Spry Recovery Pillow - Orthopedic Neck & Back Support Pillow with Contoured Lumbar & Spine Relief - Adaptive Flo-Form Technology for Office, Home, Travel & Post-Surgery Recovery (Gray)

So I’ve been a long time fan- I first was introduced to spry on a hunt for sensory items for children with autism as a behavior therapist. I happened upon their tiny stress ball version of this pillow when they sold it on Amazon and bought it in the light grey cover. That was probably like five years ago now and it became my constant stress companion. It is still not just alive and well but thriving even after consistent abuse by not only myself but many clients over the years. I have been eying the full pillow for years ever since I found out they existed but didn’t feel I could justify the price on my budget. I finally caved after getting a gift card. I pretty much bought this for comfort and could not resist the idea of having not only a useful cushion but a MEGA stress reliever. And I was not disappointed.So there are some subtle differences between the stress ball sized and the full size pillow and I’m not sure if that is for their different purposes or just changes the company made with time. The cases are different but both nice- the stress ball has a slick stretch fabric and the pillow case actually feels like soft brushed leggings. It’s very nice actually. Secondly, the stress ball has what I can only describe as Orbees mixed in with the usual smushy substance that makes up the pillow. The pillow is completely smooth inside and it is HEFTY. the stress ball is so ultra light it is almost like it’s made out of foam but this pillow has a heft I couldn’t believe when I first picked it up. I actually love this feature although perhaps it might be trickier to use as a travel pillow on planes as I had planned. The pillow is also actually bigger than I expected. Not necessarily in its dimensions (I’d say it’s a bit bigger than your average travel pillow) but in its thickness. You see, the gooey insert is actually condensed into the much smaller stretchy pillowcase so that it is more plump than if it were flat. I’ve included a picture comparing the two so you can see the substantial amount of squishing it endures inside the case. This makes it much more functional than I expected for actual body support and use for sleeping.I made a new pillow case for both the pillow and the stress ball out of that super soft mochi “squishmallow” fabric for ultimate stress relief and matching of my decor (highly recommend) and ended up actually sleeping with it the first night. It’s definitely a game changer even just paired with another pillow or used as a bolster for neck, shoulders, arm etc as a side sleeper. I found great relief using it to cushion my collarbone area to prevent my shoulders from folding in on themselves. I can’t even make up a reason to return my impulse purchase.Mind you I’ve had the stress ball for five years and used it pretty much daily and it has not ever even looked as though it might pop or crack. It looks just as new as the day I bought it and neither cushions have any air bubbles. The material really does feel sturdy and has a little bit of stretch to it to be forgiving. That being said, this pillow is filled with gel and heavy use in the same positions certainly could be a risk. With the weight of this larger pillow and the fact that it is super scrunched up in the case, that could maybe be why some of the reviews show the rips. Over time, the plastic creases a little so I think the best defense against this is to occasionally pull your pillow out of the case and let it lay flat to breath, and also repositioning it to avoid spots constantly folded or stretched in the same ways constantly. Especially if you are placing a lot of weight on it as a wheelchair cushion where the gel gets pushed to the sides. The cover is well made and thick/ supportive, so it should be a good defense for the insert as well.My only critique is that the pillow was shipped with the bagged product inside another Amazon mailer bag. So definitely a potential for abuse or crushing during shipping that could create damaged or stressed spots on the insert. I feel a box would be a safer option.I love these pillows and will definitely offer them as sensory and comfort items in my future practice as I transition to marriage and family therapy.