Degenerative Disc Disease can cause many difficulties in your daily life, as well as your work life, and even more serious difficulties when you try to sleep. Degenerative Disc Disease can be a major cause of sleeplessness and discomfort at bedtime.
So when is the last time you thought about your pillow? When it comes to Degenerative Disc Disease and other conditions like back pain, you usually focus most of your attention on your mattress.
But have you thought about how your pillow supports your neck, your back, your head, and, in turn, your knees and hips throughout the night? Your pillow has a big responsibility, and it can help to ease the intensity of Degenerative Disc Disease.
Degenerative Disc Disease Explained
Degenerative Disc Disease is a normal change that can happen in the Discs of your spine and may lead to pain. Your spinal Discs are shock absorbers between the vertebrae and bones of your spine. They help your back stay flexible and allow you to bend and twist easily.
However, as you get older, they may start to show signs of wear and tear, break down, and not work as well as they should.
However, with worn-out spinal discs, there may be some pain at some other stage.
- Causes – Did you know your spinal discs have a soft inner core and a tougher outer wall? As you age, the discs in your spine, which are mostly made of water, can lose water and get thinner. A flatter disc can’t absorb shock as well, and less water means less padding between the vertebrae and bones of your spine. Everyday movement and minor injuries over the years can cause tiny tears in the outer walls of your vertebrae, which can also contain nerves. Tearing in the nerves can be very painful. After the outer walls of the Discs in your spine start to break down, the soft core can push through the cracks. This can cause the discs to bulge, or even to slip out of place, which is called a herniated Disc.
- Symptoms – Degenerative disease can cause sharp, constant pain in your back and neck. How. However, the symptoms may depend on where the weak Discs are located. Common locations can include your lower back, buttocks, upper thighs, neck, and shoulders. The pain may be worse or better with certain movements, and certain sleeping positions may be more comfortable than others when you have Degenerative Disc Disease.
- Treatment – Your main goal with Degenerative Disc disease is to stop the pain and prevent more damage. You can use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, to help reduce inflammation and pain. You can also try physical therapy, as specific movements can help ease the pain and support your spine. A comfortable, supportive pillow can help you get a good night’s rest while supporting your spine and easing pain.
The Best Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease
When choosing a pillow for Degenerative Disc disease, you want one that properly supports and aligns your spine. Orthopedic pillows such as cervical pillows and contoured neck pillows support your neck, head, and shoulders and help align your spine. It would also help to choose a hypoallergenic pillow with the right loft and height for your sleeping position.
Back sleepers should generally look for a slightly thinner pillow, but one with some loft and a lift in the bottom third to support your neck—contoured Neck pillows are ideal for this sleeping position.
Side sleepers need a firm pillow that has a gusset to add strength and thickness. They need a more structured pad to help keep their spine aligned while they are sleeping on their side.
Stomach sleeping is not recommended if you have Degenerative Disc disease. It’s an unhealthy sleeping position. Sleeping on your stomach puts more pressure on your lumbar spine than any other sleeping position. If you sleep on your stomach, I recommend the thinnest pillow or no pillow at all.
Features of a Good Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease
- Type – For Degenerative Disc disease, I recommend an orthopedic-style pillow, such as a contoured or cervical pillow. Choose a pillow that properly supports your neck, head, and shoulders to help with spinal alignment. You will also need to choose a pillow according to your specific sleeping position.
- Cover – I always recommend breathable, hypoallergenic covers such as bamboo or cotton. Make sure the cover is removable so that you can wash it regularly.
- Fill – The best fill is either latex or memory foam, which is more moldable and adapts to your body’s shape. You can get either solid memory foam or latex, or a shredded memory foam or latex pillow.
- Sizes – Pillows do come in different sizes. You can choose a regular standard size, queen size, or king size.
Reviews: The Best Pillows for Degenerative Disc Disease
In our review section, we have some of the best available pillows for degenerative Disc disease;
1
- The Royal Therapy pillow is the ideal design for Degenerative Disc disease.
- The pillow has a premium memory foam fill and a firmer loft.
- It supports your neck and head to improve spinal alignment.
- This supportive therapeutic pillow features a three-layer design.
2
- The Tempur-Breeze is a comfortable cooling neck pillow.
- It is available in a medium-firm option for better support.
- The pillow supports your neck and spine.
- It features quality memory foam and breeze technology to help cool you down.
- It has a breathable, washable cover with a zip closure.
3
- The SKG Cervical Pillow supports your neck and spine when you have Degenerative Disc Disease.
- This cervical pillow has an ergonomic, contoured design for neck and shoulder pain.
- The pillow is soft and comfortable.
- It is ideal for all sleep positions.
4
- The Sutera Pillow is a contoured pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease.
- It has a memory foam fill and a removable, washable cover.
- The ergonomic shape fully supports your neck, shoulders, and spine.
- It also comes with a handy carry bag.
5
- The Home Cervical Pillow supports proper spinal alignment.
- It is an ergonomic cervical pillow for proper support.
- It features a memory foam fill and an orthopedic design.
- It suits all sleep positions.
6
- The Talatex Pillow supports your head and neck for full spinal support.
- It is ideal for degenerative diseases and is ergonomically designed.
- The pillow is soft and supportive for all sleep positions,
- It also has a more breathable design with perforated latex foam.
Index Table: Top Rated Pillows for Degenerative Disc Disease
| No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Therapy Queen - Contoured Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease |  |
| Royal Therapy | 98.3 |
| 2 | Tempur Pedic Breeze - Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease |  |
| Tempur Pedic | 98 |
| 3 | SKG Cervical - Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease |  |
| SKG | 97 |
| 4 | Sutera Orthopedic - Contoured Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease |  |
| Sutera | 977.7 |
| 5 | Homca Cervical - Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease |  |
| Homca | 97 |
| 6 | Talatex Premium - Latex Contoured Pillow for Degenerative Disc Disease |  |
| Talatex | 97.5 |
