Another Way to Use the Arc4life Cervical Traction Pillow for Neck Pain Relief...

Over the last 10+ years, the arc4life traction pillow has worked for many patients who suffer from neck pain, stiff neck, degeneration in the neck and other painful neck conditions. The versatility of the neck pillow allows users to use the pillow in two ways- one for neck support, the other for a gentle neck stretch. Typically patients sleep on the pillow at night, either on their side or on their backs.

What happens if you have tried to lie on the pillow at night, and you are in too much pain? For example, you have a pinched nerve in the neck and have been diagnosed with a disc bulge at Level C3-4. Today I want to talk about how you can use the arc4life traction pillow for therapeutic benefit.

Simply lay on the traction V Side of the Pillow for 20 minutes

To help your neck get used to this arc4life traction pillow, start by simply laying on the pillow, specifically on the traction V Side. Lay on your back on your bed, or any comfortable stable location. Place a knee elevator under your knees so that you are more comfortable. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Just Relax in this position for the full 10 minutes. Over the next few days work yourself up to 20 minutes.  In this way, you are opening up the spaces between the bones, opening up the disc spaces and allowing the nerves to heal. This can provide a lot of relief for neck pain, as well as numbness and tingling. This will help your neck muscles get used to sleeping on a contoured neck pillow.

Additional Reading Resources:

• What does a neck herniation feel like?
• Frequently asked questions about the traction V Pillow
• Neck Pain That You Get from a Radiculopathy at C5, C6, C7 or C8
• Which Arc4life Pillow Should I buy? Med or Large, Regular or Firm Support?
• Getting into a comfortable position for sleeping at night time

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

Why Does the Arc4life Neck Traction Pillow Work so Well?

There are two big components to the arc4life cervical traction neck pillow. The first one is the neck roll. This helps to improve ones cervical curvature while back sleeping. On your side the pillow keeps your head level, in other words, keeps your spine straight when looking at it from the front or back. When viewing the neck spine from the side you have the perfect c curve.

Keeping a c curvature in the neck or cervical spine is important. This keeps pressure off of nerves. You may think to yourself, "I have no pain, My spine is great.". However, this isnt necessarily true. Only a small percentage of nerves actually detect pain. With millions of nerve impulses every minute you better believe that nerves control other things. The nervous system is our master control system, and we need to keep it free from interference.

This brings to the next big component of the traction pillow - the "V" in the center of the pillow. This opens up the nerve holes on each side of the spine to free up the nerves. The c curve only only opens up the holes or the intervertebral foramen, but allows the spine to function at its best. If the spine can function at its best, so can the nerves, and so can your body.

Additional Resources:

• The Arc4life Pillow comes in a large size and an extra firm support level
• How to Use the Traction Side of the Arc4life Pillow for Maximum Pain Relief and Better Sleep
• The Top 10 Factors to Consider when choosing a neck pillow
• The New pillow Pedic at the Neck Pain Relief Shop
• Herniated Disc In the Neck - Treatment options

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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Is it Normal For there To Be An Adjustment Period With Using a New Cervical Pillow?

Using a new pillow at night?

Is is normal for there to be an adjustment period for using a new neck pillow? I recently received this question from a customer who had ordered the tri core orthopedic neck pillow. The short answer is YES. This is normal. When you use a new pillow, you are engaging different muscles for sleeping both on your back and on your side. Different neck muscles that you are not used to using. So just like exercising for the first time, your neck may be sore.

For anyone who experiences chronic neck pain, has a lot of sensitivity in their neck, or has other symptoms associated with neck pain such as numbness and tingling or shooting pains, then Yes, there can be an adjustment period with using a new pillow. Sometimes it can take up to two weeks to get used to a new pillow. Sometimes longer. For some lucky people there is no adjustment period.

Usually a new pillow has cervical rolls on it that help to align the cervical spine. These special pillows are better to use then your average fluffy pillow you would buy at the local department store. The main reason is that it aligns your neck spine while you sleep. With long time use, this will help you maintain good spinal alignment and prevent neck pain and stiff neck.

If you do have neck pain or a lot of sensitivity in your neck, then just use your neck pillow for a small amount of time to start. For example, lets say you purchased a basic cervical support pillow because you have occasional neck pain. Here is how you would start getting used to your pillow: Start by sleeping on your pillow for 20-25 minutes and then use the regular pillow that you have been using. The next night, sleep on your new support pillow for a few minutes longer, maybe up to 30 minutes. The next night, try 40 minutes. This process can help you get accustomed to a new orthopedic pillow.

Also, if you do wake up with pain, here are some things you can do to ease the neck pain: take a hot shower in the morning, and do some gentle neck stretches while in the shower. Also during the day, use a hot pack with or without a tens unit for 10-15 minutes.

If you recently purchased a new neck pillow and have any questions on how to use it, send us an email.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Neck Pillows for Neck Pain
• Neck Exercises
• Are You Waking Up with A Stiff Neck? Natural Treatments to Get Rid of the Neck Pain ...
• Pinched nerve in the neck
• Choose the Best Neck Pillow for Preventing Neck Pain

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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Do you take care of yourself as good as you could?...

We’ve talked in the past about the things you must do to improve and maintain your health. You must eat right, exercise, get proper rest, manage stress, and maintain your spine and nervous system.

If you sleep with a neck pillow you cover two out of the five. You can improve and maintain your spine as well as get a good night’s sleep.

The body does a lot of its maintenance and repair when it’s at rest WHEN YOU GO TO BED! A neck pillow has a neck roll that helps preserve and improve the natural C-curve of the neck. Your brain is the main control center and off of that stems the spinal cord and then off of that comes the nerves. You were created with curves in the spine that keep the cord relaxed and allow for the best flow of nervous system messages. Oh yeah, your brain and spinal cord are protected by bone, that’s how important they are! Just using a neck pillow like the Cervical Linear Traction Pillow will automatically improve your health.

Additional Reading Resources:

• The Arc4life Cervical Traction Neck Pillow
• Understanding the Bed Wedge's Multiple Uses
• Head Retraction Exercises for Forward Head Posture
• Proper Neck Alignment - What is the normal and abnormal for a neck curve?
• Top 3 Tips for Chronic Neck Pain Sufferers

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

Is the Arc4life Traction Pillow Better for Side or Back Sleepers?

The great news is that the traction neck pillow is made for both side and back sleepers. Over the years through my own experimentation and from feedback from patients and arc4life customers I have come up with a few conclusions about how to best use this neck pillow. Keep in mind, this is a neck pillow- it is not end all and the be all for everyone. It works for some people differently- these are just a few of my own observations:

• To got the maximum benefit from the traction V Part of the pillow, sleep on your back
  
• For mainly side sleepers, it is more comfortable to sleep on the support side of the pillow. I say this because it is easier to turn from side to side on this side. The V tends to hold one in place. Also, on the support side, some individuals sleep in the middle instead of using the wing of the pillow. It's ok, go with what's most comfortable.
  
• The support side of the traction pillow is softer than the traction side. If you are having a lot of neck pain,this might be the better side to start sleeping with.
  
  

Additional Reading Resources

• America's #1 Neck Pillow: The Arc4life Cervical Traction Neck Pillow
  
• Testimonials for the cervical traction neck pillow
  
• Large Traction Pillow 21"x33"
  
• How to Choose the Best Neck Pillow for your Needs
  
• Neck Exercises
  

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Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

Will My Neck Pillow Help with my Neck Pain Over the Long Haul?

 Absolutely!  Sometimes it will be a quick fix for your pain in the neck also.  The key, however, is to think about the long term.  Using the pillow will often help to correct spinal alignment and neck posture over time.  It just won’t do it overnight, reason being is that it has probably taken some time for your posture to shift out of place. 

            The pillow may align things enough to take pressure off of the nerves creating pain or relax muscles that are tensioned.  It may also help inflammation dissipate, which often builds up with misalignments and muscle tension creating more nerve pressure. 

            So, use a neck pillow to help realign your neck or maintain your neck alignment.  It’s typically going to take some time so rest assured (literally!) that it’s working.  You may even benefit from some short term neck pain relief.  In the long haul, using your pillow when you’re not in pain, will keep neck pain away too!

Have you ever experienced neck
pain when you wake up in the morning?  

Additional Reading Resources

• Choose the Right Neck Pillow for Neck Pain
• Remedy for A Stiff Neck
• How to Get  A Restful Sleep When you Are Suffering with Neck Pain
• No More Neck Pain. Simple Tips to Keeping a Healthy Neck
• Heal Neck Injuries with the Tri Core Family of Support Neck Pillows

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

My Hands go “Tingly” when I Sleep

Most often what we see is that this person’s pillow has lost its support. Now, if the hands are going numb and tingling all day, it’s a different story, but in this case the individual only gets the tingling when she is sleeping.

If the pillow has lost support or just doesn’t have the support to begin with, then it will allow your spinal curve to flatten.

We all have or should have a nice C-curve in the neck. If our pillow has no support or has lost its support it flattens and your neck will go flat too. When this happens or when you lost the normal neck alignment in any way you will put pressure on nerves. Nerves also communicate to blood vessels, so for these reasons the hands or arms will get that sleepy or tingly sensation.

Really, this is a major reason for using a neck pillow. Neck pillows are made with extra support in a neck roll to hold the right neck posture. This keeps the spine in place and nerve communication intact.

Addtional Reading Resources

• Yoga Can Help You Sleep Better
• Remedy for A Stiff Neck
• Pinched Nerve in the Neck
• How to Choose the Right Neck Pillow
• Natural Treatment for Occipital Neuralgia discovered by Chance

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

The Time Change Has Really Thrown Off My Sleep

Something that works really well is to take a short nap. When doing this however you want to make sure not to nap too close to you bed time. It’s recommended that your nap is approximately 2- 3hours before bed time.

There are a few things that can throw off sleep patterns. It’s not just a small time change. There can be a trip to a different time zone. This can be 1 hour but can also be a whole lot more. The same goes for a late night that your body isn’t used too or a night where something interrupts your sleep in the middle of the night.

The best thing to do is take what I call a power nap or two. Set your alarm to awake in 30 minutes. This will not only give you the boost you need but it will help get your body back on track. This is something that we will have to deal with no matter what. There will always be distractions, time changes, even long trips.

One thing we can control, that often interrupts sleep, is pain. If you suffer from neck pain or a stiff neck and it’s preventing good sleep, get one of our neck support pillows and get that well needed rest.


Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.
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