Bucky Pillows
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Neck Pain Remedy
I have degenerative arthritis in my neck. This is, I am told by my doctor, a chronic condition, that is, a condition I will always have. The symptoms of pain and stiffness can be treated, the condition cannot.
Certain things help - hard exercise, stretches and adequate sleep, for example - but a key element in the treatment of neck pain is your choice of pillow. If you have chronic neck pain, you are well acquainted with the experience of waking up with a neck ache. To avoid the morning neck ache, you need the right pillow.
For a few years I had tried the Tempur-Pedic pillow specifically designed to help with neck pain, their "NeckPillow" model, named aptly enough. Responsive to heat and pressure, the Tempur material is designed to be soft where softness is necessary and firm where support is needed.
My personal experience was of partial relief: a reduction of pain and fewer morning neck aches. However, the pillow, made of a synthetic foam, does not breathe very well, I feel, and even through a cotton pillow case it definitely has a non-porous, kind of sweaty feel to it, in my opinion.
Enter the buckwheat hull pillow. The buckwheat hull pillow, or "Bucky Pillow", as it's called by The Linen Closet in Eureka, California, where I bought mine, uses buckwheat hulls as its cushioning material. Like the Tempur-Pedic pillow, it conforms to your shape and gives you support where you need it, but unlike the Tempur-Pedic, the Bucky Pillow is a sack of tiny individual buckwheat hulls instead of a unified, non porous foam. The result is a pillow that is extremely breathable as well as comfortable.
Since I began to use the Bucky Pillow several weeks ago, my instances of morning neck ache have pretty much disappeared. Except when I engage in some double stupidity or other, such as driving a long way and then staying up too late using the computer to write HubPages, for example, I never wake up with a neck ache anymore. Also, if, as I have been told and have read, the Bucky Pillow actually improves during the first two years of use, I can look forward to even more comfortable sleep in the future. Therefore I highly recommend the Bucky Pillow as a remedy for chronic neck pain.
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Comments
Thanks Frieda! I'm feeling very relaxed and rested today, and it's due in great part to my Bucky Pillow. Creatures of comfort, yes: I love to curl up with a nice, warm, um, cat. :0)
Very interesting. I like this idea, sounds like something I can use. Since neck problems is really a painful thing to go through. I have tried a few different ones and this is going to come in handy. I am going to check on the link you provided. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Leop. The Bucky Pillow has definitely done the job for me. I hope it helps you, too. :0)
I've heard about these - might be worth looking into. Personally, I find that a tightly rolled up towel sometimes does a better job for my poor neck than the best commercial pillow. Wishing you good rest ....
Thanks Tom for the tip - I get back ache from time to time so will check it out - and :-) in the meantime am glad too to try out Zollstock's rolled up towel.
To each their own. I have used a rolled up towel, but it did nothing for me. I'm very glad I was introduced to the Bucky Pillow. :)
Frieda Babbley says:
4 weeks ago
Great article, Tom. I always wondered about the Buckwheat Hull pillows. I've never know anyone to use them so this is great. I value your opinion. I think I may check them out. If you have back pain or issues, you're pillows are equally as important. I'll pass this info on. Thanks.
Wonderfully sweet photo by the way. I see it's a hit with quite a few creatures of comfort. =]