With osteochondrosis, the cervical spine is deformed and pinched nerve endings, pain appears with the slightest movements. The right pillow for sleeping will help relieve the condition of acute attacks of osteochondrosis and relax.
Orthopedic Pillow Is Ideal For Osteochondrosis
A healthy person can sleep on any surface and feel good – on a soft pillow, on a hard pillow, or without it at all. For a patient with osteochondrosis, finding a comfortable sleeping position is a whole art.
An orthopedic pillow helps to relax the muscles of the back and neck, relieves vascular clamps and allows you to restore blood circulation. You fall asleep faster on it, and sleep becomes deeper and calmer.
Advice From A Neurologist
Patients with osteochondrosis go to all kinds of tricks to find a comfortable sleeping position. For example, they sleep on two pillows almost sitting, and this only makes themselves worse. If the head is thrown back and the vessels are crushed, can it be useful? No. It is better to choose a suitable orthopedic pillow.
An orthopedic pillow will not replace drug treatment and gymnastics for osteochondrosis! But it keeps the neck in the correct position, helps you fall asleep faster and enhances the healing effect of physical education and medications.
Types Of Orthopedic Pillows
After hearing the expression orthopedic pillow for a sore neck, many people imagine a model in the shape of a wave. In fact, orthopedic models are different. Which one to buy?
Bolster
An orthopedic pillow with a roller is well suited for people with any type of osteochondrosis. It is especially appreciated by patients suffering from straightened cervical lordosis. They have a straight neck without natural curves. By pressing on the cervical vertebrae, the roller returns them to the correct position. Such a pillow not only helps you fall asleep faster, but also relieves tension and restores blood flow.
Wave With A Half-Roller
A pillow with a unique embossed half-roller helps with osteochondrosis, headaches and insomnia. Under the weight of the sleeping Detensor, the roller first shrinks, and then begins to straighten, while stretching the vertebrae and relaxing the neck muscles. The clamps in the neck disappear and you can fall asleep faster. The pillow cover contains particles of amethyst semi-precious stone, which has antibacterial properties.
Crescent
A great option for those who have pain not only in the neck, but also in the shoulders: such a pillow supports both the head and back. It is better to choose a model made of soft materials that do not lose their shape. For example, memory foam. It is adjusted to the curves of the body in the correct position and does not compress the vessels, since it does not exert back pressure on the body.
Rectangular
Not all orthopedic pillows have a wave shape, there are also rectangular ones. They are also universal. The main thing is the material from which the pillow is made. Natural latex or comfortable memory foam helps to find a comfortable position and fall asleep.
With A Massage Effect
With osteochondrosis, the cervical spine is deformed, the vertebrae compress the nerve endings, so the arms or shoulders may become numb. The pillow with a relief surface has a slight massage effect that helps to restore blood circulation and relieve clamps in the back of the head and shoulders. A light massage is useful for any person, and in case of problems with the spine, it is simply necessary.
With A Notch In The Middle
A cushion with a notch gives anatomical support to the cervical spine without squeezing the vertebrae or interfering with blood circulation. Bel-Pol Massage Form has such properties. The recess in the center is for the head. Even if a person is constantly tossing and turning in his sleep, the neck will be properly curved. The relief in the middle of the pillow has a slight massage effect, promoting relaxation.
With Shoulder Recess
People with cervical osteochondrosis have difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position. For such cases, you need a model with a recess for the shoulder. It will adjust to the contours of the head and neck and help you relax completely. There is no need to put your hand, the pillow itself will support the head at the desired height. Memory does not compress soft tissues, which is especially important during an exacerbation of the disease.
With Neck Roller
The pillow is based on viscoelastic memory foam soft and elastic, it circulates freely in the blood and lymph, which ensures healthy sleep and rest without swelling and muscle pain. The unusual shape of the pillow supports the correct s-shaped curve of the cervical spine, thanks to which breathing becomes free. The pillow is recommended for people with osteochondrosis and apnea syndrome.
How To Choose The Right Pillow For Osteochondrosis
When choosing a pillow for cervical osteochondrosis, pay attention to characteristics such as stiffness, height, filler and size.
Useful Advice
If you have slept on a soft down pillow all your life, be prepared for the fact that an orthopedic pillow may seem uncomfortable at first. This is not necessary, but it is possible. Do not abandon the orthopedic model, try to get used to it. After two or three days, your feather pillow will already seem uncomfortable to you.
Fillers
Choosing the right pillow materials directly affects the quality of sleep, especially in the acute stage of the disease. We recommend paying attention not only to the material itself, but also to the country of its production, density and other properties. Below we talk about the most popular and useful pillow fillers.
Memories
This innovative material was developed by NASA to make it easier for astronauts to endure flights. It follows the curves of the body with anatomical precision and has no back pressure. This helps to take the load off the soft tissues and spine. The filler has no analogues, sleeping on a pillow of memory foam can be compared to being in zero gravity.
Choosing Pillows By Sleeping Position: Expert Advice
The position in which you sleep affects the choice of the shape of the pillow, its filler and size.
Advice From A Neurologist
Most people suffering from osteochondrosis sleep on their backs, because in this position you do not need to turn your neck, for many it is difficult. With an exacerbation of the disease, it can be difficult to find a comfortable position. You can lie on the bed all night and then fall asleep in some exotic position, so it is better to have several pillows designed for different sleeping positions and change them according to your mood.
On The Side
When a person lies on his side, his head is high above the bed and needs reliable support. The height of a regular pillow is often not enough to give good support to the shoulder and neck. Putting a classic feather pillow edgewise is not an option, it is not designed for such a load, the filler will always “move apart” and lose its shape. A good option is a dense wave-shaped model.
On The Back
Any pillows are suitable – both with a bolster and a classic shape. The main thing is that it should not be too high. The optimal size is 10-13 cm, depending on your height and physique.
Advice From A Neurologist
I recommend opting for a pillow in the shape of a wave. On it, the cervical spine accurately takes the correct position.
On The Stomach
Few patients with osteochondrosis can sleep on their stomachs. In this pose, you need to turn your head 90°, and this is difficult. Even if you manage to find a comfortable position, then at night when moving, a sharp pain may appear. You can sleep not quite on your stomach, but half-turned, putting your hand under your head, and a soft thin pillow on your arm.
