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!

Medium or Large Pillow? Regular or Extra Firm Level of Support? How do I Choose?

 The Arc4life Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow now comes in medium and large. It also comes in Regular and Extra Firm Levels of Support. First, here is a short demonstration from Dr Bellinger on how to use the arc4life cervical linear traction neck pillow.




2 Factors to Keep in mind: You must get the right size of pillow and also the right support level.

Two sizes are available: Medium (24"x17") or Large (28"x17"). Don't order the medium or large based on the size of your mattress. Read our blog post related to this topic here:

Which Arc4life Traction Neck Pillow Should I Order, Medium or Large?

Two Levels of Support are available: Regular or Extra Firm
This is a more of a personal decision. For most patients, ordering the regular support pillow is the best. The arc4life traction pillow is not firm like a foam pillow, but its not soft like a feather pillow either. It's in between. The Extra firm versions of the arc4life pillow have about 25% more fiber put inside the pillows, making for a pillow that has less give. Will these pillows last longer? Yes.

Will they be more comfortable? That is entirely up to you. If you like a firmer pillow, then order the extra firm traction pillow. If you like something on the softer side, order the regular traction pillow.

Additional Reading on the Arc4life Traction Pillow:

1. How to Use the V Side of the Arc4life Cervical Linear Traction Pillow
2. FAQ's about the Arc4life traction pillow
3. How to Use the Neck Roll Side of the Arc4life Pillow
4. I need a Pillow for the Bulging Disc in my Neck
5. If you have a straight Neck or a reverse C Curve, use this pillow

 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!

"I Fell Asleep On The Plane..."

"I recently had a trip for a few hours on the plane.  I fell asleep basically sitting upright.  Later on I had excruciating neck pain and I was unable to turn to the side.  I didn't use a travel pillow and I believe my head was bouncing around.  Sitting upright, my head was flexed forward and probably being bounced around from side to side." - Marty 

Dear Marty,

This happens more than you think!  Not to mention it can happen while your sitting in the back of the car, on a bus, or even at home sitting in a chair.  Your may even be watching tv in bed, it's very much the same...

Your head is in an awkward position for an extended period of time.  Because of this you get a neck strain, which not only hurts, but may restrict motion.  In the future I would recommend a travel pillow when traveling, and try to avoid awkward neck positions as much as possible.

Additional Reading:

• Pillows that Work Great for Pain Relief, Comfort and Travel
• Needed: A Pillow for a 20 Hour Flight
• Creating a Neck Roll when you need it all of a sudden
• Yes,  you can relieve pain naturally
• Ouch, I have a stiff neck

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!

I'm not sure which type of Pillow I need. I have been told I walk like an Old Person...

"Hi, I'm not sure which type of pillow I need. I would like to improve my posture and lessen my neck hump. I am not in pain, but have had several people comment on my posture and tell me to "straighten up" that I walk like an "old person." I am 72 and 5'7". Did have a c6-c7 disc fusion about 12 years ago. Spend a lot of time on computer too. Thanks" - Richard

Dear Richard,

This Posture Corrector Brace Adjusts
from the Front and in the Shoulder Area

Thank you for your email. I would recommend the arc4life traction pillow in the medium size. This pillow will gently stretch your neck for comfort while sleeping on your side or on your back.

Also, I would recommend some kind of a posture corrector brace for you. This will help you walk and sit straighter. Spending long amounts of time in front of the computer can cause a slumped forward type of posture. This posture corrector brace will also help bring your shoulders back. It can be adjusted in the front and at the shoulder level, making it more comfortable. The key is to get the right size. If you are in between sizes, get the larger size. It comes in small, medium, medium/large, large and x-large. Also this brace is thin enough to wear under your clothing. Please email us if you have any further questions.

- Arc4life

Additional Reading:

• Options for pinched nerve in the neck
• What to do if you have a hunchback posture
• Neck Exercises you can to improve posture
• Improve Your Posture with the Posture Corrector
• Recommendation for the best pillow to prevent back 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. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

Buy Combination Traction Pillow Sets on Arc4life Now

Buy the arc4life traction pillows in sets with dust covers

One of our most effective pillows for a patient with a herniated disc, bulging disc, pinched nerve in the neck or numbness and tingling is the arc4life traction pillows. You can now buy them with a dust covers and in combination sets:

• medium arc4life cervical traction pillow + medium dust cover 
• large arc4life cervical traction pillow + large dust cover

Another peculiar request we have been getting a lot of is to order one medium, and one large pillow. So now you can buy this on arc4life as well. I guess our customers and patients want to try out both sizes.

• medium arc4life traction pillow + large arc4life traction pillow + medium dust cover + large dust cover

Finally, you now have the option of purchasing two of each pillow + two dust covers

2 medium arc4life cervical traction pillow + 2 medium dust covers

2 large arc4life cervical traction pillow +2  large dust covers

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!

Additional Reading:

• Traction neck pillows on arc4life.com
• How to use the V Side of the arc4life traction pillow for maximum pain relief and neck traction
• FAQ's about the arc4life traction pillow
• Understanding the neck roll on the traction pillow
• Video for the arc4life traction pillow: How to use it. 

What Size Pillow Should I Get?

Getting the Right Size Pillow is Key for
Your Neck for Proper Alignment

This is probably one of the most common questions if not the most common questions we will get. Pillow sizes are very important because it should be based on your size of the body and not on the size of the bed.

If the pillows are too big it can be a problem. What happens is instead of working the neck into alignment and putting a curvature back into the neck, it ends up pushing your head forward or tilting your head up towards the ceiling if you're on your side. You don't want to sleep in one of these awkward positions multiple times or for extended hours because your spine starts to change or conform to these positions.

If we're looking at spine from the front or back it should be straight up-and-down. If were looking at the spine from the side we should have nice smooth flowing curves.  In other words, you should have a nice "C" curve in the neck, that's with the neckroll is for. So when on your back that helps maintain and improve that cervical curve.

If the pillow is too small the same thing effect happens; your head basically has no support so you lose curve. On your side, same thing, instead of your head tilting towards the ceiling it just tilts more towards the bed, giving that the neck a lateral head tilt misalignment once again.

As you can see you really need a pillow that fit your body and your head and your neck appropriately. Doing this will ensure a properly aligned spine. Remember, that properly aligned spine means nerves are free from pressure and therefore pain is relieved.

Photo Source: Ink Spot WorkShop

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!

Additional Reading:

• Help with Choosing a pillow that works
• What to do for a Straight Neck
• The Arc4life Natural Alignment Pillow Video
• Studies that show the effectiveness of using a proper pillow
• Military Neck and Treatment Options

I Have a Neck pillow But I sleep on my belly?

Are you a Stomach Sleeper? Are you waking up with morning neck pain,
stiffness and headaches?

One purpose of the arc4life traction pillow is to convert you to a back or side sleeper.  Stomach sleeping can really put the neck in a bad position. In addition, it can cause headaches when you wake up in the morning. Not a good way to start the day.   That being said, getting a good night's sleep is extremely important, but this only lasts for so long being a stomach sleeper.

When we are little kids we have so much flexibility we can easily do it but as we get older we can't.  The best thing to do is get out of the habit now.  A neck pillow is great because the pocket holds you better in place.  Sleeping on your side is just fine, and the neck pillow fills in the gap between your neck and shoulders.

Additional Reading:

• The Right Pillow choice for a herniated disk
• When there is a misalignment in your upper neck spine
• Products for Better Posture Everyday
• Help me choose a pillow for my neck pain
• Products that work with my traction pillow to help my numbness and tingling

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!