It’s been almost three years to the day since a car rear-ended me at speed, resulting in whiplash and a concussion. The stubborn neck pain has changed my life for the worse, and sleep has been a constant battle, as I also have an illness that means injuries easily become chronic and long-lasting.
I’ve cycled through six different neck pain pillows over the past three years whilst looking for relief, and I'm thrilled to say I have finally found ‘The One’ on Amazon. It looks quite alien, but it has been the best one I've tried by far, gently cradling my neck at night and helping me achieve that much-coveted restful sleep.
In fact, 10,000 people bought it last month, and I’m not surprised it’s an enduring Amazon bestseller: In my experience, it's one of the best pillows.
Why this neck pain pillow is 'The One'
As someone with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, an incurable disease where hypermobility (joints extending too far) is one of the key and lifelong issues, this neck pain pillow from Amazon has been a total game changer since my car crash.
Now, if I lie on my side, my shoulder is no longer compressed, which is handy as the disc bulges in my cervical spine from the crash typically push radiating pain to my shoulders.
It's comfortable for side sleepers like me, but even if you have no neck pain, it's a worthy addition, especially if you often wake up with a stiff neck.
When I sleep on my back, my head no longer lolls to the side in my sleep. The height of this ergonomic pillow is perfect too – not too high, not too low, and wherever I am positioned, my neck remains in a neutral position. That has been transformative for helping me sleeping better, which, as a person in chronic pain, is no mean feat.
Truly, this design deserves an award, if you ask me. I’ve been able to sleep for longer stretches, finally, and no longer begin my day with crushing neck pain. It doesn’t feel too hot to sleep on either, making it a great addition for sleeping in the heat.
The only thing to note is the funny shape makes putting your regular pillow case on a bit tricky, unless you have some larger ones in your linen closet. The pillow’s cover is washable, though, so you can skip a separate pillow case if you wish.
If like me, you like having that proper pillow case, these mulberry silk pillow cases from Amazon will fit nicely and are machine washable. I always use silk pillow cases to stop my hair from frizzing overnight and because they're gentler on my skin.
You'll need a silk detergent, such as the pH-neutral and fragrance-free Heritage Park silk detergent from Amazon, and can handwash it, or run it in the washer with a mesh laundry bag, also available from Amazon, so it doesn't get snagged on other items or the machine itself.
If you're still keen to shop around, find out more about the best places to buy pillows, and here are some of the best-rated alternatives by our team of expert sleep testers.
The best of the rest
This was voted best pillow overall by the Homes & Gardens Sleep team as it 'checks every box for comfort, cooling, and cost'. It features gel-infused memory foam for cooling, and a unique way to adjust height and firmness by simply unzipping and letting out air. 'It took me a few tries to achieve my ideal consistency, but once I'd found it, I knew I'd never slept on such a comfortable pillow,' said our tester.
While this pillow comes in three shapes, the curved on is the best for side sleepers, thanks to it's three straight sides and one curved side designed to contour the neck. 'I found that the PlushComfort Pillow saved my neck from straining when I lay on my side,' said our tester. It's also filled with hypoallergenic premium down alternative, giving it that squish that we all crave when it comes to pillow comfort.
Designed to mold to the contours of your head and shoulders this pillow is one of the most comfortable, according to Homes & Gardens' Sleep team. Filled with dense foam, it offers support on all sides, however you sleep, and it comes in medium or soft depending on the level of firmness you prefer.
Staying comfortable at night can be influenced by a number of things. Investing in the best mattress and cooling sheets will turbocharge your sleep.
As with any of the best memory foam pillows, this one shouldn't be steam cleaned as that will warp the complex structure. Instead, learn how to clean a memory foam pillow to keep yours fresh.
