Severe neck pain when sleeping on side

[eryts]

All my life I've slept on my side. It's the only position I can tolerate. I always have tossed and turn until literally I get so tired, I just fall asleep (even with neck pain). I used to have a coil spring bed, but now I have a great memory foam mattress. Still, I have extreme neck pain when I sleep on either side after only a few minutes. But my left side is worse than my right. I recently made a cotton neck roll to place between me and my pillow (to help support my neck) and it has helped slightly. I tried memory foam pillows but they are just to big or high for my comfort. I also have a long neck.

During the day I do have some neck pain, but it's not really that bad (it used to be so bad but I fixed it with physical therapy). I also use hot and cold packs which fix my neck during the day, if needed.

I also broke my arm when I was younger and was supposed to get an additional surgery that I never went for-I doubt this is connected. Also one shoulder is very slightly higher than the other (the higher shoulder is the side that hurts more when sleeping).

I plan to buy a micrbead pillow next, and I hope that helps. It's getting so bad I can't sleep anymore!

Any ideas what this is and what I can do to fix this (or what type of pillow to buy)?

[eryts]

Thanks, I'll look into that.

[Caryopteris]

It sounds like a physical therapist would be the one to straighten all of this out and get you back into alignment.  You probably need specific exercises that you continue all of your life.