Pillow help needed! Neck ache!

[zeeclass]

Second night on cpap and I used it for 8 entire hours (I had taken a little sleeping pill beforehand to help get me "down").

No issues with mask leakage or mask comfort. I consider it to have been a very successful night. BUT....my neck kinda hurts this morning. Which is a BIG issue for me, because I have herniated discs in my neck and if it starts hurting it can turn into a chronic problem that goes on for MONTHS and needs physical therapy to fix.

I am mainly a side sleeper. I curl up, which is a good position for my back (I have herniated discs there, too -- chronic problems). I never noticed before, but I suppose I turn my head down into the pillow a little bit when I sleep on my side. Now that I have a cpap, my nasal mask prevents me from turning my head downward into the pillow as much as usual. Therefore, my head is in a slightly more elevated position and it is making my neck and shoulders ache.

I already sleep on a contour-type pillow with very dense memory foam (some people might say it's too hard for them, but I find it very supportive -- been using this type of pillow for years).

I've been looking at the cpap pillows and am really confused about what to buy. I assume that none of them are returnable (please correct me if I'm wrong about that point!)

The Contour Brand pillow looks interesting but it seems to me that there isn't much space for you to move around on the pillow. And I'm not sure if it would be supportive enough if you were on your back.

There are pillows with little wings which look interesting.

There are buckwheat pillows, but personally I don't like to hear the sound of material shifting in the pillow when I move (aren't buckwheat and pellet pillows rather loud???)

I know that pillows are a very personal thing, but I would appreciate a few honest basic opinions based on my neck and back problems. I would say that I spend 75% of the night on one side or the other, and about the other 25% on my back. I need something that is firm and will support my neck well.

P.S. I cannot sleep on my stomach because it makes my back hurt. Therefore, that "swatstica" position I read about on this forum would not be good for me.

I appreciate your help and opinions.

[RipVW]

I use a water-filled pillow (similar to this one: http://tinyurl.com/5rbyjmk), and I use my firm memory foam pillow on top of that. I’m a side sleeper, so the height of two pillows works for me. I slide the memory foam pillow over a bit and actually rest the side of my face on the edge of the pillow, so my mask doesn’t touch the pillow. Crazy, I know, but it seems to work for me. Good luck!

[LSAT]

The contour pillow works great for me...I am a 90% side sleeper. I sleep on my left side facing my CPAP. My head is on the right edge of the pillow with my mask mostly off of the pillow. I do not move around much during the night.

[GumbyCT]

I too have herniated discs in my neck and lower back so I can relate. No matter the position you must keep your spine straight. While you can prob feel when the neck is tilted something has changed for you so have someone stand behind you to let you know if/when your neck is straight by adding or removing different pillows.

Until we recently changed our mattress I used 2 pillows when on my side and would move 1 aside if I changed to back or stomach. Before cpap I used a rolled up towel (elastic) placed under the nape of my neck to hyper-extend it when I slept on my back.

I see a chiropractor when I get mis-aligned. Also I use a tennis ball against the wall to massage knots. Recently bought an exercise ball to stretch out my neck and back. I think a chiro is the ONLY doc you will know when you leave the office if it is helping or not

Search this forum for a post by Carbonman on how to cut your pillow with an electric knife, complete with pictures. Mine are still intact but I have a variety to choose from. I doubt you will find any place which will accept returns but using C'man's technique you can modify a cheaper contour pillow to help.

HTH
Good Luck

[Bobby269]

I used the Contour cpap pillow for about 3 months. But I would wake up with a sore neck ( side sleeper). Had plans to try the buck wheat pillow.
Figured I would give my old one another chance. Link shows what it looks like. http://www.tempurpedic.com/Contoured-Pi ... Pillow.asp. There are less expensive versions of this type of pillow. I now have no neck pain and sleep very well.

[Pugsy]

I have bad neck also. So bad I have metal plate to stabilize it. I need a supportive but low profile pillow otherwise I wake up with killer neck pain and associated headaches. I love those memory foam contour pillows for briefly laying on but if I fall asleep with my head tilted upwards I pay for it with bad neck pain. Neck has to be straight for me to be without pain.

I use the Regenisis buckwheat pillow. I do not notice the noise at all. Never have but some people who happen to be super sensitive to sounds I suppose could be bothered by it. I honestly do not hear any noise past making my little "nest" for my neck and mask when I am on my side. Even then the sound is very minimal.

[GumbyCT]

Keep in mind when using those contour pillows the thicker side is 'supposed' to fill the void (nape) of the neck. When used the other way it will tilt the head UP. But by all means try it both ways.

Here is the C'man link to hacking your own pillow -
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=63985&p=596956&hili ... e+#p596956

[needzzzzs]

I've actually thought about taking my memory foam pillow (used for many years now) and perhaps doing a little trimming on the left side (because I go to sleep on my left side) to take away some pressure from my face where the mask and pillow connect. I've used the memory foam pillow because I also have neck pain if I don't use it.

I've tried a bunch of pillows designed for side-sleeping CPAP users and haven't found one I like as well as the one I have.

Good luck with your quest to find the perfect pillow for YOU! 8 hours of CPAP on your second night is very, very good.

Debbie

[kongjie]

On buckwheat pillows: I have used one for years. I'm sure there is noise when I move but I don't really pay attention to it. One thing I like about it is that I can shape it so that it provides more support under my neck. Of course after being on it all night, the buckwheat does shift, so it won't stay like that, but at least at the beginning of the night it is quite comfortable. The only problem I have with a buckwheat pillow is that sometimes I will swallow too much air with my head that low, and I need to put another regular pillow on top of it for a few nights to get back to normal.

[BlackSpinner]

Take a bread knife and cut out a piece from your foam pillow for the mask to hang and tailor your pillow case to fit the new contours.