What Worked, What Didn’t, and What I’d Do Again
I didn’t plan to write about my own injury—but when I started sharing this story casually, I realized how many people were dealing with similar pain. This is what actually helped me support my body through a slipped disc, and what I’d absolutely do again.
Back in 2021, I was thriving—full blast—as a massage therapist of many years. Way too many deep tissue sessions per week. But I had built this thing up since 2005, and I was not going to back down. This was my income. My family’s income. As a single mom of two, I loved what I did.
I was booked out a year ahead for the most part. I hadn’t taken a new client since 2016. I had this steady, loyal, beautiful clientele—most of whom had been seeing me regularly for nearly 20 years.
I was getting tired, and maybe… just maybe… I let my body mechanics trail off a little. I was trying to fit all 25 clients into three days per week so I could be present for my kids when they were with me. This is the absolute beauty of being a solo massage therapist—you get to make your own schedule, and your clients love you enough to show up when you’re available.
(And thank you, by the way, if you’re reading this and you’ve supported me for all these years. Truly.)
When My Body Started Whispering (and Then Yelling)
Anyhow—back to 2021.
One day, I started getting a little tingle in my right pinky. Weird.
Keep going, it’ll stop.
Except… it didn’t.
I knew it was coming from my neck. I’m looking down all day. Pushing down all day. Leaning over the table and putting my whole body weight into my work (more on why that was dumb another day).
I worked for a couple weeks like this. I got massages from other therapists in my building. I iced. I heated. I used all the essential oils, medicated creams, balms, patches, and lotions. Everything felt great—but the tingle didn’t go away.
It got worse.
It crept up to my elbow, then my shoulder, and settled into a deep ache. But I kept working. Because that’s what we do.
The Diagnosis I Didn’t Want (But Needed)
Finally, I went to my favorite chiropractor.
(Why didn’t I do this first? Because I always think I can fix it myself.)
She determined that one of my cervical discs was slipping out just a bit. She was confident we could fix it without surgery. Her adjustments helped—a lot—but every few days the tingling and ache would return.
And then… things shifted.
What Actually Helped (After Everything Else Didn’t)
1. The Posture Pump®
During one of my many chiropractic visits, she suggested we try something different.
She said, “It looks a little crazy, but I think it might help.”
She brought in a device that looked straight out of a medieval torture chamber. At this point, I was game for anything.
She strapped my head into it and pumped a small chamber under my neck—right below my occipital bone (think blood pressure cuff). I felt a little dizzy at first… and then it started to feel really good.
It was decompressing the area where the disc was slipping in and out.
I stayed on it for maybe two minutes and thought, Okay… now THIS might help.
She sent me a link to the Posture Pump® Neck Exercising Cervical Spine Hydrator
I bought it that day.
I used it for 2–3 minutes, three times a day, for two weeks.
2. The Sutera Dream Deep Contour Memory Foam Pillow
And right around the same time, another thing entered my orbit…
Listen. We all have at least seven pillows at home that promised to fix our neck pain, right?
No? Just me?
This one actually worked.
I don’t even remember where I heard about it—an ad? A recommendation? No idea. But it promised better alignment, less neck pain, fewer headaches, less snoring, and better sleep no matter how you sleep.
Sold.
It looks a little weird, but it has this perfect divot for your neck when you’re on your back—almost the same feeling as the Posture Pump, just gentler (because, you know, sleep).
When you roll to your side, it supports that space between your shoulder and head perfectly. I’m not a stomach sleeper (that sounds awful), but it supports that too.
The SUTERA Dream Deep Contour Memory Foam Pillow
I bought two. One for my house and one for my boyfriend’s house. (Another story, another day.)
The Outcome
The combination of:
Regular chiropractic adjustments → Go see the docs at Columbus Spine and Sport Center- if you live in Columbus, OH
…changed everything.
The dull ache and tingling went away. I was able to keep working in the same capacity. I still sleep on that pillow, and I’ve recommended it to so many people who now love it too. Everyone in my family has one—in both houses.
I truly have fewer headaches and less neck pain. And yes—he snores way less.
Once in a while, I’ll feel a little twinge in my neck or arm. When that happens, I pull out that medieval-looking device, lay on it for three minutes, and boom—my neck settles.
Final Thoughts
I hope this story helps you.
If you’re dealing with neck pain, headaches, or nerve symptoms—there is hope and there is help. See your massage therapist. See your chiropractor. And support yourself at home with the right tools in between sessions.
Have you tried either of these products? I’d love to hear how they worked—or didn’t—for you.
Talk soon,
Melinda
Affiliate Disclosure:
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. All products shared here are ones I personally use in my massage practice or in my own body care and well-being. I only recommend what I truly trust and find helpful.
This post is not medical advice—just my personal experience with what supported my body through a stubborn injury.
If you’re curious about the tools I mentioned above, you can find them linked here. These are products I personally use and trust, and purchasing through these links helps support my work at no additional cost to you.