sleeping makes my cs worse particularly my houlders

I had my wife make me a custom pillow from cushion crumbles when I noticed that I slept better using the couch pillow.  But then we found the pillows on the web and they are great.  We both have one apiece.  I use the standard size one and cant live without it.  The nice thing about this brand is that you shape it to the shape you want and it holds that shape.  Not sure if they ship to the UK, but I am sure you can figure something out.

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I have tried SO many different pillows, some of which were really expensive. One good one was half memory foam on one side and "normal " pillow on the other. Abut £50. The oine I use now which is by far the most comfortable was only £9.99. I also changed my mattress. Don't have anything too hard as I found it made matters MUCH worse!

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I think the names of the shops I entered will be removed. Please do email me privately and I'll give you the details

I've tried a dozen or so special pillows myself, and the one I sent you a PM about is better than all of them.  That company also makes a useful travel pillow that helps in the car, or get a small one along with the regular size one for that same purpose.  When the My Pillow starts to loose its loft, you run it through the washer with NO fabric softener, then dry it, and its back like new again.  I only wish I had invented this one myself, as my custom made pillow was almost identical.

One more thing... some chiropractors and websites sell a pillow that has a water bag in it, like a water bed.  This thing is the worst of all of them.  I bought one on Amazon and returned it.  It had no support even filled to the highest possible water level.

I hope this helps you... we have had ours for over a year now and bought two more for my mother in law.  Everyone enjoys them and gets better sleep.

yes... i have found a pillow that is a god send to me..... I couldnt sleep without pain untill i bought this :-)  Its shaped in a butterfly shape and as its advised to sleep on your side it fits snuggly under my neck and supports my head without          Image UnavailableImage not available for

Colour:[Butterfly / Cervical Orthopaedic Pillow with Pillowcase]

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      Butterfly / Cervical Orthopaedic Pillow with Pillowcaseby Care Direct Lancashire on amazon uk.

                                                                susie x 

Hi i am also a CS patient. Dont feel low because, this is not cancer. but yes painful. If you know how to get rid of the pain then LG (life's good). Here are couple of steps that i followed, actually somehow i invented these steps and they do work.

 I am also a CS patient. I have found following things relieving

a. In case of acute pain in the cervical region, I take a hot water bath. stand beneath the hot water shower with back facing the shower. the water should be slightly hotter than normal comfort level. This is the best for sudden relief.

b. Lie down on the bed facing towards ceiling with your head, neck and further 6 inches of back hanging down from the bed. close your eyes and take deep breath, hold for 5 seconds and relieve. do this for atleast 3-4 times.

c. lie on the bed and turn your head and try to look in the diagonal direction, which means consider your self sleeping north (head) to south (feet) , normally we exercise by turning the head east to west. Rather try to see an object kept at north-east and north-west.

d. Pranayam - You can search for anulom-vilom on you tube. If you are able to do this for two weeks in the morning for 15 minutes daily, the change is dramatic. there are other yoga excercises but this is best to begin with.

e. Sit on a chair with back straight and head straight. Simultaneously turn your head vertically up and take deep breath. When your head is facing the ceiling, hold the breath for 5 seconds and then turn your head down back to the original position with exhaling air. remember not to turn your head down. (We are people with Cervical spondolysis, we never bow down  [biggrin]    [wink]

f. Massage the are right below the ears, i.e the side part of the neck with a pain relief ointment. also behind the ears.

g. Massage the shoulders with a menthol based pain relief ointment.

These are my experiences, i hope they are useful for all who suffer from this painful condition.

Hi Cerise.

Hope you find a solution; here is mine. I sleep on my side too and experienced the same symptoms. I use a small orthapaedic pillow, with the smaller bulge nestling my neck. I lie lengthways along a soft bolster, with one arm and leg over it. My husband is an alternative to the bolster - but he objects when I pummel him into the right shape, and he moves in the night! This position seems to balance my whole spine, head and weight. When I turn in the night, the bolster comes with me. If I add another soft pillow on top of the orthapaedic one, it is enough to throw me out. Try it with a couple of pillows lengthwise to see if it works for you.

Good luck!

Carol