For the last few weeks I've been dealing with this off-and-on stiff and painful neck. It started right about the time we went to see The Dark Knight, so at first I thought it was just from looking up at the big screen for so long. Then of course we had the Red Sox game, and then the Patriots game... more time spent in not-so-comfortable stadium seating. But for all the time I spent trying to rest my neck muscles, the pain just would not go away. I even wore a ThermaCare wrap on it for a whole day, and it did get better for a day or so, but then it got worse again. I just could not figure out what I was doing to aggravate it.
The other night I threw my Tempur-Pedic memory foam ergonomic contour pillow off the bed and instead slept on one of the cheap, cotton-filled pillows we put our decorative pillow shams on (actually, I think they were free with our mattress). When I woke up in the morning, sat up and rolled my head around to see how my neck felt, I heard angels sing! I promptly went out and bought myself a good ol' regular down alternative pillow at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
I don't know what changed or how long it's going to last. I've used contour pillows for years, because for a long time if I didn't use one I had this same kind of pain. There was one morning when the pain was so bad, I sat up in bed and immediately lost consciousness (fortunately I only fell back onto the bed, and came to a minute later cradled in Chris' arms). But apparently the positioning that type of pillow provides is no longer what I need. So if you're experiencing unexplained pain despite using all of the "right" furniture, equipment, and supports, you might actually need to downgrade. It just might be that what the experts say is best is not necessarily what your body needs.
![[photo of me]](/glasses144.jpg)
![[album thumbnail]](/photos/oregon2009/thumbnails/albumthumb.jpg)
![[album thumbnail]](/photos/halloween2008/thumbnails/albumthumb.jpg)
