Osteoarthritis in cervical spine, a right pain in the neck!

I have a cervical traction pillow from Amazon, I never thought it would help the pain in my neck and top of my back but it has! 😍

Thanks, Marydoll. I know what to ask Father Christmas for!

Thank you all for your encouraging comments. I was feeling quite depressed about it. Heat is definitely helping and I’m doing the exercises. It looks as though I’ll need to experiment with different pillows until I find what suits me.

I feel your pain. I have scoliosis, stenosis, osteoarthritis and sponylolisthesis in my in my lumbar and thoracic spine. Heat helps, as do exercises, but I think it's very imporatant to have a pillow that suits, I can't do with memory foam as I find them to solid but I use GX pillows these days. Extremely comfortable and supportive.

I bought a very expensive pillow feom Aeyla
And it’s really helped - called the 2 in 1
Not foam - quite thick and you just squish it to the support you need like a feather pillow but firmer
It’s firm but not hard
Worth the money

Mainly heat helps me. Exercises from Physiotherapist help a lot. Have a memory foam pillow that helps too.

Things I’ve found that help:
Exercises prescribed by NHS physio -‘motion is lotion’
Tai Chi for Arthritis by Dr Paul Lam
Getting some proper computer specs so I sit properly when I’m using computer or laptop
A special neck pillow from Dunelm. Called the Groove Pillow I think. It’s basically just a pillow with a horizontal groove in it, but since getting it I no longer wake up in pain.
A turmeric (anti-inflammatory) oil to massage into my neck or Voltarol gel, but since starting the exercises & doing them every day, I haven’t needed to use either of these or take any painkillers.

Despite being told that the exercises would only stop things getting worse, that they weren’t a cure, because the condition is due to age related degeneration etc etc, I have in fact got some mobility back in my neck, I don’t get so many scary resounding cracks, and now very little pain.

I found a long hot water bottle in Boots last year and it’s pure joy across my shoulders and neck

Exercises do help. Also keeping moving generally. I try to avoid pain killers but when it’s bad I use paracetamol x four times daily to get on top
Tiger balm good if like me anti inflammatories are a no

My shopping list is growing. The heated wrap looks brilliant, I’ll get some Tiger Balm and try a memory foam pillow. I’ve also looked up the exercises on Utube, all I have to do is remember to do them!

teabagwoman I feel your pain. Its horrible isn't it. Some good advice here. The best thing for me is my memory foam pillow which I can 'mould' round my . I p[lay golf so my neck gets lots of 'turning' exercises. Thank heaven for pregabalin and co-codamol. Means I can do most things I want to. I hope you find some comfort and relief from the pain and discomfort.

I back Sarnia on the neck exercises, I find them very helpful and generally find I don’t need paracetamol for the headaches when I do them.
I also find Tiger Balm ointment useful, Boots sell it. I can’t use ibuprofen.

I got it from QVC years ago. However I have found this:

www.qvcuk.com/cozee-home-ruched-faux-fur-velvetsoft-heated-snuggle-wrap.product.825206.html?srsltid=AfmBOop0Q5wf4xRVz3Kz1w8YT1GG6WDXwD0p5o9vns5ZNIJs0jXZ4j4e

I hope you get some relief. I have cervical spondylosis and unhealed vertebraic fractures, it is so cosy.

Sarnia I will check out the exercises on Utube, I rarely think to look there.

Marydoll, where did you get your heated cape from please? I’m using a microwaveable heat pack but a cape sounds wonderful.

As Marydoll suggests keeping warmth in the affected area helps. In addition to heat pads and hot water bottles, I also have an electric fleecy throw which has a thermostat control and wrapping myself up in that when my whole body aches is heaven. I also do some neck exercises because as an avid reader my head and neck don't move much when I am reading, doing jigsaws or watching TV (I am talking cold winter days and nights here) so they help to keep my head and neck more supple. You can find those on You Tube.

Microwave heat bags or a wraparound hot water bottle give me a measure of relief.
I also have a heated cape, which helps.