The Queen of Neck Pillows

How to NOT End up with a Closet Full of Pillows

Tired of having a closet full of neck pillows? Well I write quite extensively about pillows and let me tell you I have heard this comment many times - people are sick and tired of ordering the wrong pillow. They try one, it doesn't work - they move on, and ching ching - they order a new one ! The pillows all end up in the closet or their pet uses the pillow as a sleeping bed. 

Do you have a Closet Full of Pillows?

Here are some factors to consider to ordering successfully the right pillow the first time:

Size Matters 
It is important, especially in the case of THIS neck pillow, to order the right size. One example is the Linear Gravity Neck Pillow which comes in 3 sizes: Small, Medium and Large. Too many customers are ordering this neck pillow because of their mattress size. So for example, they sleep on a king size bed every night. They automatically assume that they should order the large pillow. Same goes for the medium pillow. They order the medium because they sleep on a queen size mattress. Arc4life recommends that you order based on your OWN height and weight and frame. Don't be afraid to contact the pillow company to choose the best size.

What is the level of firmness with the Pillow?
For the majority of users, a firm pillow is not the answer. So when ordering a pillow check to see if the pillow comes in a gentle or firm version. For example, the tricore pillow comes in a "gentle" and firm. If you are not sure, order the gentle - it will be easier to get used to.

What is the pillow composed of ?
Polyester fiber fill? Water? Foam? Check the materials the pillow is made out of. For some people, for example, they are allergic to latex. Some people are very sensitive to the odor given off by a memory foam pillow, and literally cannot get used to it. Check the composition of the pillow.

Does the Pillow have instructions on how to use it?
If the pillow comes with instructions, read them. This is important. The Arc4life traction pillow for example comes with an 8 page booklet on how to use the pillow. For example,  Arc4life recommends that you sleep on the support of the pillow to start. It is easier to get adjusted too.

Is There an Adjustment Period?
This is often the case with many cervical support pillows.  For some customers they can sleep on a new pillow the entire night with no problems whatsoever. For others they have a lot of sensitivity or pain in their neck. For example, pre existing neck or shoulder pain, muscle spasms or trigger points - they may need to slowly adjust to a new pillows contours . 5-10 minutes the first night, an additional 5-10 minutes the next night etc. 

What is the purpose of you ordering a new pillow?
This is a great question, that actually you should ask yourself before you hit BUY. Are you having neck surgery in 30 days and need a recovery pillow? Are you looking to stretch your neck because you have a herniated disc? Are you looking to replace your old pillow? If your old pillow worked for you, order the same pillow. Are you have arthritis pain in your neck? Do you have bad posture because you have a desk job and are constantly looking at the the computer? Think about purpose, before you buy.

When in doubt of how to use or even WHICH pillow to buys, contact the pillow company. Email them, facebook them, there are often multiple ways to get in touch in this technical day of ours. Heck, its better than owning a closet full of pillows.

Additional Reading:

• How to Use the Arc4life Traction Neck Pillow... For Dummies
• Neck Pillow for a Whiplash Injury
• When a Smaller Pillow works better
• Short neck...does a small pillow work better?
• Why so many neck pillows are hard

Related articles

Neck Pain Support Blog: The Wrong Position at Night Can be the Cause of Neck Pain

1st Starting With A Neck Pillow...Go Gradual

5 Neck Pillows That Provide Excellent Neck Support

With all the neck pillows on the market today touting so many different things - I want to highlight just 5 for you that give you optimal neck support. This time, instead of pictures I will provide quick videos of each neck pillow that show you what makes it such a great support pillow that allows for correct neck alignment while sleeping.  With all of these neck pillows, you can have a "c" curve in your neck while you sleep. All of these pillows are great for side and back sleeping.

Arc4life Cervical Traction Neck Pillow



Arc4life Linear Gravity Neck Pillow



Tricore Cervical Support Neck Pillow



Therapeutica Neck Support Pillow



Memory Foam Neck Pillow with Contours

Additional Reading:

• The #1 Factor about Sleeping with a cervical support pillow
• Using your pillow for the First time
• Avoiding the hunchback type of neck /back posture
• Best Pillow to Prevent Neck Pain
• Understanding Your Posture

Why the Side Sleeping is so Comfortable

I have written about back sleeping on many occasions on this blog. Today I want to focus on the Side Sleeping position.

If you sleep on your side with your torso straight and legs stretched out this keeps your spine elongated and unstressed. If you are someone who wakes up with neck pain or back pain this type of side lying position may be beneficial for you. If you snore or have sleep apnea sleeping on your side keeps your airways open.

There are Many Benefits to Sleeping On Your Side

Sleeping on your left side is better if you suffer from acid reflux. In this side position on the left side, your stomach is below your esophagus. In this position sleeping on your left side keeps the acid from coming up. One of the most comfortable ways to sleep on your side is to sleep with a soft pillow in between your knees. You can use a foam support or something filled with the polyester fiber fill in between your knees. Any type of a knee pillow will make the side position sleeping very comfortable.

One more point about side sleeping: for pregnant women sleeping on the left side is ideal because it helps to increase the amount of blood flow to the womb and nourishes the baby. Again sleeping with a pillow in between the legs makes this an ideal position for pregnant women. Pregnancy can also mean a lot of back pain, and a side sleeping position can help with that as well.

Additional Reading;

• One Pillow that is Designed for Only Side Sleepers
• Is there a difference between sleeping on your right or left side?
• A Breathing technique to help you with falling sleeping
• Cervical Spine Alignment when Sleeping

The #1 Factor about Using the Right Pillow at Night

Just a quick note about cervical pillows today. The best pillow for you specifically is one that keeps your spine properly in alignment. A pillow that props up your head and neck too much or a pillow that is too flat is not good for your spine. These positions put additional stress on the spinal curvature.

It is easy to accumulate pillows and spend thousands over the years. I have spoken too many times about people who call me and tell me they have a closet full of pillows. I totally believe it too. Which pillow is best ? - the chiropractic pillow, the traction pillow, the orthopedic pillow, my pillow, surgical pillow? Too many choices. Sometimes you have to try a few before you find the right one. 

Using a pillow vs not using a pillow is also important to look at. Should you? Yes. The simple reason is that your neck needs support. Look at the neck curve on an x-ray and you will see that it is like a backwards C Shape. So you must support that curve.  If you look at the  Lateral Spinal Column on the left side, you will see the various curves in our spinal column, starting with the neck.  A cervical pillows gives you a neck support that  you need while sleeping on your back and on your side. 

Two Important tips to choosing the right pillow: 1. Get the Right size of pillow 2. Give your neck a chance to get used to your new pillow.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Why Sleeping on Your Back is the Best Position of Sleep and How You can Achieve this
• The Best Pillow recommendation for a patient with a herniation in their neck
• How do you know if you are sleeping on the right pillow?
• The Neck Pain Support Group on Facebook
• Best Pillow to Stop Neck Pain in its Tracks

 

Related articles

Do You Know When You Should Replace Your Neck Pillow? (The Queen of Neck Pillows)

When the Center of the Pillow Matters....

The Simple Importance of Using a Pillow (The Queen of Neck Pillows)

1st Starting With A Neck Pillow...Go Gradual

The Upside and Downside of Sleeping on your Back

One Way to Sleep on Your Back: Use a Knee Elevator

Getting used to sleeping on your back can be difficult for many people. However, sleeping on your back places the least amount of pressure on your vertebrae and keeps you head and neck in a neutral position.

For some patients, they find it difficult to sleep in this position because it causes lower back pain and discomfort. You can ease low back pain by placing a  cf your knees. This is also great for knee pain, and circulatory issues as well.

The knee elevator I like to recommend is composed of foam. This leg elevation works to decrease stress on the lower back area. It has dimensions of 17" x 10"x 7" and very comfortable.

Additional Reading:

• Why back sleeping is so healthy for your spine
• How to get used to a new sleeping pillow
• More positioning pillows for comfortable sitting and laying down
• A Breathing Technique to Help you Sleep

The Simple Importance of Using a Pillow

Many times I get questions from customers who Ask if they should they use a pillow at night? What is the Purpose of using a pillow. Simply, it is to support your cervical spine. There are good and bad pillows out there. So many different type of pillows - rolls, cervical pillows, foam pillow, traction pillow, fluffy, dense and gentle etc.

We have a natural curve in our neck and that curve needs to be supports.  A pillow can give your neck the support it needs. When its not supported, our ligaments, muscles and nerves can be affected. When you use a pillow that is designed anatomically  designed to match the curve in your neck, your neck will be healthier as a result. 

The 4 Curves of the Spine

Having the right size of pillow is very important. If you  are using too much pillow and the pillow is too high, you head will be pushed forward. Not enough pillow under your neck, and you will not be giving your neck the right support it requires anatomically.

 

Additional Reading Resources:

• How to Help your neck when you have no curve in the neck
• 5 pillows that can help with neck pain
• How you can help your neck when you have neck pain and stiffness
• Exercises for Pain Relief when you have a pinched nerve
• The Neck Pain Support Group on Facebook

Do You Know When You Should Replace Your Neck Pillow?

Just a Quick Question from Your Pillow . . .

Do you know when you should replace your neck pillow? Especially a pillow that you use everyday? The answer is every 1 to 1.5 years. At Arc4life we specialize in mainly fiber filled pillows, so the 1 to 1.5 year fits with these pillows. However, for some people its even soon then that? What’s another surefire way you know you should replace your pillow? See Below...

Additional Reading:

• Five Neck Pillows I recommend for Patients who Suffer from Neck Pain
• Decrease Anxiety and Help with Falling Asleep with This Easy Breathing Technique
• Using your new Pillow for the 1st Time can be a pain in the neck
• Choose the Best Neck Pillow

 

5 Neck Pillows That Work for Neck Pain Sufferers

With all the hoopla about pillows on late night TV, I thought I would post for my readers a list of pillows that works well for neck pain. I imagine that there are many neck pain sufferers who are out there watching infomercials for anything that might help them sleep.

Lots of great pillows on the market today and each has its own quirks that make it desirable. Here are some great ones:

The Arc4life Linear Gravity Pillow - This is a fiber filled neck pillow that has two support rolls on it. One roll is firmer (narrow neck roll), one is gentler (broader neck roll). You can choose either side to sleep on. The center of the pillow is square shaped. This pillow comes in small, medium and large. It also comes with a deluxe firm roll as well.

 

Dr. J's Sleep Solution Chiropractic Pillow - This is a down filled fiber pillow also made in the USA. This one is unique in that it was designed by a chiropractor who sees neck pain patients in his office. Dr.Grunstein designed this neck pillow with a smaller depression in the middle to give sleepers more room on either side to sleep on. This is a "jumbo" size pillow, 20"x28" with ample sleeping space on the right and left for side sleeping.

The Tricore Orthopedic Neck Support Pillow - This fiber filled pillow has a trapezoid center. This trapezoid center cradles the neck and also allows the neck to be in a neutral position for sleeping. One thing to say about the Tricore is that it is an overall firmer neck pillow. The adjustment time can take a little time. This pillow lasts longer than most fiber filled pillows.

 

The Cosmed Recovery Neck Pillow  - A newer pillow on the scene, But a much needed one. This one is ideal for patient who is needing a pillow after a neck surgery (Such as a fusion or an acdf neck surgery) or a facial / cosmetic procedure. It can be used seated, reclined or laying down. This pillow allows you to sleep comfortably on your back or in the prone position.

The Therapeutica Sleeping Pillow - An uniquely designed pillow composed of foam that creates a "softness". This therapeutica is a weirdo looking pillow, but it works wonders for many people who are experiencing neck pain. This pillow comes in a few different sizes and it comes with a ruler to help you measure to determine the right size for you.

 

Notice that with each of these pillow there is some kind of divot or depression in the center of the pillow (except the cosmed pillow). All of these pillows work to keep your cervical spine in the neutral position, thereby aligning the cervical spine as optimally as possible.

Related articles

1st Starting With A Neck Pillow...Go Gradual

Do I Get An Epidural?

When the Center of the Pillow Matters....

Should I Buy a Firm Pillow or a Gentle Pillow (The Queen of Neck Pillows)

Kelly Ripa's Chiropractor Recommend an Alkaline Diet

When the Center of the Pillow Matters....

If you suffer from neck pain, having any type of neck discomfort can prevent you from getting that deep, restful night time sleep that your body needs.

Chiropractors, physical therapists and other health professionals will tell you that you need to be sleeping with proper alignment. Most people move around when they sleep, so your pillow should work for you whether you are sleeping on your side or back. 

Today I want to showcase a cervical support pillow that is a little different. The difference mainly lies in the center of the pillow. The so called "divot" that so many cervical pillows have.

Most of these pillows have a center divot that is simply too wide. When the divot is too wide, we may have neck support, yet we will still naturally turn our heads from side to side throughout the night, stressing the joints and muscles of the neck. Further, since these pillows have a wide cradle in the center, there is very little room on the sides of the pillow for comfortable and supportive side sleeping. Unfortunately, almost all of these pillows fail to ACTUALLY ALIGN the spine, leading to more neck pain throughout the night and upon awakening in the morning. 

In Dr. J’s Sleep Solution Pillow, the The center cradle is designed to support your head so you’re NOT rotating your head throughout the night. Instead, your head and neck will be in a perfectly neutral position all night long, which is critical, especially for those of us who suffer with neck pain.

Furthermore, when one rolls to either their left or right side,, they will naturally end up on the sides of the pillow, which will perfectly support your neck and head in the properly aligned position. Often what happens is, When sleeping on one’s side the pillow is not high enough. The solution might be to use 2 pillows, but that is often too high for alignment. This is why most people will place their arm underneath the pillow when side lying. Dr. J’s Sleep Solution is actually a “pillow-and-a-half” in height on the sides. This will perfectly align your neck. Further, since the center divot is smaller, the sides of the pillow allow for plenty of room for side sleeping. 

So, whether you are  a back sleeper, side sleeper, or like many, prefer to shift between your back and sides during the night, Dr. J’s Sleep Solution pillow is one pillow to avoid waking up with neck pain. 

Additional Reading Resources:

• More information on DrJ' Sleep Solution Neck Pillow
• What is the best position for sleeping in general?
• The Neck Pain Support Group
• 8 Things you Can do Easily Sleep Better

Which Pillow Should I use After my Neck Surgery?

Here is a common email I receive weekly: What neck pillow should I use after my surgery? Usually patients are dealing with the aftermath of recovering after a fusion surgery. Their surgeons' have recommended a face up pillow that can also be inclined. 

I always recommend the cosmed recovery neck pillow because it is keeps you in position on your back and the pillow is very comfortable to sleep on.

Another benefit with this particular pillow, is that can be used while in the seated position, reclined position,or laying down. Patients who have had cosmetic or eye surgery can also use this pillow easily. Email us at the Neck Pillow Queen Blog to see if this pillow is right for you.

Additional Reading:

• Which Pillow Can I use after a cervical fusion in the neck?
• Best Pillow for an ACDF neck Surgery
• Why is the Neck Roll of the Pillow Important
• Get the Cosmed Face UP Pillow on Amazon