While sleeping i turn the head so i wake up with a very tense neck

How to avoid this ? thanks

I'm just brainstorming here:

Try putting something next to your head like a tightly rolled up towel.

Or a cactus.

j/k

But I have a similar problem with just one side. When I turn to the right, especially if my head tilts back, the left side of my neck gets stretched and I get lightheaded. I think the vessels are getting pulled flat in the stretch--it's not a good stretch. So I'll try this myself.

The towel may need to be tied or taped and then secured somehow. I'll have to improvise.

Yeah but it's a bigger problem. These days when i dream, i automatically turn my head and sleep like that for 7 hours. not good.

put the towel rolls or small pillows UNDER your main pillow on either side of your head, so that it is raised up around your head on either side. that way these props are not easily pushed away during the night. Did this for months after the acccident.

you can also use a u-shaped neck pillow, but keep it sitting like a U, so the bottom is under your neck but the sides are up alongside each side of your head, so it cradles your head and not your neck. To do this you need one where you can mash down or shift the stuffing that is right under your neck so that it isn't too thick and therefore bending your head/neck forward.

I've been cheating lately too BC my shoulders feel better. Now my neck feels worse..all burny and stuck

I tried the towel thing last night and it worked for me. I rolled it up and then wrapped it in a shirt to keep it together. I put it right next to my head wherever I didn't want my head to move to (I sleep in two positions and actually change up during the night).

winic1's suggestions sound good too.

so the swelling i wake up with in the morning is definitely related to my shoulder not being stable. my more muscular (tos) side i can sleep on now a little bit whereas i just woke up with swelling below my elbow on my less stable side. it makes my hand really crampy

well my side sleeping experiment failed

on both sides, my bp/side of neck area has become itchy when i wake up. not good. i still dont understand what the nerve itch means. i figure its bad

sleep on a massage table that has a hole to stick your face in pointing it straight down.