Neck Pain From Sleeping: What Gives?
Remember the cute kid from Jerry Maguire? Who can forget his famous line, "Did you know the human head weighs eight pounds?" It's interesting because the actual weight of an average adult head is around 10 to 11 pounds. That includes the brain, skull, eyes, teeth, skin, and facial muscles. Can you imagine how much work our necks do to support all of that? No wonder neck pain is such a common complaint.
You know what else is common? Neck pain from sleeping. And if you've had many mornings where you wake up with neck soreness and discomfort, it's time you learn how to prevent it from re-occurring.
Avoid Neck Pain from Sleeping with These Tips
1. Sleep on your back
As we've told you before, weird sleeping positions can cause neck or back pain. If you want to avoid waking up with a crick in your neck, sleep on your back. Why? Sleeping on your back keeps your spine in a neutral position.This means there's no unnatural curvature happening or additional pressure being exerted on your back and neck.
If you're worried about acid reflux, you can still sleep on your back but make sure your head is elevated.
2. Support your neck while sleeping
If you're already sleeping on your back, you can prevent neck pain from sleeping by using a thin pillow with just enough firmness. For additional support, you can also place a rolled blanket or towel under your knees. This is especially helpful if you're suffering from upper back pain as well. Now, if you're a side sleeper through and through, your best bet is to place a pillow between your knees to support the natural alignment of the spine.
3. Use a good mattress
Just like shoes, you should replace your mattress when it can't provide the right amount of support anymore. For shoes, that could mean every three to five months, but for mattresses, it's five to 10 years. When it's time to replace your mattress, look for a firm one if you're a back or stomach sleeper. Side sleepers can get away with a softer mattress, as long as it can properly support the back and curvature of shoulders and hips.
4. Exercise regularly
You don't have to do high-impact workouts if your knees can't take them. There are other activities such as yoga that keep you limber so you lower your chance of injury. For neck pain specifically, you can do stretches throughout the day to help relieve tension. The important thing is to keep moving not just to stay flexible but also to improve your pain threshold.
5. Consult a chiropractor
If you've tried massage, acupuncture, and pain relievers but still can't find relief for your neck pain, you should consider a chiropractic visit. It could be a spinal health issue that needs a closer look. Just make sure you choose a chiropractor who practices a "patient-centered" approach when it comes to neck pain diagnosis and treatment.
Get Relief from Neck Pain!
Your pain relief options don't have to be limited to meds and surgery. If your neck pain is bothering you, don't hesitate to give us a call at (260) 471-4090 or 1-888-471-4090. You can also request an appointment and we'll get back to you asap.
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