Right-side Head & Neck Pain When Lying Down

[melikimd]

I recently (within the past few days) have experienced head and neck pain on the right side only when lying down.  It doesn't affect my sleeping and hasn't woken me up, but I will wake up with the pain on the right side.  It's definitely not a pain that inhibits my daily activity, because it typically goes away when I stand up, but will occasionally pop up throughout the day.  It primarily doesn't come out unless I am lying down though.  If I take an Advil in the morning, the pain will typically be gone, even if I lie down, for the rest of the day.

As I said, the pain isn't debilitating, but can be rather uncomfortable when I sleep.  I feel like it might have something to do with my neck position while sleeping (I like to sleep at an angle, rather than flat on the bed) and maybe I injured my neck and my sleeping position isn't helping.  I did notice that when I laid flat the pain wasn't as intense, but was still there if I tried to switch sides (I was lying on the right side, which is the side that is hurting).  

I haven't really noticed any other symptoms.  I was temporarily on a gluten-free diet (to see if it would help my keratosis pilaris) for about 8 weeks and just got off it.  Coincidentally, the day I started eating gluten again was the day that my head and neck started hurting.  I have noticed a certain lethargy and drowsiness that I assume is because of the gluten being reintroduced (I felt much lighter and more energetic off of gluten) and because of the recent time change.

About two months ago, I hurt my lower back exercising and I have been slowly recovering and adding workouts back to my daily schedule, since my lower back doesn't really bother me anymore.  But now have this pain when I am lying down.  

Is it related to my neck?  Do I need to be concerned?  Or will it go away in it's own time?

[melikimd]

Thanks so much for your help!!  I found that taking benadryl actually helped with the pressure, but I will definitely look into the memory foam pillows and the anti-inflammatory medication!

Good luck to you too!

[LowCortisol]

If the pain is not activity related; and you do not have a history of back pain; the pain is one sided and is worse at night; possibly you have weakness in the arm or leg; the arm or leg feels heavy; you have more frequent toilet visits then go to a sports medicine doctor to examine you.

To control pain you could use a sustained release anti inflammatory. I used Naprosyn 1000 SR for a week. It works, but don't go out exercising after taking it because you are not well and the drug only masks the pain it does not solve your problem.

It could be  a herniated disk or disks. I have similar problem now being investigated with MRIs.

Good luck.

[mkh9]

It may just be a pinched nerve and/or the position you are sleeping. They have memory foam pillows that have grooves that can help keep your head in a particular direction. You could see a physical therapist if it persists.