If you wake up with neck pain in the mornings, you’re not alone. According to one 2017 study, among a group of 600 adults surveyed, more than 20 percent suffered from neck pain. While the right treatment can help, there’s an easier—and more cost-effective—measure you can take on a regular basis to rid yourself of those troubling aches and pains: get a good pillow.
But with so many options out there, which one should you choose? According to Andrea Paul, MD, founder and CEO of Health Media Experts, the best pillow for neck pain is the Level Sleep Restore Pillow.
“I was facing a neck pain problem, but after using the Level Sleep Pillow, I felt a gradual improvement in my chronic pain,” Paul explains. She specifically notes that the pillow employs anti-snore technology (your significant other will thank you!), has ear wells that help relieve pressure on the sides of your head, and is made of a breathable foam that will keep you comfortable without heating up over the course of your sleep. Better yet, the company offers a one-year home trial, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping and returns, so you really have nothing to lose.
Level Sleep
If you can’t get your hands on a Level pillow, however, check out these four other expert-recommended pillows that will help you wake up pain-free.
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1 | This pillow for extra-sensitive necks
Looking for a great way to reduce neck pain without spending a fortune? Chiropractor Allen Conrad, BS, DC, CSCS, of the Montgomery County Chiropractic Center, recommends this Sunshine Pillows Chiropractic Neck Pillow for back sleepers in particular.
“For those with extremely sensitive neck pain, this soft option contains flax seeds which contour to your neck, and help avoid spasm when you wake up,” Conrad explains.
2 | This pillow for snorers
If you’ve got neck pain and your snoring could wake a hibernating bear, there is hope: it’s called the Tempur-Pedic Contour Side-To-Back Memory Foam Pillow.
“This pillow is good for those who sleep on their back or side, and has firm support to allow the normal cervical curve of the neck to stay in proper alignment,” says Conrad.
3 | This pillow with adjustable support
Do you find that the pillow that’s comfortable one week leaves you feeling achy the next? If so, the D-Core Cervical Support Pillow is perfect for you.
“This D-Core Cervical Support Pillow includes two cervical roll options. The smaller roll is ideal if you need less support and the larger roll is perfect for someone who needs maximum support,” explains chiropractor Gil Kentof, DC, founder of the Dr. Gil Center for Back, Neck, and Chronic Pain.
4 | This pillow for side sleepers
“If you're a consistent side sleeper, you need a pillow that fills the gap between your shoulder and head so that your neck is in alignment with the rest of your spine,” explains Kentof. He recommends this Snuggle-Pedic Deluxe Adjustable Pillow because “it allows you to add or remove fill to create the ideal thickness for aligning your neck with your spine.”
