Proper sleep position using a soft cervical collar

I've been using soft collars for quite some time now and usually don't have any troubles. But now for some reason I am experiencing plenty of discomfort all day long on the vertebrae at the base of my neck. Basically where the shoulders and spine all connect, that particular vertebrae at that point. It is sore to touch and hurts during movement.

I'm not sure what changed all of a sudden.

The collar does the trick keeping my jaw closed so I get a good night sleep. Stats tell me so. I just don't know what to do about this pain.

I sleep on an adjustable bed and my head position is elevated. I've tried sleeping with the entire head, neck and collar on the pillow, with my head only on the pillow but so far I haven't been able to resolve the pain I experience after a good night's sleep.

Anyone else experience this? Any ideas on how to remedy it?

If you have been using cervical collars for some time and this is a new problem, I would see a doctor. I don't think the collar or sleeping position is the cause. A cervical collar should actually help neck pain by stabilizing the vertebra. You might need an Xray, MRI, or test for osteoporosis to know what is causing the problem.

One fact I left out is that I am using a new cervical collar that is a little taller than the last one. Same manufacturer, just a half inch taller. The other one was just a hair to short and allowed my jaw to move a bit. Thus I'd have some nights where I could tell I was mouth breathing. This one fits nice and comfortably snug but the problems started almost immediately when I started with this new collar.

Osteporosis? I'm only 53 and I pretty decent shape health wise. So I don't think it is that. I think it is a sleep position issue. I sleep on my back all night and it's possible the collar is maneuvering my neck such that the vertebrae are no longer properly aligned.

tazmania wrote:One fact I left out is that I am using a new cervical collar that is a little taller than the last one. Same manufacturer, just a half inch taller. The other one was just a hair to short and allowed my jaw to move a bit. Thus I'd have some nights where I could tell I was mouth breathing. This one fits nice and comfortably snug but the problems started almost immediately when I started with this new collar.

Osteporosis? I'm only 53 and I pretty decent shape health wise. So I don't think it is that. I think it is a sleep position issue. I sleep on my back all night and it's possible the collar is maneuvering my neck such that the vertebrae are no longer properly aligned.

Osteo isn't necessarily an "old Persons" disease... My daughters friend is under 40 and she has been diagnosed with it. Get it checked out

Try wearing the collar a bit looser.