Tips to Avoid Neck Pain from Sleeping

Suffering From Chronic Neck Pain? This Could Be Why…

Your neck may be small, but it’s a crucial component of a healthy body and overall wellness. Symptoms of neck pain can include numbness, stabbing or shooting pain, inability to turn one’s head regularly, and migraines or headaches. Often, it is a result of cervical spine pressure or tension, nerve irritation or inflammation. Take note of what limitations you have with your neck pain and/or where the pain is centralized. The neck is an integral part in supporting and mobilizing the head, so it’s important that it is attended to before the condition worsens.

Most neck pain conditions heal within a few days or weeks, but sometimes the damage may need more than just a bit of rest and an ice-pack. This is most likely dependent on the cause of neck pain. This cause could be something as easily adjustable as poor sleeping or bad posture. However, it could also be something more serious, like a disk herniation. Our experts at West Texas Neck and Back can help determine what is causing your neck or back pain.

Find the best pillow height.

It is important to find a pillow that supports the natural curve of your neck when you lie down to sleep. If your pillow is too low, you risk straining your neck. If your pillow is too high, you are also at risk of straining your neck and obstructing your breathing.

If you are a back sleeper, a thin pillow is your best option. Side sleepers need a thicker pillow to ensure that their head is in the middle of their shoulders. The height and width of your shoulder will determine the exact thickness. Sleeping on your stomach is the most detrimental position for your neck. If you must sleep on your stomach, you will need a very thin pillow or perhaps no pillow at all.

Put your phone away.

Checking your phone at night, even if just for a few minutes, can cause neck pain. When you look at your phone in bed, you may tilt your head up to 60 degrees. This angle strains your neck muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Another negative about looking at your phone in bed is that the light your phone emits can actually block your body’s release of melatonin. This makes it harder to fall asleep.

Stretch your neck.

If you work at a desk all day, the strain from slouching or poor posture can cause neck pain. This pain can persist throughout your sleep. Stretching your neck before going to sleep can help loosen tight muscles from a stressful day

Are You a Victim of Chronic Neck Pain? We Can Help!

Your neck pain may be caused by a more serious condition, especially if the pain is chronic. In these situations, we offer non-surgical spinal decompression to relieve pain, heal the cause of your condition, and get you back to your active lifestyle.

With properly utilized Spinal Decompression Therapy, a person with a herniated disc, disc degeneration, sciatica from a damaged disc, or even spinal stenosis can benefit. The treatment actually focuses on healing and stabilizing the disc. Spinal decompression gently pulls the vertebral joints apart, which stimulates a reduction of herniated material away from the affected nerve. Therefore, rehydrating the disc and relieving pain in the area.

Contact West Texas Neck and Back, our experts can determine the cause of your neck pain and determine solutions to help you get back to living pain-free!