Wednesday, June 20, 2007
I think I need a new pillow
I started seeing a chiropractor for my constant stiff neck and shoulders. (Stiff necks have been a problem for me for so many years, it almost seems “normal”. Stupid me.) It’s only been a week so it may not have been long enough to see results. Still, every single morning I wake up with a very stiff neck. I have to do stretches over the course of the day to loosen it enough to touch my chin to my chest. It never really occured to me, but perhaps my pillow is to blame?
The chiropractor suggested rolling up a towel and placing it at the base of my skull when I sleep. I tried that and it just isn’t comfortable. I gave it a couple of hours and couldn’t fall asleep. Maybe I needed a smaller towel, I don’t know. It just felt like pressure rather than support. But she never once asked what kind of pillow I sleep on. Wouldn’t that make a difference?
My pillow is a normal synthetic fiber fill, a little on the flat side (because pillows that are too puffy give me an even stiffer neck). I’m thinking I need to try a different pillow, because I’m not really noticing any difference with the chiro adjustments yet. Have any of you had neck problems that were solved by a special pillow? What did you use? What have you tried that didn’t work? I tried a contoured foam pillow a few years ago and that just make my neck feel worse.
I’ve been reading about buckwheat pillows and one called Mediflow that you fill with water. Of course there are raving testimonials everywhere, but I have no idea how many of them were written by real people and not just people who work for the company. What’s worked for you guys?