Help! At wits end - Pillows/mattress topper

[guessagain]

I’m at a loss, I’m really struggling with my neck and shoulders when I wake up in the mornings (and my back too). We gone through about 4 mattresses in as many years, memory foam & spring which is what we have now. I’m a side sleeper, but tend to switch sides a lot in night & I don’t get a full nights sleep, probably because I’m not comfy.

I use one pillow. Admittedly they are the usual bog standard firm budget ones from Asda or Argos. I’ve never splurged on expensive ones as I just think if they don’t help & Ive wasted all that money but I’m at wits end, waking up with my shoulders and neck in such pain it’s debilitating and then I have headache/migraine all day.

I’ve read some good things about Panda. If you have a Panda pillow or and Mattress topper, are they worth their money?

If you have any pillow or mattress topper (DH is adamant we’re not buying another mattress) that’s made a difference in comfort please can you recommend, I’m desperate!

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Inch thick mattress topper (£35 IIRC) and an IKEA shaped pillow (£19) sorted everything out for me.

Honestly budget supermarket pillows aren't going to cut it. I use Casper which are good.
Which mattress do you currently have ?

Currently have a spring mattress from Costco, their cheapest, after trying a memory foam one and coil spring one from IKEA, all left me with bad back. Beginning to think DH is right, doesn’t matter which mattress/pillow I have, I’ll always end up waking up with head/neck/shoulder pain :(

Groove Pillow is the best I’ve found so far as a fellow side sleeper.

You need to lie so your neck is in a straight line when you are on your side, not elevated.

After trying far too many pillows I bought a wool pillow with a zip so I could remove stuffing until I was at the right height - got DH to watch me lying on it so he could assess my neck was straight.

It has been a lifesaver.

Pillows and mattresses do make a difference but it's important to see if there are underlying causes for your pain. My neck pain needs careful placement of pillows but it's caused by muscle tension that builds up while working. I see a physio and do gentle mobilisation exercises before and after bed.

You need the right amount of pillows.
Personally, for me as a side sleeper, I need one old battered nearly flat one at the bottom, then a new fluffy but firm, one ontop.
DH sleeps on his back, and just has one new one.

A couple of thoughts.
First, maybe see a physio for some suggestions on what could make things better.
Second, when you can afford it, go snd try different mattresses somewhere like John Lewis and buy the best traditional mattress you can afford. I hate memory foam and toppers - but that’s probably just me…

You may need to do some exercise and stretches. That’s what sorted out my issue of waking up with a stiff lower back in the morning.

pilates for the core and stretching.

Thank you everyone, I will look into all suggestions.

It’s just got to to point where I dead going to bed!

Dread, not dead!

What do you do as a job and do you browse your phone a lot in the evenings?

I started waking up with bad shoulder pain. Switched to sleeping on two pillows. Felt weird at first but the pain cleared up within days.

Also, see a good physio

OP you might find the suggestions on this thread helpful:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4666071-to-think-i-shouldnt-have-to-pay-to-be-free-of-neck-pain-also-asking-for-helpful-pain-reducing-suggestions?reply=121131343

I have a fairly plump, firm pillow on the bottom. Then a memory foam pillow which has a sort of ledge that tucks into the neck and your rest your head on the lower bit at the back. I bought it from my chiropractor's practice. I'll try and find a picture ...

Cervical orthopedic neck pillow link It is Amazon but sure you can find elsewhere with a bit of looking.

Following this thread, it's very wearing waking up every morning (several times a night tbh) with back and neck discomfort.

I experienced this. Accidentally left the heating on one night, problem solved. Turn the bedroom radiator to halfway and leave the heating on 15°C, see if it makes a difference. Also, do you have painkillers? It might be you need some through the night to allow you to sleep, if you've a painful medical condition.

I have a silentnight memory foam pillow, it has a solid memory foam outer with shredded memory foam inside. The best mattress topper I have had was a 5cm memory foam one we used at our caravan, it changed sleeping on a lumpy uneven bed to sleeping on a cloud.

I had spent years being really uncomfortable, waking up with stiff neck etc and then I bought this pandalondon.com/product/bamboo-memory-foam-pillow/. It is absolutely fabulous and has completely revolutionised my sleep. If you are a member at Costco or know someone who is they are cheaper there. We also now have the mattress topper but that's much more recent and it was the pillow which made the biggest difference. I had tried a more shaped memory foam pillow previously which didn't really help.

Just an update -

I got the Panda Pillow www.costco.co.uk/Home-Kitchen/Bedding/Duvets-Pillows/Panda-Memory-Foam-Pillow-with-Bamboo-Cover/p/234529

had it about a week and have to say, it’s brilliant. It felt a bit odd when I laid my head down the first time as it’s so different to ‘normal’ pillow but it’s so comfortable. I haven’t woke up with any neck or shoulder pain. I really recommended it. It’s actually cheaper in store at Costco too, about £26. Thanks everyone for suggestions/replies.

I had terrible neck pain and after years of using two pillows started using one, the Emma pillow. I hate it, it's like a brick, but it stopped my neck pain immediately.

A 5 or 7 cm mattress topper will make huge difference. The White Company Feather and Down is bliss. I have just bought a similar one from Secret Linen Store as White Company was out of stock.