Neck arthritis: Which bed pillow is the best? (pain, muscle, shoulders)

[AZgarden]

So I just realized the cause of my headaches and neck pain is the pillow I sleep on at night ! Had no idea this could cause such misery. Now I am researching those orthopedic pillows and finding they are pretty expensive. Has anyone found a pillow that is comfortable and keeps your neck in the right position at night? Before I invest in something, I would like to know they really work. TIA

[Seguinite]

Best pillow I ever had was a Tempurpedic neck pillow. I didn't buy it, and I won't spend that much on a new one, but it was the best.

[leastprime]

I use a multi-contoured. Something like (i forgot the brand I bought an forgot the cost), ZAMAT butterfly memory foam pillow. There are several brands, no idea which will work.
YHMV

[tickyul]

Maybe either a very low profile pillow that just does enough to provide adequate
neck-support, or possibly no pillow at all.

I took the cover off my pillow and it mushes-down a lot better, my neck is
less stiff when I use it.

[AZgarden]

OK, so I bought the Zamat queen pillow-soft on Amazon and it arrives tomorrow. Cost was just $47. Will let you know how it works for me.

[lunetunelover]

For me it's either no pillow or a small throw blanket folded up.

[fresnochili]

It's hard finding the right pillow. Everyone's neck pain is different.
The one I'm currently using is very flat. Helps keep my posture straight also.

Sometimes, I'll roll up a towel, like a hand towel, and place it under my neck while laying on my pillow.
It eases a lot of the tension and gives your neck support.

Good luck!

[movinon]

A very thin pillow works the best for me. I'm usually a side sleeper but if I do sleep on my back, or even rest that way, I'll stuff a small pillow, like a rectangular travel pillow, or a rolled up towel under my neck on each side to keep my neck straighter. If I let my head and neck fall to the side more than a couple of inches I get terrible muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders - doing that helps a lot.

I was in a severe traffic accident many years ago and the consequences of the related whiplash will be with me forever, unfortunately.

[CA4Now]

I was told that reading in bed, using regular pillows, was terrible for one's neck, and I'd been doing it for years. I now use one of those triangle wedge pillows--you can find them on Amazon--and it makes an enormous difference. (FTR, these are not for sleeping.)

[AZgarden]

I gave up on the Zamat pillow. It just didn't work for me. I am now trying the usual 2 hump type pillow, in the soft mode. But I now have the flu/Rsv thing, so really nothing works at this time. I also read in bed, which I need to quit.