Neck Pain Support Blog

When You Cannot Find the Right Pillow, Consider an ADJUSTABLE Pillow

I have spoken to numerous patients who have literally a closet full of pillows... that have not worked. The pillow is too big, too small, too hard, too soft, not allowing them to get comfortable, too low, too high. I have heard a lot.

In these cases, I always recommend that patients consider an adjustable pillow. Here are a few effective adjustable pillows that can help you get the right feeling and the right height for you personally. Check out the links for more adjustable-type neck pillows.

First, the Arc4life 3 in 1 Contoured Memory Foam Pillow. It has a zipper where you can literally remove memory foam and make the pillow shorter for yourself. This is a comfy curve support pillow that can help you sleep on your back or on our side.

2. The next pillow involves shredded memory foam AND polyester fiber fill. This combination gives this adjustable pillow a softer, more effective support under the neck. The Adjustable Foam and Fiber Pillow is very easy to maneuver. 

Always keep the extra filling you do not use for your adjustable neck pillows. Sometimes your neck needs more support and sometimes it needs less. You can easily remove and add it as necessary.

More Links:

• Get 40% off on To Try this Arc4life Adjustable Pillow. Use Discount Code: Arc4lifeAdjustablePillow40  (Limited to first 6 customers)
• More Adjustable Neck Pillows for customized neck support
• Tri Core Adjustable Pillow with a PUMP
• Travel Twist Pillow. Another Adjustable Pillow for Travel
• The TriCore Adjustable WATER Pillow
• Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam and Fiber Neck Pillow

 

The Arc4life Traction Pillow Helped Me with my Numbness/Tingling and Sleeping at Night, Now What?

At the beginning of June we received a call from Marisol regarding some issues that she was having with her neck and hands. Specifically she mentioned that she was having a lot of neck pain, and numbness and tingling at night time and that this was waking her up at night. She had a busy day job and was super tired from the disjointed sleep that she was getting. She was desperate for a solution and asked if we could make some recommendations for her. 

She was recommended the Arc4life Traction Neck Pillow [ med ] and also given instructions on how to best use it.  First of all she was told to use the pillow gradually, as she was having a very tough time at night. She was to start using the pillow about 5-10 minutes, and then to put it away. The next night she was to use it 15 minutes. The night after 30 minutes. In this way, she was slowly getting her neck muscles using this type of contoured neck pillow. It was also suggested that she use the Support side of the pillow to start, as this was softer side of the pillow. Finally, it was recommended that she lay down [face up ] on the traction v side of the pillow for about 10-20 minutes per day. In this was she was getting support during the night and very gentle neck traction during the day as well. 

Fast forward to July. We received a phone call almost exactly 30 days later. Marisol stated that the arc4life traction pillow has worked for her. Gone was the numbness and tingling at night and she was able to sleep through the night. She was very satisfied with this and very grateful, as she was finally able to sleep at night. She stated that now she was only getting numbness and tingling while driving and while riding her bike. Marisol was interested in doing more for her symptoms and again asked for recommendations. 

Well, first of all we love to hear when a customer was helped- in any way. So the arc4life traction pillow helped Marisol to sleep at night comfortably. With this pillow, you are getting support and gentle neck traction. The next step to help get rid of that numbness and tingling during the day is do gentle neck traction during the day.

Our best recommendation is going to be the Posture Pump Neck Traction Device. We like this particular unit because it puts you neck into anatomically the right position to stretch: Into a C-Curve. It also opens up each of the neck vertabrae and allows the nerves to breathe properly and heal. 

 

The Posture Pump Cervical Traction Unit for the neck

Here is another good one, albeit its a little more cumbersome, but still effective: Soothe- A Ciser with Cervical Traction Device

One More: Cervical Traction System with Foam Roll. All of these units are better than the traction units that do up and down type of neck traction. For example a neck collar type of unit. 

Again when you do this type of neck traction, you want to start gradually. Just like using the arc4life traction pillow. Set a timer for yourself and try to do the neck traction 4-5/week. Start with 5 minutes [ set a timer ] and a very low amount of traction and work your way up to 15 minutes. This will ensure you are not experiencing soreness after doing the neck traction. Also, you can do neck stretches before you start: - these are some simple ones. One more thing you can do is use a heating pack on your neck after c-traction to ease any soreness or tightness. 

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Updated: 4/18/2020

One Way to be Stretching Your Neck during the DAY and at NIGHT

For patients who suffer from a herniated disc in the neck, the pain and symptoms can be very very annoying. There could be loss of muscle stretching, pain, numbness and tingling, loss of range of motion in the neck to say the least.

Your Dr or physical therapist may recommend using a traction unit for pain relief and stretching your neck. They may tell you to do neck traction everyday.  One of the most effective things to do is to do neck traction during the day and during the night.

You do this by using a neck traction unit during the day. The unit might look something like this:

For night time, I would recommend using a traction pillow: Check out this video that explains how to use the arc4life traction pillow:

This listener bought the arc4life traction pillow after watching this video:

"I got it, and watched this video before I ordered it. I've had it a little over a week and I think it's GREAT. I have forward head posture and have some bulging disc type stuff - had an MRI. I was having tingling in the back of the neck and arm and shoulder blade area pain, etc. The tingling and pains are all but gone. In general I have gotten better about keeping my chin tucked, but still I definitely think this pillow has helped immensely. " - Madrobotfan

Additional Reading:

• A traction pillow vs gravity pillow vs tricore pillow
• Can you get a headache after sleeping on a new pillow?
• A Not so Nice Pillow Testimonial from this New Yorker who needs a break
• More info on the arc4life traction pillow

 

Traction Pillow Vs Gravity Pillow Vs TriCore Pillow

Lots of fiber pillows on the market today, and today I had a very nice woman call me to help her decide which pillow to choose. The Arc4life Traction Pillow vs the Arc4life Gravity Pillow vs the Tri Core Pillow. Also, she was concerned about the size of pillow that would be best for her. She mentioned that she had some balance and dizziness issues and neck soreness. She was going to PT for neck pain treatment. Nothing was really helping and she was considering changing her pillow. 

Choosing the right size is actually the easiest decision to make. Either it is going to be small medium or large. This decision should be based on ones height and weight. See the chart below. This particular patient was 5'3" and weighed 135 lbs. For her, I recommended a medium size (Standard 24"x17").

So the next question becomes, what type of firmness does one prefer in their pillow?

If someone likes a firm pillow, then my recommendation is the tricore pillow (either the gentle or the firm version). The fiber in this pillow is densely packed into the pillow, making it a very firm pillow. Also the fiber is machine blown in, also creating a more dense pillow that is more firm to lay on. 

If someone does not like a firm pillow,then the choice is between the arc4life traction pillow or the arc4life gravity pillow. These two pillows have a lot more "give" than the tricore pillow.

If a patient has a lot going on in their neck, for example:

• herniated disc
• bulging disc
• headaches (migraine or tension)
• forward head posture
• lack of curve
• chronic neck pain
• whiplash
• occipital neuralgia
• cervical sprain

Then the best pillow is going to be the arc4life traction pillow. This pillow offers two different sleeping surfaces- a traction v side (for gentle neck stretching) and a support side (a neck roll). 

Finally, if a patient is looking for just a great cervical support pillow, the arc4life gravity pillow is a great option.

This pillow has two neck rolls on it. One broader, one more narrow. These neck rolls are designed to allow for the natural curvature of your cervical spine. Great for side and back sleeping:

This pillow comes in a small, medium and large size and again it is important to choose the right size to sleep on. The arc4life gravity pillow has been a big seller since in the 1980's and is still a very popular choice for many of our customers. An oldie but a Goodie, like we say here at Arc4life. For both the arc4life gravity and traction pillows, the fiber is hand stuffed into each pillow, and the fiber is softer and easier to adjust too.

Additional Reading:

• I just received my NEW Pillow... and HELLO, its nothing like my OLD pillow
• Do you have a Closet Full of Pillows?
• A Pillow that Gives you Neck Support - not just in times of Pain
• The Pillow for Alleviating Neck Pain
• Frozen Shoulder Fix..not for the Faint of Heart

 

Neck Traction Does Not Need to Be Scary.

If you are looking for natural pain relief options for neck pain - neck traction might come up. When you first mention Neck Traction to patients they sometimes have a dazed look on their face. They think you are going to hook them to a machine that causes a lot of pain. 

Neck traction can be beneficial for many conditions including:

• neck arthitis
• radiculopathy
• pinched nerve
• nerve root compression
• spinal stenosis
• fibromyalgia
• whiplash (not acute)
• headahces
• muscle spasms
• herniated disc
• bulging disc

I want to show my Neck Pain Support Readers that you can start off with very basic neck traction. This allows you to slowly get into neck stretching. Here are 3 easy things you can use.

1. First use the arc4life traction neck pillow, especially the traction V Side. If you just lay on your back, on the traction V Side of the pillow for 20-25 minutes you will get some pain relief. You are not sleeping on the pillow, just laying on the pillow. Set a timer if you have too. This is a great form of passive traction that you can do at home. Basically you are stretching the spine very gently and allowing the nerves to be freed up in between the vertebrae. One important side note, order the right size of pillow. Ordering the wrong size can cause you unneeded pain.
2. A little more advanced form of this would be to use a traction unit - such as the cervi pedic, or an omni cervical relief device. Basically these units cradles the head and neck in proper alignment, to encourage gentle traction and correct cervical curvature. They are both ergonomically contoured and allow total relaxation of the neck, shoulder, and back muscles. Note you can use both the Omni and the Cervi pedic lying down or seated. 
3. The most advanced form you can do at home is using a posture pump 1100 or a Pronex Traction Unit With this unit for example you can get up to 20 lbs of pressure.  I often recommend to use this in a chiropractor or Physical therapists office first to understand how to use it and use it correctly. You will then know what neck traction feels like. Also, a unit like this helps to correct the natural C Curve in your neck. So if you have forward head posture, or a hunchback posture, then can help immensely.

Using the Pronex for Neck Stretching Can be Easy to Set up and do at Home

Neck Traction can have quite an impact on patients health. It can help with pain relief, better posture, relief of radiculopathy symptoms ( such as numbness and tingling, shooting pains), headache relief and stiffness and help patients sleep better.

Just remember to ease into it slowly. That is the key. Nothing scary about Neck Traction.

Updated: 4/24/2020

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Neck Pain Support Blog: Optimize Your Posture While You Sleep with the Right Pillow

Optimize Your Posture While You Sleep with the Right Pillow

We live in a society where we are constantly on our computers and our cell phones all. day. long. That is why forward head posture is prevalent. Forward head posture creates a lot of stress for your neck, upper back, shoulders and midback area. It can lead to neck pain, waking up with stiffness, headaches, numbness and tingling, a feeling of heaviness and limited motion in the spine.

One area where you can fix your posture is using the right pillow at night. If you sleep on a flat pillow, you are not getting the support that you need. Our natural neck spine has a C curve in it. You need a pillow at night that helps to restore this natural curve in the neck. 

Enter the arc4life traction pillow. That is the pillow that I recommend to help maintain proper posture at night. If you do not have a curve, have a little curve, or even have a reverse curve, this pillow can help. 

Anatomy of the Arc4life Traction Pillow:

If you have forward head posture, rounded shoulders,or a hunchback posture- you need a pillow like this to fix your posture. Does it happen overnight. NO. Overtime, yes a change will take place. You can also add neck traction and postural exercises. But you have to start with sleeping on a contoured pillow so that at least your neck is in the right position while you sleep. This is where posture correction can start. For some people there is an adjustment period to using a new pillow. Keep that in mind. One final thought. You need to order the right size of pillow. Some pillows are one size fits all. Not the arc4life traction pillow- it actually comes in a small, medium and large. In general, if you are under 5'ft order the small, over 6 ft order the large. If you are in between, order the medium. This is just a general recommendation. If you need further information about the right size, contact me here at Neck Pain Support and I can help. It also depends on your weight, frame and what you currently use for a pillow. 

Updated: 4/24/2020

Additional Reading:

• Tutorial Guide on how to use the Arc4life Traction Neck Pillow to fix posture
• Why the Arc4life Pillow works for  Military Neck
• I see the T in the Pillow, but not seeing the V in the Pillow
• Improve Your Posture right now
• What Kind of Pillow should I sleep on if I am a Stomach Sleeper?

How to Use a Simple Neck Stretcher at Home

The posture pump cervical traction unit is a simple, comfortable and effective traction unit. Here is a quick demonstration on how to use this neck stretcher easily at home. This neck stretcher provides relief for neck pain, pinched nerve in the neck, stiff neck, cervical radiculopathy, numbness and tingling, forward head posture, tightness in the neck, shoulders and upper back.

Updated: 4/24/2020

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Part I - Exactly How is Neck Traction Good for Your Neck

You need to choose the best cervical traction unit for your nagging neck pain and right hand numbness. Which unit do you choose? There are so many cervical traction units to choose from. First, lets start with what exactly does neck traction do?

• it restores the normal position of the spine
• it widens the intervertebral space - which is the space between each of the bones in the neck
• it decreases pressure on the spinal cord and the nerve root
• helps to reduce muscle spasms of the neck and shoulder muscles
• it increases blood circulation, joint flexibility and muscle strength
• it increases your neck range of motion.

Here is a great video demonstration on how the posture pump cervical device works:

In Part II of this blog post, we will look at what criteria to look for when purchasing a new traction unit. Also I will demonstrate how to use a Pronex Cervical Traction Unit, a popular neck tractioning device often recommended by chiropractors.  

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Dear Nav,

I just ordered a contoured neck pillow, called the arc4life traction pillow. It is causing my neck a lot of pain somehow which is a shame because I really wanted it to work! -Ada

Dear Ada, Thank you for your email. Any contoured neck pillow takes a while to get used to for patients, especially those who have neck pain to begin with. It is not meant to be used the whole night right in the beginning. We recommend that you first sleep on the pillow for no more than 5-10 minutes, and keep increasing by 10 min each night. Second, you should be starting to use the support side of the pillow, not the traction side.

I would recommend you try it one more week. Then email me back. I think it is worth it. Okay, so start :

• 1st night: 10 min
• 2nd night: 20 min
• 3rd night: 30 min
  
  

Sleep on the support side to start. On the 4th night, try 45 min- 1 hr.

One more thing I want to mention you can do with the traction "V"side of the pillow. Use it for a gentle neck stretch. Simple lay on your back on the V part of the pillow. Not sleep, just lay on the pillow. Set a timer for 10 minutes to start. Next day do 15 min. Keep working your way up to 25 minutes.

Here is a short video showing you the features of the arc4life traction pillow:

Keep in mind, that if you are used to using a flat pillow to sleep every night and now have switched to a contoured neck pillow, it is going to take some time. You may wake up with a neck ache and soreness if you decide to sleep the whole night through the first night (not recommended). You will be engaging different neck muscles when you use a pillow with curves on it like the arc4life traction pillow.

I truly think it is worth a try, as this pillow has helped many patients in the past provide neck pain relief. - Nav

Additional Reading Resources:

• Which Pillow Size Should I Order? Does it Matter?
• Treatment options for a Decade of Neck Pain
• Frequently asked questions about the arc4life traction support pillow
• Visit the Neck Pain Support Blog on Facebook

 

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"HI Neck Pain Support.....x-Ray done C5-C6 decrease of space between .....neck pain and some dizziness, on off 4 weeks now , upper back muscle pain and spasms too...any recommendation for treatment "

-Nick November 2016

Dear Nick,

Thank you for your email. I would recommend chiropractic treatment for you. A chiropractor can assess whether you have misalignments in your neck and check your posture. They can address also muscle spasms and muscle pain that you mentioned in your neck and upper back area as well. They have a variety of treatments that can help such as trigger point therapy and using a tens unit. A chiropractor can also look at your neck x-ray and tell you if you are cleared to do neck traction. A type of device that stretching the neck very gently, opening up the spaces between the vertebrae. Also know as cervical traction, this can yield a lot of relief for patients. 

Also, I would recommend that you change the pillow that you use at night. This can make a huge difference. If you use a pillow called the arc4life traction pillow it can help to open up the space between vertebrae C5 and C5. This can help tremendously with the neck pain that you are experience. In addition to having your pain evaluated by a chiropractor, I would also recommend using a hot pack at home. This can help with tight muscles and helping to relax upper back muscles: upper trapezius, rhomboids muscles and suboccipitals and cervical paraspinals in the cervical area. Doing a little gentle neck massage can also be beneficial.

- Nav

Neck Pain Support Blog

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Hi 

Please help me find the proper pillow , should I call during the week ? 

I am presently seeing a chiropractor but she will not recommend a pillow .

 
I have a bulging disc in neck and stenosis between shoulders. Just very recently I started waking up with a lot of neck pain . It feels like a pulled muscle but as the day goes on it gets some better . The chiro has adjusted me once for this as it just started last week . I'm also using bio freeze to help . The right side of my neck , shoulder and the dr said my trapezius is causing the pain . I'm not sure what started it but I dread going to bed . I have purchased several different pillows from the store and each one seems to make it worse . I already suffer with lower back pain and siatica I don't need these going on as well . The whole right side of my neck hurts and it's difficult to turn my neck to the left . I've been doing the stretches I found on your website , thanks so much . 

Oh , I am a side sleeper and a lefty so I tend to sleep on my left side but the right side of my neck is killing me . 
I would appreciate any suggestions please. Thank you 

Marvina

 

Dear Marvina,

Thank you for your email. I would recommend our arc4life traction pillow.

Arc4life Linear Traction Neck Pillow Link

That is the link so you can look at this pillow. I am going to recommend this pillow specifically because it has a traction "V" side. This part of the pillow will specifically help the bulging disc. You can use the pillow two ways:

1. For sleeping: sleep on either the support side or the traction side. The support side is softer, and this might work better for you in the beginning. Don't sleep on the pillow the entire night. Start with 10-15 min. If the pillow contours bother you, change back to the pillow you are using regularly. With the traction pillow you can sleep on your side or on your back. Right side or left side - the pillow will work for both sides. 
2. For Use During the Day: Just lay on the pillow during the day for 10 minutes to start. On your Back. On the Traction V Side. This will give you gentle neck traction. Set a timer for this. Continue this regularly, at least once a day. You can gradually increase your time doing this gentle manual traction. 

Also, I would like to recommend the right size to you. Can you send me your height and weight please? I will recommend the small, medium or large size for you.

[Customer did email us back and stated that she is 5’6 and weighs 160 lbs- In this case a medium standard size neck pillow will work well for this patient. The medium size is 24”x17”]

It’s great that you are seeing a chiropractor. One of the reasons she may not be recommending a pillow to you is because you are in the acute phase of care. That is why i mentioned to you to gradually start using the pillow. 

I am also going to suggest a hot and cold pack for you. One especially for the neck and shoulders

Hot and Cold Pack for the Neck and Shoulders

You can use this as a heating pad or as a cold pack. This will help the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Please email us for any further questions. Thanks

 

 

Nav

Additional Reading:

• Natural Pain Relief for a Patient with Headaches and Neck Pain
• Heating Pads you can Plug in for sustained heat
• Pain and muscle spasm relief with a trapezius stretch
• Relief of Stiffness and Achiness in the Neck: Pillow Advice Needed

 

 

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