Home › Community Advice Posted in: Chronic pain, Degenerative disc disease, Neck pain, and Spondylolisthesis. C4,C5,C6 Fusion/Discectomy Surgery - HELP! I'm scheduled for this surgery April 2. I've seen an Orthopedic Surgeon and a Neurosurgeon - both agree that this surgery is necessary. I have not been in an accident - there was nothing obvious to cause this; it's clear from X-ray and MRI that C5 is collapsed, C4 through C1 completely straight. I have numb fingers and numbness and tingling down my arm, but no arm pain. Neither doctor has said that the surgery will completely remedy the pain; they have agreed that arm and finger numbness will go away. If I was just dealing with numbness, I wouldn't have this surgery. So I am looking for information/feedback from others who have had similar symptoms and the surgery - to hear about outcomes and what recovery looked/felt like. Login or register to reply to this discussion. Sign Up for FREE to spineadvisor, SpineUniverse's monthly eNewsletter
If you have a bulging disc in your neck, you know simple tasks like turning your head can cause considerable pain. Sleeping causes even more issues because you have to toss and turn to find the best position to sleep pain-free. The right pillow can help alleviate pain and allow you to get the rest you need. Here we’ll review some of the best pillows for bulging discs in your neck. Pillow Quality Price RatingIso-Pedic Soft Memory Foam Pillow A $$$ Snuggle-Pedic Cool Flow Shredded Pillow A- $$$$ Coop Home Goods Shredded Foam Pillow A $$$$ Smarter Rest Memory Foam Contour Pillow A $$$ Desk Jockey Therapeutic Grade Neck Pillow B+ $$$ Neck Here Support Pillow B+$$ Your neck and spine are made up of bones called vertebrae. These bones are round and stacked right on top of each other. In between these bones you have discs that are composed of two layers of cartilage. There is a tough outer layer and soft inner layer that help cushion your vertebrae as you move and twist.
A bulging disc happens when the cartilage between your vertebrae bulges out. Nothing is ruptured or broken, but the disc is no longer flush with the bone and causes a protuberance. Occasionally a bulging disc doesn’t cause any pain or problems, but it can make your neck more vulnerable to injury.A bulging disc can also be painful if it is not properly protected and taken care of, which is why it’s important to choose the right pillow to sleep on.There are three important factors you should take into account when you are choosing the best pillow for a bulging disc in your neck.We all have different sleep positions and you will have to choose a pillow that supports your sleep position as well as protects and cushions your neck.● Side Sleeper- This position will need a firmer pillow that will help cushion your neck in the area between your chin and shoulder.● Back Sleeper- This position requires a thinner pillow so that your head isn’t placed at an uncomfortable angle.● Stomach Sleeper- This position isn’t recommended for those who have a bulging
disc because it can cause more pain issues, but if you have to sleep on your stomach you will need an extremely thin pillow.You need to find the right size pillow for your bed and your body. If you are larger and have broader shoulders or longer neck you will need to find a larger pillow. Same goes if you are smaller, you will need to adjust the size of your pillow to your frame.A bulging disc in your neck will require you to look for a little bit different design of pillow. A pillow that has extra neck support or a contour will help cushion your neck and prevent any further damage to your discs. The material that your pillow is made of will also affect your pillow choice. This is mostly going to depend on your personal preference and what feels most comfortable for your neck. Besides allowing you to sleep pain-free, there are a few more benefits that the right pillow can provide when it comes to dealing with a bulging disc.A good neck pillow will help keep your neck and spine in alignment by supporting the natural curve in the back of your neck.
Good spinal alignment, while you’re sleeping, can prevent further damage to a bulging disc and stop more pain from occurring.A bulging disc can create a vulnerable spot in your neck. You don’t want to hurt the area even more and cause more severe or complicated problems. While a good pillow will keep you in alignment, it will also give you extra support where you need it most.The pressure from the extra support of a neck pillow can keep a bulging disc from further slipping out between the vertebrae. It might also provide pain relief by pushing back against the disc and allow you to get better sleep at night. These types of pillows will also protect your neck while you sleep. Whether that’s by preventing you from moving in a way that could cause pain or more damage or by keeping you in a spot for the best alignment. When you’re sleeping, you aren’t able to protect your neck yourself so you want to choose a pillow that will be able to do that for you.What your pillow is made of will contribute a lot to the protection of your neck and your ability to sleep comfortably.
You can pick from a variety of different pillow materials and each one has their own pros and cons.This material is a very popular choice for pillows and mattresses. Memory foam has the unique ability to mold to your unique contours. This allows memory foam to be highly supportive as well as relieve pressure points that other material might cause.Memory foam works well in pillows for bulging discs because it will mold around the sensitive area and keep it protected and comfortable. Memory foam will also be a little more expensive than other materials, but it will last a longer time.If you don’t want to spend as much money on a memory foam pillow, you can get one that has a poly-fiber filling. These pillows can still be comfortable and provide good support if they have enough filling. A poly-fiber pillow might not contour to your neck and body, but if that isn’t as important to you these kinds of pillows will work just as well.Because they are a little less expensive, make sure you are still getting a quality product.
You don’t want to buy a very cheap pillow that is going to break down quickly or even worse cause you more neck pain.Pillow Quality Price RatingIso-Pedic Soft Memory Foam Pillow A $$$ This neck support pillow is not a full pillow, but it is able to be added to any pillow that you might already have. The Neck Hero is a poly-fiber filled roll that comes with attachable clips that allow it to attach to virtually any fabric. It also travels well and it will convert any pillow into a neck support pillow.The clips allow you to adjust the roll to whatever position you need to feel comfortable. The Neck Hero also has a 100% cotton pillowcase that is machine washable as well as its own travel case. You get a 14-day trial period to see if this pillow will work for you and if it doesn’t they will refund your purchase.This is a great option if you don’t have the budget for a full pillow but still need the benefits of a neck support pillow.The Desk Jockey neck support cushion is made of high-quality memory foam and can be used many different ways.
It has a strap on the back so it can be used while traveling in the car or on a plane. It is also great for sleeping at night because it will cradle your head and neck without any pressure or pain.It has a velour cover that is removable and can be machine-washed. It is small enough to fit in a suitcase or carry-on bag, but still large enough to provide adequate support and pain relief. It is highly durable and Desk Jockey offers a 100% money back guarantee. If you don’t like the pillow or it breaks down, you can send it back for a full refund.This is a good choice if you are a frequent traveler and need to protect your neck.This pillow is a good example of a contour design pillow that is made to specifically support your neck and head while you sleep. The Smarter Rest pillow is made out of German memory foam with a unique contour that is made to support the natural curve in your neck and cradle your head. This pillow is also designed to keep air moving through the pillow to keep you cool at night.
It has a removable cover with a concealed zipper so that you won’t be irritated by it while you’re sleeping. The contour will also help to relax your neck muscles, increase circulation, and ease your pain while you sleep. Smarter Rest comes with a no hassle money back guarantee, so if you don’t like the pillow you can get a full refund.This pillow is made with CertiPUR-US shredded memory foam. The shredded memory foam is tiny pieces of traditional memory foam used all at once to help promote airflow and keep the surface of the pillow cooler. It also has a bamboo fiber pillow cover that is removable and washable.The bamboo fiber cover is also hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, and antimicrobial which makes this pillow great for allergy sufferers. The shredded memory foam also allows you to adjust the support of the pillow to where you need it most. So if you’re trying to keep your neck stable, you can adjust the pillow to be more supportive there.You can choose between two sizes, queen and king, to fit your needs.