Pain in the Neck

[speedchick]

A few years ago, I started waking up with a sore neck, got myself one of those memory/magnetic pillow things (the ones that are like an egg box) and it worked at treat, after a long time my neck started hurting again, so got a new memory pillow, again everything was fine till the pillow started getting past it's best. Get another pillow, rinse and repeat.

So, few months ago, got a new memory pillow and had some great nights sleep etc, but in the past month or so, I have started with the neck pain again, stopped using it and have tried just about every pillow in the house, tried sleeping without, tried a rolled up towel under my neck, everything.

Some days I am ok, others (like today), its just total agony when I wake up (currently sat with a microwave wheat bag thing wrapped around my neck and shoulders). Is this simply not having the right pillow or is it likely to be something else? A friend suggested it could be a trapped nerve, but surely that would hurt all the time?

All I want is a decent nights sleep and to wake up not in pain, any suggestions please?

[944fan]

I've had exactly the same. Very knotty neck and sometimes it gives me a tension headache which is very painful.

The memory foam pillows are good but only if they are the right height, I have found they differ a lot. When lying on your side your spine should be perfectly straight.

I saw my GP about it, who was useless. In the end I tried a Chiropractor who really helped to loosen it up. It still a bit sore and stiff often but no where near as bad as it was.

If you are anywhere near North Bucks I can thoroughly recommend Andreas at the Devon Parade Clinic:

http://www.devonparadeclinic.co.uk/treatments-avai...

[aero93]

Does it ever hurt through the day or at any other time?

[speedchick]

Only hurts during the day when I have woken up in pain, there are not any times when it suddenly start aching during a normal day.

Will have to have a look and see what other pillows I can find.

[goldblum]

Any other symptoms, dizziness or poor eyesight?

[speedchick]

Sorry been at work.

No other symptoms, sometimes it wakes me up during the night with the pain, and then its bad when I do get up in the morning, some days its perfectly ok. I can't narrow it down to any particular pillow (with the exception of my memory one, that one is always hurting).

Guess I need to go shopping for new pillows

[goldblum]

You could go to your doctors and if he/she doesn't help then get a physio appointment.

[Driller]

Do you have very wide shoulders?

(this is a serious question!)

[speedchick]

Erm, not particularly wide, well I don't think so, just a normal average sized slim 5 ft 5 woman, clothes aren't tight around the shoulder area or anything like that, and nothing looks out of proportion.

[Driller]

Ah. The reason I asked is that I have one of these pillows but have to place it on top of an ordinary pillow otherwise my head hangs down when I'm on my side and gives a crick in the neck. IYSWIM!

[speedchick]

I could see where you were going with that one.

I tried one normal pillow last night, but that was hurting to lie on, so had two normal ones instead (I do tend to sleep on my side), still a bit sore today, but not as bad as yesterday.

[Driller]

Try the memory pillow on top of a normal one. If it has a lumpy part on one side turn it towards the back and put your head on the flat part.

[speedchick]

Will try that tonight (haven't time to head back for a cheeky test )

Thanks guys

[Zad]

I had horrendous neck aches when my wisdom teeth started playing up. A possibility to consider.