Here is a common question I get from patients: Which Pillow Should I use if I have a cervical fusion in my neck? A surgical fusion is a some what common surgery for someone who suffers with neck pain- especially neck pain that has been ongoing and often due to injury and/or wear and tear on joints. A fusion surgery often entails removing the disc in between the two bones, and then the two bones are fused together. A disc herniation that has not responded to traction, medication or other forms of treatment may require a fusion surgery to correct, for example.
So what is the right pillow to use after one has had a fusion surgery? My recommendation is the arc4life linear gravity pillow for proper neck support after the surgery. There is a firm and a gentle neck roll that one can choose from. In addition, there is quite a bit of give to this pillow- so it is a lot more comfortable than a regular pillow.
Another pillow that may work is a memory foam neck pillow that conforms to the patients cervical spine.
If one has had neck fusion for a while and the patient is still having persistent pain and symptoms of a radiculopathy (radiating pain, numbness and tingling, and/or weakness) then i would recommend the arc4life traction pillow because it can be very therapeutic for the area above and below the area of fusion. The gentle neck traction provided by this pillow can offer quite a bit of neck pain relief and relief from muscle spasms.
Update October 2016: Feedback from Customer who used the large arc4life traction pillow for his cervical fusions:
Additonal Reading Resources:
- How to Choose the Best Neck Pillow for the Best Sleep
- Stop the Neck Pain: Tips to keep a healthy neck
- The Arc4life Linear Gravity Neck Pillows
- The Arc4life Cervical Traction Neck Pillow
- Neck Pain Resulting From a C5, C6, C7 or C8 Radiculopathy?
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