Best Pillow For Shoulder Pain

Our top rated picks for shoulder pain come from a variety of styles that provide construction specific to alleviating shoulder pain, but also from reviews related to this as well. Remember, no pillow is a one size fits all, and remember to provide your own needs and preferences into your decision making.

Our Top Pillows for Shoulder Pain

Best Pillow For Shoulder Pain Buyers Guide

Whether you are recovering from a shoulder injury, or have a more chronic issue, shoulder pain can make it extremely difficult to get comfort bale through the night- especially if you are a side sleeper. When shoulder pain is present, it is important to address the source to alleviate the issue in order to provide you a more comfortable sleep.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

There are dozens of reasons why your shoulder may be causing you pain. Common injuries included a compromised or torn rotator cuff, dislocation, a broken collarbone, or issues with your shoulder blade. The many ligaments and other soft tissues surrounding this area can create quite a bit of discomfort until properly healed.

Tendonitis and a frozen shoulder can be caused by quite a few reasons, injury and use included, but also can worsen due to poor body circulation or even diabetes. Although this can be addressed through therapy and surgery, it is often a long recovery time.

Disease can also be a leading cause of shoulder pain, the most common being arthritis. Although arthritis can affect multiple areas of the body, or be more localized, it is a chronic condition that needs to be addressed by your healthcare provider. There are many ways to help alleviate the worst of your symptoms, but you can aide in that relief through your choice of bedding by allowing your body to rest and heal each night.

Head and Neck Alignment

First and foremost, you should always address your spinal alignment as you sleep. You need to choose not only the best mattress for your sleep position, but also the best pillow to specifically address cervical alignment. Providing this support helps ensure your body is able to truly rest as blood pressure will drop, body temperature will drop, and an increase in circulation will occur. These are all things your body needs to heal, which is especially important if you are suffering from any sort of painful affliction.

Pillows can also be helpful in other areas of your body, especially if you are attempting to address a localized pain. Taking the pressure off this area may force you to shift from your most comfortable position, and require you to provide a more full body support. Pillows under the hips, legs, neck, and along the back can all provide the support you may need.

Sleep Position and Pillow Comfort

Addressing spinal support is very much under your control. You should choose a pillow that allows for the best positioning for your choice of sleep position that you need to support. When taking into account shoulder pain, look for a pillow that is specific to addressing the strain your back, neck, and shoulder may be experiencing. No pillow is a true one size fits all, so be sure to consider all your variables, and take some time researching pillow review and ratings to determine which are your best choices.

Back Sleep Position Needs

Back sleepers need a thin pillow for head and spine alignment, but also one that provides neck support. When addressing shoulder pain, look for one that creates specific alleviation of tension along the back of the neck and upper back to allow those muscles, ligaments, and tendons of your shoulder to relax.

Stomach Sleep Position Needs

Stomach sleepers often place undue stress upon their back and shoulders due to a compromise of the spine when the head is turned to the side. Although they require a thin, almost non-existent pillow, a better position may be needed for the time it takes for the shoulder to heal. This can create added stress to shoulder issues, and body pillows, or pillows that allow the support of a better position can keep from stressing the shoulder area.

Side Sleep Position Needs

Side sleepers need to provide height for their head to stay level between their shoulders, and also the support for under their neck. Unfortunately, depending on the side you sleep on, you may also be creating further pressure against your painful shoulder. Look for supportive pillows, even contoured ones, that removes pressure and helps with support.

What to Consider When Choosing a Pillow for Shoulder Pain

The above information should be taken into consideration when searching for the best pillow to help alleviate your discomfort. But what it truly comes down to is what you are personally comfortable with. Obviously spinal alignment should be your main consideration, but coming in close second is the question of which pillow will best support your shoulder pain?

What is your sleep position?
As described, this is important, and it cannot be stressed enough. If you do not support your spine, you will compromise your sleep, and in turn delay your healing. For chronic pain issues, a lack of sleep can actually make you be more sensitive to the discomfort, creating a situation that does not allow you to cope well with what you are experiencing.

Do you have chronic or acute pain?
Chronic pain sufferers need to address long term pain management rather than a temporary solution to recovery. Those with a temporary need may want to focus more on pillow products that can be useful for more than just one focus.

Do you suffer from arthritis or other disabilities?
If your pain is chronic, and caused by an underlying disease or disability, you should always be in consultation with a doctor over what needs you have. But you can help aide in your relief through the use of proper sleep products.

Are you recovering from an injury?
Injury recovery should also be addressed by your doctor and/or therapist, as what is best to help stabilize and support your shoulder area. Many times an injury or recovery creates an uncomfortable sleeping experience and it may take some time to find what works best for you. Be sure to address your comfort overall as well as shoulder support so you don’t find yourself moving through the night which may create further injury or stress.

Conclusion

Your choice of pillow to help alleviate shoulder pain is going to be very personal to your sleep position and personal preferences. Be sure to take into account spinal alignment and support, as well as what shoulder relief you need. The above pillows allow for various comfort positions pertaining to various sleep preferences. If you have any questions about any of them, please let us know in the comments below! If you have found shoulder pain relief in a manner we haven’t reviewed, we’d love to hear about that as well.