I’m a side sleeper and I sleep hot. I also suffer shoulder very bad shoulder pain and wake with a very stiff neck pain. Sometimes it’s hard for me to move my head due to neck pain.
I sleep on my left side and my right shoulder has been killing me for a very long time.
As of now mattress a new one may help I would love some recommendations for mattresses
And pillows
Been shopping for pillows for a long time
Hi there IN33dSI133p,
Sorry to read you are having issues when you sleep. As a side sleeper you need to be certain you have the correct pillow, with the appropriate loft and firmness. Here is a link to my pillow thread, there is a lot of information there.
Some of the pillows that might offer you the type of relief you need. Oxygen Pillow, CozyPure Noodle Pillow, the higher loft (sized for you) Malouf Dough PIllow, a wool pillow with a latex core, or a very spring bolus wool pillow.
The Oxygen-Pillow from @EuropeanSleep works needs to be fitted to you based on a variety of factors. The Cozypure, has removable fill, I suggest ordering an extra bag of fill just in case you need it (I did). The Malouf Dough is a solid latex alternative pillow, and the wool pillows available at @ONFM, they also have some lofty cotton pillows too.
One of the key points is the placement of the pillow. You want to be certain the pillow is tucked under your neck and pressed up against your shoulders, so you neck is fully supported. Think of a pillow as a mattress for your head. It provides support and comfort and conforms to the curves of the head, neck and upper shoulders.
All the best,
Maverick
Hey,
If you are a left side sleeper, and you are getting pain in your top-side, or “up” shoulder, it may not be a pillow issue (but also could be). Have you ever tried supporting your top-side arm with another pillow? Do you at all feel like you are rolling forward (like your top-side shoulder falling to meet your down-side shoulder)? A more supportive pillow could help correct the tendency to roll forward by preventing your head from triggering it, but also a pillow under your top-side arm, or also between your knees could help by prenting a forward tilt in the hips or the right arm (a body pillow is also a possibility). Other issues can be mattress related (possibly too firm?), or support level related (like center supports, or bed slats or boxes sagging).
Not sure if it answers the question but I find myself starting up top then waking up pretty much on the mattress sleeping in a small corner of the pillow like I just slid down
Reading this I realized it could be too high
I am looking at mattresses but pillows are cheaper
The bed sagging the box spring and wood supporting it is older than I am
Thank you everyone
I would recommend trying a pillow under your right arm (when sleeping on your left side), and possibly a pillow between your knees, to see if there’s a difference. You may be ending up on the small part of the pillow because you are rolling forward–this also might help explain why your top-side shoulder is painful. Basically the more you are collapsed forward, the closer your head is to the mattress (your pillow might actually be too low). Hope that helps.
First thing… If you haven’t done so already, check with a doctor for a diagnosis, but be prepared that it might be complicated. Depending on what you hear, you may want to follow up with a physical therapist who can spend time figuring things out.
Another thing to consider… Where is your left (lower) arm? If you keep your arm up or under your head, you can be stressing nerves and other things, especially if your elbow is above your chin or higher. Regardless, the main thing is to check whether you sleep with your shoulders level of if one shoulder is higher than the other. That kind of posture puts serious stress on your neck and other things. Best to keep both arms down towards your side, with both elbows lower than your armpits. When you raise an arm up level to your shoulder or higher, you can stress the top part of the joint. Raise them both like that at the same time and you’re asking for trouble. It might be okay when you’re concentrating doing yoga or something, but not when sleeping.
Still, the main issue with necks is a pillow that’s too high. I’ve been pretty shocked at how low I’ve adjusted my pillow lately. On the other hand, sometimes I end up a bit on top of my arm or shoulder, so I need to raise the pillow to keep my neck level with the rest of my spine. Ultimately, I think that’s the simplest goal. Straight spine, keeping in mind that the neck is also part of your spine. Going back to my previous advice, if you put an arm way up or under your head, you’re probably bending your neck/spine.