Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips neck pain relief

When I am having neck pain that tends to radiate into my head and shoulders, I have found that the quickest relief is achieved by using Theragesic muscle rub and laying flat on my back with a small pillow rolled up into a log placed under my neck. The pillow helps to relieve the pressure and the theragesic gives a good warming effect of a moist heating pad with out the discomfort that I get from using the heating pad on my neck.

I have also found that a messaging neck brace from time to time. The messaging neck braces can be found at most wal-mart stores. Another good muscle rub to use is Zostric but it has a bad side effect of causing a bad burning - pin prick feeling the next day which is very unbearable. Only relief from the second day burning is to scrub the area with cool soapy water when it happens. I use the zostric mostly for the tired leg / leg cramp feelings i get some times. It seems to help best for that where other creams do not help.

Just though I would give ya'll a few suggestions that you all probably already know.



Phill Lee

I have been using a shaped pillow for a couple years now and swear by it..... it's the Theraputca pillow made here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I'm trying to attach a file

Doug

wanna lift?

Wow Doug,

That pillow looks SUPERB! I will be super jealous of you tonight when I sleep on my boring old pillow

Take care!

********
Kristin

did it work?.... I'm looking for the brochure for it.... but it is available on Canadas shopping channel.... http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/ go to at home...bedroom.. cushions and pillows...click on pillows....and then theraputic pillow, if and when I find brochure I'll post it.

Doug

wanna lift?

Edited by Michelle in Md on 12/22/01 10:48 PM (server time).

wow did it ever work! I am looking up the pillow now. It appears to be something I just have got to have! Of course I have to wait a week before I can order one but it looks like the best pillow ever made for any of us suffering with A.S.
I can't wait. Thank you so much for sharing with us!!

oops did it again the above annomous was my reply. One of these days I will remember to log in first.


Phill Lee

Doug,
When you use this pillow, and sleep on your side, do you find it pushes your jaw out of alignment? I had one of those foam neck pillows, but as a side sleeper, it really did a number on my jaw. Laura

Laura.....I'm a side sleeper too....I start out on my back but end up on my side.....and I tried folding my pillow all kinds of ways....and once I have it the way I wanted it invariably the pillow springs apart while I sleep.....I came up with a way to make my pillow more comfortable for me to sleep with.......first I fold my pillow in half the long way........then I take a piece of velcro tape with loops on one side and the hooks on the other (I got it at Home Depot for around $1.95 if I remember correctly) and wrap it around one end of the pillow.......then I wrap another piece of velcro tape around the other end of the pillow.....you end up with something that looks like a bowtie but instead of being gather in the middle it is gathered at one end and then at the other end with sort of a bowl in between the tapes....then I put my ear in the bowl's depression.....with one edge of the bowl supporting my neck and one edge supporting my head just above my ear.... I find it comfortable to sleep with ......and because of the velcro straps it is easy to adjust the bowtie pillow until it is confortable for my head......I hope that my description has been clear and that you find this idea helpful.......a picture to show the finished pillow would probably be useful but Santa didn't bring me a scanner......maybe it is still on the way....LOL

Radioman.

Radioman,
Hi! Thanks for the response, but I need a visual!! I am currently using a buckwheat pillow, and for the most part it conforms to where I want it, and usually stays put. It's hard and crunchy, but has been the best thing I've tried so far.
Have you registered? DO IT!! Laura

I've been using 1 pillow and a throw pillow for a while. The therapeutica pillow that Doug is referring to looks awesome. The link he gave (theshoppingchannel.com) is the cheapest I've seen it after a little searching. Prices have ranged from $49.95 to $79.95. I'm a little hesitant to spend $50 on a pillow, but maybe it's worth it. Doug said it was, so I'm going to give it a try. I'll let you know.