I've had terrible neck pain and cycled through six different pillows in three years – I've finally found 'The One' and 10,000 people a month swear by it, too

It’s been almost three years to the day since a car rear-ended me at speed, resulting in whiplash and a concussion. The stubborn neck pain has changed my life for the worse, and sleep has been a constant battle, as I also have an illness that means injuries easily become chronic and long-lasting.

I’ve cycled through six different neck pain pillows over the past three years whilst looking for relief, and I'm thrilled to say I have finally found ‘The One’ on Amazon. It looks quite alien, but it has been the best one I've tried by far, gently cradling my neck at night and helping me achieve that much-coveted restful sleep.

In fact, 10,000 people bought it last month, and I’m not surprised it’s an enduring Amazon bestseller: In my experience, it's one of the best pillows.

Why this neck pain pillow is 'The One'

Save 43%

DONAMA Cervical Pillow for Neck and Shoulder: was $59.99 now $33.99 at Amazon

It has a few crucial features that set it apart from other neck pain pillows I’ve tried. It works for back and side sleepers, and its dents and grooves cradle your neck and skull, however you are positioned on it. This stops your neck from hyper-extending in your sleep, which is a leading cause of nighttime neck pain. The cover is breathable and zips on and off for machine washing, whilst the memory foam retains its shape and circulates air well.

View Deal

As someone with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, an incurable disease where hypermobility (joints extending too far) is one of the key and lifelong issues, this neck pain pillow from Amazon has been a total game changer since my car crash.

Now, if I lie on my side, my shoulder is no longer compressed, which is handy as the disc bulges in my cervical spine from the crash typically push radiating pain to my shoulders.

It's comfortable for side sleepers like me, but even if you have no neck pain, it's a worthy addition, especially if you often wake up with a stiff neck.

When I sleep on my back, my head no longer lolls to the side in my sleep. The height of this ergonomic pillow is perfect too – not too high, not too low, and wherever I am positioned, my neck remains in a neutral position. That has been transformative for helping me sleeping better, which, as a person in chronic pain, is no mean feat.

Truly, this design deserves an award, if you ask me. I’ve been able to sleep for longer stretches, finally, and no longer begin my day with crushing neck pain. It doesn’t feel too hot to sleep on either, making it a great addition for sleeping in the heat.

The only thing to note is the funny shape makes putting your regular pillow case on a bit tricky, unless you have some larger ones in your linen closet. The pillow’s cover is washable, though, so you can skip a separate pillow case if you wish.

If like me, you like having that proper pillow case, these mulberry silk pillow cases from Amazon will fit nicely and are machine washable. I always use silk pillow cases to stop my hair from frizzing overnight and because they're gentler on my skin.

You'll need a silk detergent, such as the pH-neutral and fragrance-free Heritage Park silk detergent from Amazon, and can handwash it, or run it in the washer with a mesh laundry bag, also available from Amazon, so it doesn't get snagged on other items or the machine itself.

If you're still keen to shop around, find out more about the best places to buy pillows, and here are some of the best-rated alternatives by our team of expert sleep testers.

The best of the rest

Staying comfortable at night can be influenced by a number of things. Investing in the best mattress and cooling sheets will turbocharge your sleep.

As with any of the best memory foam pillows, this one shouldn't be steam cleaned as that will warp the complex structure. Instead, learn how to clean a memory foam pillow to keep yours fresh.