OPTP The Original McKenzie Night roll – Sleep Support, Size S/M

This made sleeping tolerable. Truly a lifesaver. Had a deadlifting accident and extreme bulge in l5 and also l4 bulge. This was so helpful when sleeping. I have used it almost every night of my life for months. It’s pretty big but who cares. I position is very low. May hurt at first if you’re accident is severe but once you heal a bit I find this to be more effective. Solidly 5 stars. Obviously with time you’ll squish it so it’ll be replaced but so what.

I’ve bought this item 4 times over the past 4 years and each worked well, provided good support and helped me sleep much better without back pain. But the current version is awful. For some reason, somebody changed the design and this roll is now too big in diameter, too firm and too small in length (though I bought the exact same size as before)—pretty much unusable. Very disappointed.

First, I didn't realize I could not return this when I ordered it. That is on me, lesson learned. This pillow may work for some, but it has caused me more pain in my spine and legs that even Gabapentin won't help. I felt like I was sleeping on a hard roll, not something that made you feel comfortable while giving you support if you are a side/back sleeper. Kept waking up due to the pain and being uncomfortable. So be sure this is what you need before ordering it as $40.00 is a lot to throw away if it doesn't work. The pillow itself is of good quality and worth the money, just didn't help me with my back and nerve problems. I wish you well in finding relief from your back pain. If the pillow works for you it is a 5 star, if it doesn't it is a 1. Being fair I gave it a 3 because it was a zero for me, but others might find relief and give it a 5.

I had been struggling for months with a herniated disc on L4-L5. I had been doing my physical therapy religiously, avoiding sitting, doing my stretches, going to my chiropractor, doing acupuncture - all this after 2 cortisone shots as well. But every morning I would wake up and barely be able to walk without an off-centered gait, limping, and stiffness. I would have to spend a lot of time stretching on the floor before I was able to function normally. So while I was feeling better overall, it seemed like every morning I was starting over. Enter the McKenzie night roll. This was the missing piece for me. I put this on as I'm going to bed, and I wake up and can get right out of bed and walk normally. After reading McKenzie's book "Treat Your Own Back Pain", I learned that it's important for people with disc problems to maintain the lordosis of the spine (the natural curvature at the bottom in the lumbar region) at all times. Even when sleeping. Before, even after doing everything right during the day, I was not maintaining lordosis during sleep. Now I am, and I'm feeling MUCH better! Unfortunately, NOBODY told me this: Not my chiropractor, not my physical therapist, not my acupuncturist, not my spinal doctor, not my regular doctor - nobody. I would have never thought about purchasing something like this had I not read "Treat Your Own Back Pain". So please learn from my story. Read the book, buy the night roll, and take the other advice in the book to help you recover from a lumbar herniated disc!

The purpose of the McKenzie program is to RESTORE normal lordosis in lumbar and cervical spine AND discs. Distortion of the spine and discs (bulge, rupture, etc.) is what causes pain. I could see how this roll might not work if you are not following the book TO THE LETTER. And that includes constantly correcting your posture (which the books teach you exactly how to do) sitting, standing, walking AND sleeping. You are building a habit of good posture, which means consistently strengthening the postural muscles. My neck started acting up while I was working on the lumbar program. Instead of reading the neck program and starting that, I thought I would go to the chiropractor for a quick fix and he over-adjusted me and made it worse. So I started the neck program. When I was in a lot of pain, back and neck, the excercises initially increased the pain, but the pain reduced every time I did the exercises. When I hit a roadblock, I went back to the book and discovered I missed something. My pillow was a big issue for my neck and I had to get another one that I could use with the cervical roll. I so wish I had discovered this method years ago. I'm 72 now and so grateful I'm getting my strength back as well as significantly reducing all kinds of pain. I found that correcting my posture also improved my rotator cuff issues (full thickness tear, really painful, debilitating, refused surgery bc they always end up doing it over, makes money for them, doesn't heal you. Also used a copper infused brace that restricted shoulder movement, allowing to use you hand fairly normally while preventing re-injury of rotator cuff. I started the lumbar exercises about 3 months after starting the shoulder brace and the lumbar exercises accelerated the healing.). Only complaint is that it flattens out too soon. I'm buying another one because it's easier to use than constantly having to re-roll a towel.

I had great expectations that this support would ease my lower back pain while sleeping, but unfortunately it did not. It is large and you feel almost silly wearing it, like one of those blow up beach life saver rings, but surprisingly it wasn't too bad sleeping with. I'm thinking a wedge to elevate the legs may work better for me. I did try using it several times and still awoke with the same pain. It didn't seem to help me and I could understand that some people would have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep with it on (it feels awkward). It was worth a try...it now sits under my bed collecting dust :(

This product is ridiculous. It costs a ton, but it's really only a bit of foam with an ill-fitting cover. It's far too large and too firm to actually fit under the lumbar spine when one is sleeping. It left my back hurting more than before. Additionally, you can't even return the item. Be aware before you buy that there will be no trying it out and then returning it for a refund. You will be stuck with your overpriced strip of useless foam. Oh, and it ties onto your body in a very unhelpful way, because it's hard to tie it tight enough to stay put. That equals lots of wake-ups during the night when you will be forced to wrestle with this bulky girdle that prevents you from easily turning or changing positions in bed. Don't waste your money. You'll find yourself awake and uncomfortable all night, with a painful back in the morning.

UPDATE: I originally wrote this review the first of January 2023; it's now the middle of March 2023. I still haven't sought medical treatment for my back. Currently I'm on the fence as to whether it was a lumbar issue, or possibly a gluteus medius muscle strain/injury/pull? Whatever the issue, the key word in that sentence is 'was'. I'm not saying I'm back to 100%, but I'm now definitely somewhere in the 90+%. I still sleep with this thing every night, and I still wrap it a little lower than the product guide recommends. All the daytime back pain and difficulty bending down and sometimes even walking, is gone! Obviously I can't guarantee others will have my same results, but as I said below, I would buy this thing again in a heartbeat -- it has seriously been worth every penny! Cheers again! ________ So, I'm fairly certain I have an issue with one of my lumbar discs but have stubbornly not sought medical attention just yet. Sleeping had been a nightmare when trying to sleep flat on my back -- that's to say, I could lay on my back without issue or pain, but the moment I would try to get up, the lower back pain was almost unbearable. So I started side sleeping, which only helped a small amount. Yada yada, I was finally recommended this and picked it up on a whim... It is absolutely incredible. I probably look a bit ridiculous tying this thing around my waist at night, but no matter. I've been using it nearly two weeks now and my sleep has improved at least 70-80% or better. It recommends putting the product around the small of your back, but I go lower for my own personal comfort. Seriously, I don't typically leave Amazon product reviews, but this thing has worked beyond my expectations and I needed to show them some love. It's a simple design and idea and if there ever comes a day when I wear this one out, I'll for sure buy another. Cheers!

Good quality and comfortable a lil bit pricey.

Too thick. Don't recommend.

Don’t buy. It is scam.This product is extremely disappointing and uncomfortable to use. After just one use, my pain significantly worsened instead of improving. I am now dealing with serious lower back pain and undergoing treatment because of it. This has been a very negative experience, and I strongly recommend that others avoid purchasing this product.

after using for a while, it doesn't support than the beginning

Found the roll to be far too large for helping herniated discs. Was unable to use it at all.