Cute Kitty Sled Riding in Cardboard Box

Homedics Vibration Neck Massager with Heat - Not a fan!

My neck was killing me recently, and I also and a series of migraines. Both persisted for several weeks. In addition to the inevitable trip to the doctor's office, I went hog wild and bought a bunch of first aid type products at the drug store. Aside from a neck brace and a really cool seat device (called a BackJoy SitSmart Posture Plus) I also picked up a HoMedics Neck and Shoulder Massager with Heat. The neck brace actually helped, the BackJoy SitSmart Posture Plus also helped quite a bit too. Sadly, the HoMedics Neck and Shoulder Massager with Heat is going to have to go back to the store.

The reason why I don't like this device is that I had to hold onto it while I was using it. I could sit, stand, or lay down, but I had to hug it or wrap my arms/hands around it. Although it still "worked" technically speaking, if I have to hold onto it while I am using it then I am not very likely to use it. This device is going to go back to the store.

According to the directions there are metal pieces inside the massager that allow you to "bend" the massager device and reshape it to conform to your neck's individual shape and size. This isn't really true. It might fit around my neck snugly if I had a neck the size of a gallon paint can, but I don't so it doesn't. These pieces kind of bend, but they do not bend nearly enough. It is hard for me to believe that they advertise that it works this way when clearly no one with a neck smaller than the Incredible Hulk's will find this claim to be true. I was very disappointed. Maybe it would have been better if I went for the HoMedics NMS-375 Shiatsu Neck and Shoulder Massager with Heat version of this product.

Carex Cervical Collar - Glad I bought it!

Recently I had been suffering from migraines and neck pain. The neck pain was the worst when I would get up in the morning or when I would move my head from a laying-on-my-back position to a laying-on-my-side position. It was getting so bad after a few months that I finally went to the doctor. He was nice enough to rule out meningitis, which is always good. Who's ever in the mood for a spinal tap? That's somewhere on my bucket list between colonoscopy and root canal. One of the many things that I splurged for at the drug store was a Carex Cervical Collar. This is the soft padded collar that goes around the neck that usually makes eveyone ask "What happened to you?" - as if you were in a plane crash or something. Great for sympathy points. It is also good for keeping your head and neck within certain constraints when you are trying to mimimize unnecessary movement or extension while trying to mend.

When I wore it I found out that looser was better. I could still protect my neck, without having the collar choke me. It still functioned as designed with a looser setting, in my case. I am not a doctor, or the guy who actually reads instructions, but this is what worked for me. The Carex Cervical Collar doesn't chafe necessarily, however I did notice a little bit of mild irritation on my neck. I suppose that is infinitely better however than if the neck muscles break and you become a human bobble head. That would be socially impairing. I also wore it under my winter coat while I was going out to get the mail. I'm up in New England and we just had snow. I slipped and fell backwards and fortunately no one saw me do it. I was wearing the Carex Cervical Collar at the time so I think it saved me from making my neck worse. I may have looked silly, but at least I had the protection.

I had no idea that you could actually buy a two pack when I got my first one, otherwise i would have grabbed the Carex Cervical Collar - Two Pack. I guess I was just purchasing the first one to see if it made any difference in my situation. It actually did. I've even slept with it on twice now, and I feel safe sleeping in it. I don't worry about choking, and I've had no nightmares about the Styx song "Renegade" with me as the guest of honor, so it seemed to be pretty safe at least for me. I would still check first with your doctor before trying this. I liked this device enough so that I bought a second one. I keep one at the house and the other at the office. For ten bucks you really can't go wrong, and it's there whenever you need it. Epilogue: A week later and my neck, while not pain free, is 80% better than it was. I attribute at least a portion of this success to the Carex Cervical Collar.

Thank you Carex!

BackJoy SitSmart Relief - LOVE IT!!!

Recently I was suffering from both neck pain as well as killer migraine like headaches. For a little while I worried that I might even have meningitis. It was pretty awful. I went to my personal physician and the good news is that it wasn't meningitis. However according to the doctor I did have some "really tight muscles in my neck". He advised I do some neck stretches. I decided however to be a little more proactive about the situation and so I purchased a few specialty items from Wal-Mart and the neighborhood drug store. One of the items was a remedy device that a never noticed before. It is called a BackJoy. It is a rounded or curved (seat shaped, sort of) plastic device that you sit on that is slightly curved and utilizes your body's own weight to pitch you forward slightly, thus encouraging the correct spinal curvature. You need to test out one of these.  It really made a difference with me. I wasn't dealing with back pain per se, but I did have neck pain and head aches, which can be related.

After I used this item for about a week it has helped me to be more mindful to sit forward. My posture is better, which, for a software geek, is amazing. My headaches and neck pain are getting better, did I mention that? So, investment wise, here is what I think: "Ibuprofen fades away, but plastic is forever!" I can't prove whether or not the BackJoy device is responsible for my improved pain situation, but for $34.00 it is a great value.

I am 49 years old and sit all day long in front of a computer. I'm only 5' 9" and weigh a prominent 200 pounds. I have short legs too, so my feet have to try to reach the floor sometimes, depending on the chair. I am cursed with only a 29 inch in seam. My body is ideal for leaning toward terrible posture. I am not a great example of how to not sit correctly. The BackJoy is really a great invention. I don't know what possessed some engineer to dream it up, it must have been inspiration. I am glad that the higher ups at the company took the engineer seriously and let them develop it. I wish I had a BackJoy years ago. Don't put it off, order one right on line. If you don't think it works you can always return it. I bought mine at Wal-Mart. I liked it so much that i purchased another! I have one at the house and one at my office. I am sitting on one right now.

I can't say if this device is the silver bullet cure for back pain or neck pain, but since using it I have felt considerable neck pain relief. I can definitely say that the BackJoy a legitimate remedy for neck pain. I totally love it. If you work on a computer all day, and then also spend lots of time sitting at home, you should think of ordering two BackJoy's. Keep one at home and one at work. (Maybe if you put them both in a box with soft music and a nice bottle of wine they will have children.) Note: I also tried it while driving, but would not recommend this. When driving we should sit in a way where our body weight is relaxed and supported with as much bodily contact as possible, in order to safely control and maneuver the vehicle. I felt like I was less in control when using the BackJoy while driving. I feel like I lost some of my "feel" for the car.