Best Mattress-Pillow Combo for Cervical Issues?

I have a variety of issues with degenerative disc disease in my neck. The biggest factor I have found so far is sleeping. I wake up and the tinnitus and neck pain aren't too bad, other times its awful.

I have already spent a small fortune on pillows. I'm not sure if I need firm or plush or exactly what.
I feel like I just need to keep my neck straight when sleeping but I am a heavy sleeper and have woken up in some interesting positions lol.

 

@Ajaans Retrolisthesis is backward slippage of one's vertebra onto the vertebra immediately below.

Osteophytes; Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are bony projections that form along joints, and are often seen in conditions such as arthritis. Bone spurs are largely responsible for limitations in joint motion and can cause pain.

Mild slippage pinching on nerve roots is probably causing tinnitus. Tinnitus could ease in time by controlling extreme forward head bending and not extending head forward from a sitting or laying position. Otherwise, neck muscle spasms may increase nerve root pressure as with osteophytes at C3/C4 and C4/C5.

Not having air space between neck and pillow should help nerve roots becoming over active while sleeping. If would be of benefit to know your age.​

 

Thank you for the excellent info Greg Sacramento. I am 54 years old and my mother's side of the family has a history of this type of neck / spine problems although the tinnitus is apparently unique.
What's interesting is I am a semi-frequent business traveler and I have noticed a big improvement when using the hotel pillows which are notoriously thin.​

 

So what kind of pillow is best for this? I have the same issue. I wake up with terrible headache and my tinnitus is louder.

 

Maybe a memory foam pillow might be good?