“Should I sleep without a pillow if my neck hurts?”
I am a 27 year old male. I want to know if I should sleep without a pillow if my neck hurts?
11 Answers
If it hurts to sleep with a pillow and there is a history of past trauma or injuries related to the neck, I would suggest having your neck checked with xrays by your chiropractor.
First if your neck hurts you should have it examined to see if there is an underlying cause that needs to be addressed. There are all kinds of pillows in the market place and all kinds of beds. People are compatible with different things including no pillow. Try out multiple options for a good sleep.
Well, to put it simply, pillows are tough. I am not a fan of most as they tend to put your neck into a poor biomechanical position regardless of their material, density, comfort, etc. Either too much forward flexion, lateral flexion, extension, etc. Minus any sleep dysfunction such as sinus issues, sleep apnea, etc, I often suggest sleeping with no pillow. By that I mean laying on your back, tucking your chin into the back of your spine (giving a double chin) and then relaxing. Maybe add a rolled-up microfiber towel under the neck. In that way, you are biomechanically "neutral" with less tendency to hurt even more than you do and prevent any sleep-derived pains later on.
Never sleep without a pillow. Use a good cervical pillow like a Tempurpedic.
Jay H Schwartz, DC, DIBCN, DIBE
Jay H Schwartz, DC, DIBCN, DIBE
Hello,
Thank you for your question. If your neck is painful, it is best to rule anything serious out by seeing your musculoskeletal specialist.
With that being said, the best sleeping position is the one that doesn't hurt or causes you pain AND makes you comfortable. That means try different positions. Try it without a pillow, with a pillow or try two pillows.
Have a great day,
Dr. Dan
Thank you for your question. If your neck is painful, it is best to rule anything serious out by seeing your musculoskeletal specialist.
With that being said, the best sleeping position is the one that doesn't hurt or causes you pain AND makes you comfortable. That means try different positions. Try it without a pillow, with a pillow or try two pillows.
Have a great day,
Dr. Dan
Try to sleep with a flat pillow if your neck hurts.
Hello, 27 year old male,
If your neck feels better without a pillow no doubt. I have a sleep position video that you can find at facebook.com/acmsclinics. This video talks about positions of comfort when dealing with neck, shoulder, hip, or low back pain. check it out! You got questions, I got answers!
*Dr. Elra A. Morgan*
*Chiropractor* | *American Chiropractic Medical Services (AMCS)*
Office: 810-420-0801 | Fax: 810-420-0805
Address: 621 Chartier Rd, Ste B, Marine City, MI 48039
Email: acms2020@gmail.com
Website: www.acmsclinics.com
If your neck feels better without a pillow no doubt. I have a sleep position video that you can find at facebook.com/acmsclinics. This video talks about positions of comfort when dealing with neck, shoulder, hip, or low back pain. check it out! You got questions, I got answers!
*Dr. Elra A. Morgan*
*Chiropractor* | *American Chiropractic Medical Services (AMCS)*
Office: 810-420-0801 | Fax: 810-420-0805
Address: 621 Chartier Rd, Ste B, Marine City, MI 48039
Email: acms2020@gmail.com
Website: www.acmsclinics.com
I would not recommend that unless you stay still on your back and are comfortable without a pillow. When you turn on your side, your neck will compress the nerves on that side if you don't have a pillow to support your head in a neutral position with your spine. I know it can be very difficult to find the right pillow. Below is a similar question I answered recommending a neck pillow that I use. They can be, with any pillow you want to strive for a neutral spine position, whether you are laying on your back or on your side. There is no good way to lay on your stomach and sleep, that's bad for you. My favorite pillow is a Therapeutic Pillow. they come in soft and original based on your preference and they come in at least 4 sizes. They offer a measuring rule to figure out what size you need based on the distance between your mastoid process and shoulder, you might check that one out.
You can try to sleep without a pillow and see if that improves the discomfort. A local chiropractor can take some XRays and do some specialized exams to see what's going on with your neck to see if a pillow change is the solution.
I recommend trying to sleep without a pillow, or just with a rolled up towel under your neck. Whichever method decreases your neck pain is the right option.
It depends on your sleep position. If you sleep on your back, using a rolled towel under your neck, instead of a pillow, can help neck pain. However, if you sleep on your side, a pillow, that will bridge the gap between your shoulder and your head, is necessary to keep your neck in line with your spine. Never sleep on your stomach. It will mess up your neck every time.
