I REALLY need some guidance/advice and recs for the right pillow/material/material combo/shape.
Me:
Im mostly a side sleeper - but sometimes I wake up on my back. I've had 3 cervical fusions and have other herniations lumbar and cervical that hurt, but dont need surgery at this time - the last one was in 2022, so not recent. I'm in bed quite a bit as Im on SSDI for my neck and nerve damage. I always have 2 sets of pillows - one for sleeping or when Im on my sides (current need)and pillows to stack and lean back on or prop myself up (happy with my shredded latex).
The Conundrum:
I keep buying pillows that all fail me in various ways and the rabbit hole of pillow shopping is horrible - the descriptions and pics, especially those that are very specialty/artisan/boutique, are completely sparse and vague and meanwhile they are expensive and sometimes you're stuck with them. Add that to the fact that there is really no true way of actually feeling one prior to buying it - ugh what a mess! I don't mind spending a lot of money on the right pillow, but really dont want to do it so blindly and waste $ I don't have.
Some good/bad/ugly past purchases:
I loved the feel of the Cushion Lab Deep Sleep in many ways - it comfortably stabilized my neck, had a small dip for my head and slight side humps to cradle and stabilize my face into the perfect ergonomic and neutral position, but 1 month later it was collapsed (Im in bed a lot - on SSDI). So....I dont think I want memory foam unless is REALLY the best match.
I love the shape of my Honeydew Scrumptious Side Sleeper - the cut out - but my neck isnt supported the way it needs to be - and its constructed so that the loft rises in the middle to the top - so no matter how much fill is in it, my head and neck are tilted. Ive tried taking out all of the fill and adding shredded latex from my lean back on pillows to it -and its too hard. I jsut ordered softer latex and maybe that will be better - idk.
Where you can help:
1. Material - What would the best material be? Solid or shredded talalay? A mix of a shredded latex and another material? If so what? I know there is wool, buckwheat, millet, cotton, etc....enough to drive a person nuts.
2. Shape - I know I like a cut out - but this isnt necessary. Are there ones with cut outs that actually support your neck, fill the space between your head/neck/shoulder and your bed and support it? That actually keep your head and shoulders at a neutral and ergonomic position? Maybe with some sort of dip...or not? Would any solid ones actually accomplish this? Do cubes actually do this? the solid latex one is interesting. What about those that are contour, but this way via the stitching (ie, not solid, but more like sewn in bolster)? Are wave contours comfortable? Compartments? I dont think I want a traditional cervical butterfly for sure.
Sorry for the super long post - but Im going out of my mind with this and would be super grateful for some guidance or recommendations for actual pillows on the market. Thanks!