Core Products Tri-Core Cervical Support Pillow – Gentle (Medium Firmness) Orthopedic Neck Pillow for Pain Relief, Back and Side Sleepers – Ergonomic Contour Pillow – Assembled in USA, Full Size

In total I have purchased three of these pillows. One for myself and two others for gifts due to my happiness with the pillow. I decided to purchase this pillow based on the reviews I read on Amazon. I had already tried soft, firm, memory foam, contour memory foam, water, and water-base pillows. Nothing really did the trick. I suffered major whiplash in an accident over 10 years ago and to this day the muscles in my neck have yet to figure out that they can relax. I would wake up with headaches every morning (if they didn't wake me up in the night). I would wake up gasping for air because my airway was constricted by my poor sleeping posture. I even had a sleep study done, thinking I had sleep apnea, only to find out that I did not. So I was at my last straw when I finally decided to "gamble" on this pillow. In comparison to how much I had spent on other pillows, the price wasn't bad. Compared to a cheap $10 pillow at Wal-Mart, it may seem expensive. However, I was worried that I would be spending the money on yet another "gimmick" that wouldn't work. I decided to try it and haven't looked back since. Other suggested a break-in period, so I was armed with my water-base pillow to use as a backup when my neck got sore from the new pillow. I only had to use it the first two nights. After that, I haven't had to go back. I take it whenever we are going to be away from home and I find that if I don't, I end up with a neck ache or a headache. Recently I was sharing a hotel room with a friend who asked the next day if my boyfriend and I had gotten new pillows. I told her we had and asked why. She said she had come prepared with ear plugs (due to previous experiences with our snoring and tossing and turning) but didn't have to use them. She said we both slept peacefully on our sides with barely a murmur. I highly recommend these pillows for anyone that feels they need a more supportive pillow. The side cushions are great for when you want to sleep on your side as they are the right height to comfortably match your neck. The inner pocket is perfect for when you want to lie on your back as it cradles your head, while supporting your neck. I don't find I have to make any effort when I switch positions, I just roll to one side or the other as I would with a regular pillow. However, I don't toss and turn nearly as much with this great pillow. The one downside I have found is that it is not very good for stomach sleeping in my opinion. The high sides and low middle make it difficult to find a comfortable position for your head in the stomach position and if I ever roll to my stomach while sleeping I wake up with a neck ache from straining my neck. So if you are a back or side sleeper, I would say go for it. If you prefer to sleep on your stomach, I would probably look elsewhere.

After searching for years and spending hundreds of dollars for the right pillow, I carefully read the reviews and decided to try this pillow. I have a bulging disc in my lower spine and I was waking up with neck pain after using other pillows so I was hopeful that this pillow would live up to the hype that it received. I selected the gentle support tri-core pillow and I have been using it since I purchased it on June 18, 2015. First, I will say that there was a noticeable chemical-like smell. Perhaps it was stored in a warehouse for months in the plastic bag . . . I'm not sure. I just know that it took at least a week to get rid of the smell. Either way, this was not a deal-breaker for me, just more of a mild annoyance. Second, I, like many other reviewers gave the pillow at least two weeks to get used to. Within the first few nights to the first week, I was still waking up with neck pain after using it. I also disliked having to readjust the pillow stuffing so that it would not bunch or recede in certain areas. Eventually, however, the pillow became more tolerable and I noticed that my neck pain was less and less frequent. Third, after needing to wash the pillow completely, I followed the instructions on the pillow label and allowed the pillow to air dry for several days. I washed it in July and it is now November and I am back to square one. The pillow somehow seems more firm than before and I am waking up with neck pain again. I even notice that my neck cracks more often now that I am using this pillow (which probably isn't a good sign). Fourth, I will agree with other reviewers that it is difficult to sleep on your side with this pillow. I know that the instructions recommend sleeping on the pillow edges on either side, but a) that's awkward to do and b) I feel like my head will slide back down into the middle of the pillow. Therefore, when I sleep on my side, I keep my head cradled in the center nook of the pillow. It unfortunately hurts my ears to do this, so I do not sleep on my side very often. Perhaps this pillow will work for other people, but it did not work for me. I even tried the suggestion of the "Chiropractor" and rolled up a towel, but it produced the same neck pain as other pillows (and this one) had given me. I have tried high-end and low-end pillows--everything from organic, to fiber fill, to down, to down alternative, to memory foam, to memory foam and down alternative fill--nothing has worked! I sleep mainly on my back and I was hopeful that this would work, but it looks like it's back to the drawing board again.

After suffering for weeks with a stiff neck every morning after getting out of bed, I determined that I needed a better pillow that would provide more support. After needing to have my neck adjusted twice by my Dr because I couldn't move it to do simple daily tasks, I researched cervical pillows. This was not the first one that came up in my search but one similar that was 3x more expensive. After reading the reviews, I was convinced I needed to try it. One of the reviews I read was from a chiropractor who suggested starting out with the 'gentle' version of this pillow. I took his advise and that's what I purchased. At first it was very uncomfortable to sleep all night with the new shape of this pillow. But I remembered reviewers said to give it at least 2 weeks to adjust to the new shape and support. I continued using it and began to realize that it was better shaped for my head and neck than any other pillow I had ever used. The quilted center section allowed my head to rest comfortably without needing to push against extra foam or fillers that I didn't need on my head. At the same time the neck rolls are just enough support for my neck that I don't wake up with a stiff neck or sore shoulders in the morning....and my morning headaches are gone too! There are 2 different levels of support for your neck based on your needs - my can change from day to day so I appreciate that I can flip it around and get more or less support without needing to get a 2nd pillow. The tri-core foam offers support and comfort all rolled into 1 affordable package. I can now sleep on my back (which I normally never do) without experiencing any back or neck pain because my head is cradled and my neck is supported with this pillow. I highly recommend that you try this if you are in need of some neck support to alleviate stiff or sore neck or shoulder muscles. Just take heed...it will take a little while before you are adjusted to the shape and support offered by this pillow. I have been using mine for about a month now and it's the one pillow staying on my bed! The price point is perfect and if you can get free shipping that's an even better deal that you won't regret...you can once again get ready to face your morning with a spring in your step because you had a great night sleep!! 05/11/13 - update - still using this pillow and loving it! I have not needed to make a trip back to the Dr to have my neck adjusted since I began sleeping with this pillow. I like it so much that I have been suggesting it to friends I work with that suffer from neck pain. Great product at a great price...you can't go wrong with this purchase!!

This is definitely helping with neck and shoulder pain, and when I wake up now, my neck feels like its been lengthened, instead of compressed like it used to. With that said, it's definitely a little uncomfortable, but its getting better. I have a pretty small frame, so it feels like its a little too thick and its former than my orher orthopedic pillows, even though this is the gentle one. If you need to correct the curve in your neck, as most people do, i think its worth trying, and swap out with another pillow when needed.

I needed to get myself to stop sleeping on my stomach after surgery. Tough to do when you've slept that way all of your life. I've also read it's super bad for your neck to stomach sleep. I tend to be a "flipper", stomach, back, and side all night long, bunching up my pillow to support my head when I'm on my stomach. Keeps me busy flipping and bunching but surely cuts down on my sleep time. The first night using this pillow felt a little weird, but probably any new pillow would take time to get used to as well. Your head nestles into the trapezoid indent and the roll supports your neck while you sleep on your back. When you roll to your side, you can put your head further up on the corner which is higher than the center, and it holds your neck in better alignment. There are two different sized roll edges depending on your preference. I found that after a few nights, I was sleeping like a baby! It's soft but supportive. I do a lot less flipping now, just back to side, no frequent stomach sleeping needed because I'm comfortable in my other positions. It is possible to stomach sleep on this if you really wanted to, and every once in a while I wake to find myself there, but it's so much more comfy to sleep on my side with this pillow so it's really helped me to reduce that. I will say the only minor downside. It kind of encases your head and neck while back sleeping, which is super comfy, but for people like me with hot flashes and night sweats it makes it a little hotter to sleep on your back, but the side supports make it cooler to sleep on your side. I purchased a PolarGel pillow mat and I just lay it directly on top of the pillow for when I wake up hot at night so I I can stay cool and sleep in a healthy and comfortable position.

Seems to be quality, but a little large of a hump to fit my neck. I wish it was a little flatter

I am an HSP with neck problems and FMS. This pillow is somewhat big. It barely fits into a regular pillow case width-wise, so there's going to be little "give". The first night I used some sleeping meds to assure an easier transition from my normal pillows (down) to this. I can say that the next day my pain was slightly better, so I hoped to find it progressively so. 2nd night, I am in agony and got very little sleep. There are two edges - narrow and wide. Narrow is harder and wide is softer. But...if you need narrow and soft or visa verse, you're SOL. It did not cradle my head as one question mentions. It's bigger than my head. The edge of it sat against my neck and forcefully so. Given that's where the bad vertebrae are, it's no wonder I am suffering. I can see how this might work for some...it does throw your head back and if you have healthy vertebrae, it might actually be comfortable. I tried to tough it out as advised, but half way thru the 2nd night I had to switch back to my normal pillows. It is really quite firm in spite of this saying "gentle" so I can't imagine what the other one is like. The sides (for side sleeping) are very difficult to balance on (they're firmly stuffed & rounded). As the pillow leans into the gap in the center, when you try to sleep on your side, your head slips backwards toward that depression. This can twist your neck up. If you're a back sleeper, there's little movement to worry about. The bolster effect pushes against my shoulders so I could not get my head into a comfortable position, even on my back. If you are in generally good shape and just have some mild pain, this might work well to help you sleep. If you have any chronic pain, I really have my doubts. Hopefully there's enough explanation in this review to helps others like me decide. even with all the reviews, I could not get enough pertinent info to be sure. Pillows don't seem to me to be the right thing to have to "break in". And that's the advice given throughout. My body can't take a breaking in period, so keep that in mind if you're having any pain issues that are not simple.

This really is the perfect pillow. I am now on my third one. The last one lasted about 7 years before I started to notice I was waking up with a sore neck. I likely have arthritis in my neck (like several other joints) and have distant memories of my neck hurting all the time but not since I started using this pillow. My neck still crinkles when I turn side-to-side but now I rarely have pain. I full heartedly recommend this pillow to anyone looking for a new pillow due to neck pain. I am mostly a side sleeper but do end up on my back during the night. The shape of the pillow cradles your head so it always ends up in the correct position. Absolutely priceless and well worth the price for the comfort if brings me. It came well packed, vacuum sealed but fluffed up to normal size as soon as I broke the seal No odor at all. I knew my last one was starting to go because the neck part was starting to break down. It think getting 7 years out of a pillow is a great deal. It was heavenly to sleep on a brand new one last night.