ETA: Didn't answer your question - yes, I often had morning neck pain.

You could have some arthritis in your neck. I use an enVy pillow. Best thing I ever bought for my neck. I am also a side sleeper, but can sleep on my back if really tired on this pillow. Another thing that helps my neck is a the smallest Chirp wheel. If it's bothering me, I get on the floor and place it behind my neck, resting on the wheel for 5-10 minutes. A good massage therapist could also help you.

We have an adjustable bed (regular mattress with adjustable base), and head or foot of bed can be raised. There are also those foam wedge things that would elevate your head. I know they are recommended for people with GERD. With one of those you wouldn't be fighting your pillows. You might could use one pillow at top???

I was also going to suggest massage therapist, but you might need to do it long-term if this is a continuing problem. I had an issues with one shoulder several years ago and a massage therapist really helped me through it. It would beat pain pills and muscle relaxers.

I'm going to look at the enVy pillow and see if it would help. No massage therapists nearby, and not interested in a chiropractor.

I didn't think about arthritis, I do have Osteoarthritis though, mostly in my thumbs.

Tina, a few years ago I bought DH a wedge pillow and I think I got a size ten times too big. lol. But a smaller one would be great! Never thought about getting a different one.

Ibuprophen does a great job except I'm not supposed to take it anymore because they caused a stomach ulcer the time I sprained my neck. But I can handle a couple on a very full stomach. I may take some tonight while eating my daily avocado. :)

Allison, which pillow do you use to sleep on your side? I'm looking at Envy right now and they look uncomfortable.

I've had an issue with my neck and pillows for at least forty years. Sleeping on the wrong pillow would always result in a headache, or neck pain or both. So bad that I always traveled with my fullsize pillow, or I knew I wouldn't sleep well. About ten years ago, I bought a feather pillow from IKEA, and it has been the best pillow I've used. I sleep perfectly on it. Mostly on my side, but sometimes on my stomach. Because the feathers are not one big piece of something, I can bunch up the pillow or push the feathers to the sides to flatten it, so I can always get it just right. It's also cooler to sleep on than I've experienced previously. I bought it in the local IKEA store, but I think it's this pillow: IKEA Pillow

I started out with the enVy Copper + Silk, but bought the enVy Pillow + Silk Pillowcase recently since I didn't need a new copper cover. I also have the travel pillow. It took a couple of nights to get used to it, but I have been using awhile now (over 2yrs) and they work for me.. They have a 90 Day pillow promise return policy.

I am also a side sleeper, I used to get frequent neck pain, which would result in several days of inability to turn head without agony. Several years ago i bought a neck pillow, and I havent had an issue since.

This is very similar to what I have https://www.macys.com/shop/product/sensorpedic-luxury-extraordinaire-contour-memory-foam-bed-pillow?ID=11044415&pla_country=US&CAGPSPN=pla&cm_mmc=Google_SH_PLA_Bed_Bath--GS_Bed_Bath_PLA_Restructure_Sensorpedic--473989347341--pg1052008708_t_kclickid_de4b87e8-8298-4869-8350-3e0e3cd7821c_KID_EMPTY_11411366300_110056517645_473989347341_pla-1011175520124_96675807051USA__t_KID&trackingid=509x1052008708&m_sc=sem&m_sb=Google&m_tp=PLA&m_ac=Google_SH_PLA_Bed_Bath&m_ag=Sensorpedic&m_cn=GS_Bed_Bath_PLA_Restructure&m_pi=go_cmp-11411366300_adg-110056517645_ad-473989347341_pla-1011175520124_dev-t_ext-_prd-96675807051USA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwssyJBhDXARIsAK98ITSin_ZxyUEHriLx72fF-NRZNOW_NC2gqVLC398ARdopmXd3Cy9PaIcaAtsDEALw_wcB

I had one of those pillows before, @localeater . It seemed to help briefly. I've also tried the pillows with the well in the center.

Wow - I don't think I'd heard of a sprained neck before!

I have neck pain often and for years now. FWIW, mine mostly originates in my lower back and I do a twisting stretch to 'pop' it which relieves the pain almost immediately.

I do find that when I do yoga stretches, abdominal exercises and walk regularly, I have much less pain, as that strengthens & supports my lower back.

I also get a stiff neck from reading in bed - also when I'm stressed (which is often these days), I get a lot of tension that builds up and gives me pain in my trapezius muscles.

I use medium firm down pillows and that's helped a lot, since they mold to my head and neck and don't create as much resistance and pressure as foam or fiber pillows do. I sleep on my sides.

Lastly, the ibuprofen I have (200 mg) has a dosage of 1 pill, and 2 are only recommended when 1 isn't working. I always take just 1.

While getting the right pillow will help, I would also suggest doing daily neck stretches to maintain flexibility. DH had terrible neck spasms that were horribly painful and he couldn't move his head at all, pain down into his shoulders and he was miserable.

We started him on neck stretches. He does them daily. He's not had the severe spasms any more.

• Sit up straight, shoulders down and relaxed and turn your head to the right and hold it for 30 seconds, repeat on the left side.
• Drop your ear to right shoulder and hold for 30 seconds, repeat on left side.
• Drop your ear to the right and then raise your chin to look up, hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the left side.
• Drop your head down and turn to look at your right armpit, hold for 30 seconds and repeat on left side.

Don't bounce or pulse or anything, simply hold. As you are holding, you may feel your muscles ease a little and be able to turn your head a little more.

If that set doesn't work for you, there are other videos on line done by professional PTs demonstrating their versions of essentially the same thing.

I have a herniated c5/6 and some nerve damage from a car accident in the late 80's. I have cancelled surgery several times because I'm a chicken. So, yes, I do have a pain in the neck. I have all the "stuff" electronic stimulation gadget, hot and cold pads, light thingies, drugs and - best but not least - a neck traction unit that is awesome. I've gone through more pillows than I know what to do with, but here's my advice.

Pay attention to how you're laying in bed. Especially if you sleep on your side. The type of pillow you need will be dependent on the softness of your sleeping surface. The most important thing is to keep your neck straight. If your sleeping position has your neck tilting up or down while sleeping on your side, it's going to hurt the next day.

We don't have a guest bed, so sometimes I sleep on the couch. I have a totally different pillow because the sleeping surface is hard compared to my bed. If I try and use that one on the bed, I hurt the next day.

So try what you currently have and ask DH to help you assess how straight your neck is. Then determine where you need extra support to keep it straight. Then ask about and test pillows.

@Annie Deighnaugh your exercises are spot on! When I had my shoulder problem (which caused neck pain), I was sent to PT. A few treatments there and exercises to do at home. The ones you listed were among the ones given me. They gave me the name of a massage therapist who is wonderful! I haven't seen her in a long time; but if I get a bad ache, etc. I'll have a session or two with her to work the kinks out.

1929Spanish, I agree. I used to travel a lot on business and the worst were hotels that had only super plush pillows that held my head up so high my neck would kill me. I often would end up using a towel out of the bath to make a neck roll and sleep with that instead. So much better!

Annie, my DH and O do that as well!

Side sleeper here. I had a thick down pillow for over 10 years that was better than any orthopedic pillow I tried (and I tried many). but when it finally compacted too much, I couldn't bring myself to buy any more down. Now I have a Coop adjustable pillow and I love it. You can shape it and it won't collapse on you in the night. You can add/remove material until it's exactly the right thickness (and just keep the filler in case you need a refill a few years later).

Two things though:

1. you have to air it out for a week. After that, you can still faintly smell it for about two more weeks -- but it's very subtle. I'm super sensitive and it was fine. They swear up and down that the materials are safe and I trust it.

2. it gets a little warm, so I use this cooling cover, which works really great! but Coop now offers a version with cooling gel in the pieces. also, that one has a gusseted shape, a huge bonus.

My neck issues come from an old injury, but it is just as 1929Spanish said - I needed a pillow to keep my neck and head in straight alignment, along with PT prescribe exercises to strength my postural muscles (that also support the head and neck, and keep all in alignment.)

I bought many pillows - all either too thick or too thin, or right until halfway through the night - but finally found that to get something that fits me, I had to make it myself. Solution was 2 big fluffy towels, folded to the just right thickness. They are put in a smallish zipped cover and need to be fluffed and refolded about once a week- when I change the sheets. They don't collapse or sink through the night like so many pillows do.

The PTs also strongly recommended to use no pillow at all if sleeping on my back. (they also recommended that I learn to always sleep on my back.)

A really good source for neck pain exercises on the internet is "Bob and Brad" on youtube. They have several videos on the topic, and they show most of the same exercises that my PT had me do - and the exercises helped a great deal.

Best, $10 for a pillow? Amazing. Tell me, can you sleep laying that flat? I may order the queen high. At that price I may get two. lol I do have to stack my pillows.

Thanks Allison! I'm leary about paying high dollar for a pillow in case I don't like it.

Local, I need to look on youtube and find out how one can sleep on their side using a neck pillow. Looks awfully uncomfortable to me. lol

Annie, I could do it all except drop my ear to the shoulder. All the movement was tense but I could do it. I'll try to make a habit of it. After I do an exercise I have to slowly lift my head and turn it back to normal position or something bad will happen.

I think it's my pillows. Last night I spent a good deal of time rearranging them and woke up feeling good, but stil stiff.

Is it just me or have you all noticed how hard it is to get a pillow case on a pillow because they are so tight? I used to enjoy changing pillow cases, now I dread it.

Oakley, do listen to your body...that's the first step to getting better!

Oakley, yes I can sleep laying flat -I just don't tend to sleep that way.

I'm leary about paying high dollar for a pillow in case I don't like it.

a lot of the premium brands offer long trial periods and can be returned. I would not cheap out on a pillow.

I've been fine until recently with my mid-priced pillows. About 25 years ago I did splurge on a $100 pillow which was a lot of money then. Let's just say I lucked out. It lasted around 15 years and the down had sunk but I could shape it any way I wanted. One night I woke up to a horrid stink. It was my pillow. lol But back then there weren't so many choices as there are now. That's why I've been indecisive ordering one.

Last night I slept on a different pillow and there was no neck pain at all. I threw my head pillow away along with another one and ordered two incredibly cheap pillows. Hey, if they last a year, then no big deal. lol

If they cause pain, I'll put them in the guest room. :)

I have the natural Talalay latex shredded foam pillow from savvyrest.com. It is not inexpensive, but well worth the money. Because it is shredded, you can make it as plump (or not) as you desire. It comes very full and I took quite a bit out of mine; my Dh kept his much plumper. We have had these for probably ten years and we did get the wool protective case. You can call and talk to a person at the company if you want. I see they have a 20 % off code for Labor Day. Good luck with your search!

Another Coop pillow lover, I was having neck pain until I purchased this pillow. Believe it was the 6th pillow I tried. It is a bit messy, as you remove or add stuffing until you get your pillow just right. It took me 3 tries for it to be perfect. Bought a second Coop pillow for our new desert place. That said I am curious about the Envy pillow with the antii-aging shape.

I'm glad some of you weighed in on the Coop pillow. I have it and another brand (can't remember at the moment) bookmarked. I need to purchase new bed pillows and I am one who does not like a big, fat pillow. The Mr. likes one thicker than mine. The adjustable pillows sound just the thing! I think I'll purchase the Coop ones.

My comment isn't about pillows but for you side sleepers it's about how you position your head/face. I am by no means an expert but I find if I pay attention to how I'm positioning my face (the side of it, I guess) on the pillow will dictate how things feel. I try to keep it as natural as possible between my shoulders so I keep my chin neutral and not facing down or jutting out, and I keep my nose neutral as well so that it isn't pointing up or off to either side.

I just find that helps to keep the strain off my neck.

Rather like paying attention to posture and head positioning when driving so as to keep the strain off your neck and shoulders.

Some good tips here:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/say-good-night-to-neck-pain

Since you had an MRI diagnosed sprain (vs. strain), you may want to see a physical therapist (and your physician) for guidance.