GoKawiilIf you're experiencing more intense neck pain and looking for a pillow for pain management, the Kanuda Primo Air is worth a look. (Also, see your doctor, please.) I reach for it on nights where pain is just overwhelming—a sort of “break glass in case of emergency” pillow. Its ergonomic, orthopedic design promotes light stretching.
Kanuda pillows, including the Primo Air, are designed to best fit side and back sleepers. I found it to be the most comfortable while back sleeping. While lying on my back, I felt a slight stretch as my head and neck relaxed into the scooped-out center spot. It isn’t as intense a pressure or stretch as what I’d receive in a massage; it was enough to lull me to sleep.
The Primo Air’s side “wings” kept my head and spinal alignment on the same level while side sleeping. The ability to stay asleep on it depends on how bad my neck pain is, mainly because I’m not a dedicated back or side sleeper. In most cases, I’d have another pillow handy to transition to (also listed below). Additionally, this isn’t the type of pillow you sink into in terms of firmness or softness. This was especially relevant for the side wings. While your neck feels great from the overall support, it’s more like lying on a cube than a down pillow. But if it negates the chronic neck pain I regularly deal with, I’ll take it.