Ten years ago I fractured 2 vertebrae in my neck/back (C7/T1). I'd never needed a special pillow previously so I struggled with "normal" pillows for 1.5 years. Then a new chiropractor turned me onto the Therapeutica pillow. It took a week or two to adjust to it but I've never looked back. All it takes is 3-4 days away from home on a "normal" pillow to remind me what an extraordinary difference this pillow makes to my neck. Without it, I wake up with neck & back pain, muscle strain, and head aches. The additional cervical/upper thoracic spine support makes all the difference in the world. I couldn't live without this pillow!! For those of you having difficulty with the side lying position, pull the pillow down snug against your shoulder when you roll on your side - this fully supports my entire cervical spine and I sleep like a baby :).