory foam pillow.

I used to have one like this and it was really helpful

I had the same combo of procedures back in July & the other 2 gals covered your other questions well. I recovered pretty quickly, surgery was on a Friday and took my last pain pills on Sunday. The worst pain/discomfort I felt was shoulder pain from the laparoscopy gas & highly recommend getting a rice heating pad like this. Its more effective than a electric heating pad as you can get it squished into the crevices and soft tissue; I kept that puppy heated up 24/7 and it helped immensely. Good luck with your surgery!

I've tried every kind of pillow — inflatable, cabeau evolution, the standard horseshoe pillows, the trtl pillow. And this is the best one I've found that offers a reasonable amount of comfort, prevents the "rock concert" head bob, while still being semi-compact: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQQTB51/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have tried many, but the "dog bone" style pillows have been my go to for a while now. They just seem to work best in all types of situations, from airplanes to road trips, to even in hotels.

I got this Transcend pillow for about $40 and it is unquestionably the best pillow I've ever owned. I don't overheat, the spring has never left the pillow (about a year of use so far), and the size is perfect. You might have to hunt around to find a sale but it's very worth it.

For a good sleeping position, get a good pillow. You want one that is molded to support your neck. Once your head is in the right position, the rest of your body will follow.

Also, since your spine is hurting, put another pillow under your knees.

I haven't been able to sleep on my side for months due to shoulder pain and was having neck pain with back sleeping. I've tried a couple pillows now but I'm able to sleep on my side again with this one. Yesterday I slept like 20 hours, which is probably bad but I'm pretty impressed that I wasn't sore even after that long.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KVW8PTP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ymmv, all bodies are different. I've tried a u-shaped body pillow and a memory foam cooling pillow. And about six different kinds of "normal" pillows in various combinations.

I had a dogbone shaped pillow but I normily found that with a left lay or a normal lay in a gathered end hammock that one side of the bone was intrusive to my lay. It was shaped to hug my neck in the middle but it ended up being just a little too large on one end.
http://www.amazon.com/NeckBone-Chiropractic-Pillow-Original-Bones/dp/B009AMM5X4/ref=pd_sim_201_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=31t5p%2B9%2Be0L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1CWWXEGWWYVQ29HRGG38

I sleep on this cervical pillow that I got from my chiropractor when on my back. It helps a LOT with my neck and head position, and I sleep way better.

I can't sleep on my side on this pillow with my cpap however (The vents on the front of my mask blow right onto the pillow and it makes a lot of noise and blows back onto my face), so when I switch to my side I switch pillows. (I have a "My Pillow" for side sleeping)

I have a collection, for every need, which annoys my husband. ;)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H2Y78M?aaxitk=8NUs0i8j6VHnrl2yKqS-Zw&pd_rd_i=B000H2Y78M&pf_rd_p=44fc3e0f-4b9e-4ed8-b33b-363a7257163d&hsa_cr_id=6072806950201&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51JRVYvTz0L.jpg&sb-ci-a=B000H2Y78M

Samsonite Luggage Magic 2 in 1 Pillow, Charcoal, 11 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A73FXI4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_IJarzbC1ASPPS

This is what I have. It's convertible to be both square and the around the neck shape. The inside is those little plastic beads. Very comfortable to me.

I get light sensitivity with my migraines too, so I use a buckwheat pillow to help. I should note that often pressure on my head makes me feel better (or at least less likely to vomit).

I need a pillow. Lol. my pillows are all flat!

I really like this pillow

Core Products D-Core Cervical Pillow, Midsize, Firm - 22”x 15” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ESPJX6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4jnCzbQG7NRCE

Personally, I like memory foam pillows

Getting a cervical support pillow like this one helped me a ton. They're awkward to sleep on for the first few days but you get used to it pretty quickly. Also completely got rid of persistent neck pain that was plaguing me for months.

Just to follow up with this, I tightened my straps and this pillow and the problem seems to have solved itself.

No feedback, but the friction does transfer some noise/ vibration through it. I remembered I had gotten this pillow a while ago and it has helped quite a bit to alleviate the pressure of sleeping on my side.

I had the same issue, i would wake up feeling like I had been pressing the back of my head really hard into the pillow. I got a cervical pillow , it has a depression in the center of the pillow, so it's comfortable for back and side sleep. It takes a few nights to get used to, but I don't wake up with pressure on the back of my head anymore.