It's not uncommon to have a stiff neck from time to time. However, if you're waking up with a stiff neck each and every day, then it's time for you to choose another pillow. Why? Because the pain in your neck is most likely caused by your pillow!

There are a couple of signs that tell you that your pillow isn't supporting your neck as it should:

- Your pillow looks stiff and flat
- Before you fall asleep every night, you're pounding to find a comfortable position
- As you sleep, you need to wake up and "fluff" and "plump" your pillow
- When you wake up your shoulders and neck ache
- You wake up with a slight headache
- You can't remember when you bought the pillow - it's that old!

So, eliminating neck pain means giving your neck and shoulders the support they need, so that you can sleep comfortable. For this, your best choice is an orthopedic pillow.

How orthopedic pillows make a huge difference

When it comes to replacing your old pillow, all you need to do is to go a department store and buy a new, standard one. However, this won't fix your problems. Orthopedic pillows are especially designed to help you sleep better and to offer your neck and shoulders the support they need.

On the market, today you'll find a great variety of orthopedic pillows. You should keep in mind that high-quality orthopedic pillows need to support your neck, cushion your head, and promote a healthy sleep posture.

Types of Orthopedic Pillows

These pillows have a unique design that helps them prevent and eliminate neck and shoulder pain. The most popular orthopedic pillows are contour shaped with rounded, raised edges. These are great at supporting the curve of the neck while you sleep - and this type of support is what helps alleviate neck pain in most people.

There are various materials used in orthopedic pillows, including memory foam, buckwheat hulls, air and water. When it comes to the most effective material for you, the choice is yours, and you might need to experiment with a couple of pillows before finding the right one for you.

Adjusting to an Orthopedic Pillow

Once you purchased an orthopedic pillow, don't toss your old pillow yet! You need to let your body adjust to it, and you should do this sleeping with the old and new one. At first, the new pillow might feel strange and uncomfortable. So, if you want to get a restful sleep, feel free to switch to the old pillow for a few hours each night. You'll experience better comfort and sounder sleep using your orthopedic pillow gradually. Once this happens, you can say goodbye to your old pillow and your neck pain, once and for all!