NeckFix Cervical Neck Traction Device – 12-17 Inch

It took me a week or so to realize that I had a pinched nerve in my neck (based on which fingers are numb, I believe the root is at C8, but possibly other cervical areas, too). Up to that point, I assumed I'd just pulled a muscle in my shoulder or arm and tried rest, ice, and some thrice-daily ibuprofen in the hopes that it would knock down the discomfort and occasional pain and let my body heal itself. When that "treatment" didn't change anything (except make me anxious at the growing list of physical tasks I was ignoring), I went to a massage therapist. Three visits there didn't provide any meaningful relief, so I figured I would give it one more solid week of rest and anti-inflammatory medication and then see if a chiropractor could help fix this. I noticed some home-traction devices out there and tried a couple of them, but didn't get any relief (and they were kind of annoying because of the ratio of setup time to use time). This item was recommended in my searching about neck traction (which seems like what a chiropractor might do for me), so I figured I'd give it a whirl. It's still early (I just started using it yesterday afternoon), but after using it a few times yesterday and a few times today, I'm noticing a small decrease in my pain/discomfort. I find that I feel a little better when using the device and feel worse when I take it off, so that seems to point to its actually doing something for me. Of course, I'd like those positive effects to linger, but maybe that will happen in the next few days. Other than ibuprofen, this has been the only treatment that's yielded any relief. I may still go to a chiropractor next week to see what they say (maybe I have a Yugo-sized tumor on my neck or something), but I also plan to keep using this thing unless/until doing so causes discomfort/pain (which I doubt).

I bought this device a few years ago. I used it when i had acute pain in the neck and this device really helped get me better in a few weeks. I stored it in a small ottoman in the living room and never used it since that time. As you can see it still looks new, apart from the electric tape I put around the air-hose a few inches below where it meets the pillow fabric. Sadly, I had a flare-up of this neck pain and immediately went to get my NeckFix. However, I could not inflate it. I then noticed a small blister in the hose. Apparently there was a small hole. So I taped it with electric tape thinking it would fix it! But nope - my fix attempt did not work. I suspect the material aged before anything else in this device. It would be great to find a replacement hose so I won't have to buy a new one.

Very much looked forward to the relief the collar professes to offer. Read instructions and put the device on as recommended. Unfortunately, the collar did not work for me, when inflated. Must say, the material and workmanship of this product are as advertised. It felt most comfortable when first fitted - before inflation. Everything about this product is, IMO, excellent - save it's fit, and the resulting pressure across my laryngeal prominence (Adam's apple) after it has been inflated according to instructions. It is a very, very unpleasant sensation, having such pressure across the front of one's throat. Most disappointing is that I was not able to inflate the collar fully, the irritation of having my throat compress in this fashion, being the most attention-grabbing sensation. My neck measurement is 18-1/2" in diameter. I wear 18 1/2" dress shirts (fully buttoned) comfortably. The actual diameter of the CNTD is, of course, reduced during the inflation process. As the airbags swell, the advertised "fitted" diameter reduces proportionally. The problem is, the reduction is much greater than expected. The promotional material states that this collar fits a 19" neck - and it does - BEFORE INFLATION. Then tried closing the velcro at just the tips of the hook and loop to make the fit less irritating and uncomfortable; it failed to hold as the bags inflated, simply popping apart. I'm sure this is a wonderful product, but I'm guessing, as constructed, its effectiveness is for those whose neck diameter is 16", maybe 17", or less. Perhaps a longer tab or an included tab-extension may answer. Even relocating the tabs away from the inside of the bag (throat) and to the outer portion of the bags may be the way to go. Not a design engineer, but this pressure across ones Adam's apple is not pleasant. It is unfortunate that the Seller is of the opinion that his device fits comfortably a 19" neck. If your neck size is 16" or so, I'd say go for it. It really seems like a good product. If your neck is 18"+/-, I might suggest some thoughtfulness before ordering. I shall reluctantly contact the Seller and request to return the collar and receive a refund. If everything goes as I expect, I will change the rating to 5 Stars. As I mentioned, the product is well made with what appears to be quality material. EDIT -- 01-15-2019 Sent CNTD back by UPS and notified by Amazon that refund has been paid. Deeply impressed and very satisfied with both NeckFix and Amazon. Changed rating to 5-Stars.

EDIT: after some weeks, The Velcro is basically unusable and the pump popped out every time the pillow is full enough to do anything useful. It would be really effective if those things weren’t so bad, but I just can’t hold the pillows Velcro and the pump at the same time when I have pain from neuropathy in my hands that runs up to my neck. Such a bummer . First of all-if you have a way to check and verify idk-I NEVER DO REVIEWS. This pillow has honestly been a life-changing thing for me, I honestly believe (especially with everyday use FOR ME-everyone is different). Have you ever used a yoga roller and positioned it so that you get a suuuper deep stretch in your hip flexors that is almost euphoric? This is what I feel in my cervical spine area everytime I use this pillow. I waited a while to do a review to see if it held up and inflated efficiently over time, and sure enough, it has-even though the dang hose disconnect a every time I go to strap it around my neck. If you kind of LIGHTLY hold the Velcro areas while you’re inflating then it’s okay, otherwise add your own strong stuff. But you guys, I have pretty significant cervical lordosis, and in addition hold my stress in my shoulders/upper back. Even just traditional yoga stretching would trigger the WORST headache/nausea sensation a couple days after-so it didn’t really seem like there was hope. It was even hard for me to freaking relax my shoulders and let my arms hang normally because of how it pulled-I’d sort of turtle-up, if you can imagine that. Now, for me, you have lay flat on the floor and make sure your lower back in stretched and you’re PRESSING INTO THE FLOOR with your spine, and sort of make sure your shoulders are pushed down a bit further than normal while inflating. Once velcroed, I sort of pull the back of the pillow into that part of my lordosis where my neck curves in, and keep it there while I pump. First, you will feel great stuff lol, next, this amazing pulling/deeep stretching from the base of your skull down your neck (I’m laying here now writing this because I felt a little pop (good kind) in my neck vertebrate from being extended upward and I’ve NEVER been able to experience that. IT IS HEAVEN. Ok, but the BEST part, is after you feel it’s inflated to a good starting spot, you relax your shoulder and let them roll up towards your color bone naturally. OH MY GOSH. For me, this gives an almost-excuse me for saying-orgasmic stretching sensation RIGHT where I want it down my neck and the base of my neck, and downward into my whole upper back. The first time I did this, I’ll admit, I was afraid to let go completely because the feeling was overwhelming and there was the most intense-not painful-but BURNING stretch in the area where the pain was originating from in my shoulder blade to cause headaches/nausea. After only a couple days, YOU GUYS, I had a neck aagain; and could relax my shoulders down, and started to be able to practice turning just my head/neck side-to-side to the point that I don’t have a freaking weird long flab of skin because of skeleton wasn’t sitting right and my neck/pectoral/deltoid(?) muscles were able to be utilized properly and not hunched up!!! I was in tears a couple times, honestly. It’s always been a big insecurity of mine, and I feel like I have some control to change MY OWN BODY AND FEEL BETTER AT THR SAME TIME!! If you’re in the fence: get it!!!! You can always return if you find that it doesn’t suit your specific issues-but then again-MAKE SURE TO GIVE IT A COUPLE TRIES so you can position yourself how YOU will tell good. For example, my mother-in-law likes to pull the pillow up as she’s inflating behind her head so her head/neck are titled at and angle, because she reds a stretch in a different part. No matter what, it feel freaking amazing to be able to lay down at the end of a long, physically painful day (I also will sometimes lay on one of the acupressure mats-woah that’s awesome for real), and just feel the SENSATION IN YOUR NECK/SPINE WITHOUT HAVING WEIGHT OF YOUR HEAD CONSTANTLY SITTING ON IT. Honestly. I think just for that reason a line you won’t want to give this up-and the price isn’t too bad so you can even have it around for times when your hurting or need a little lightweight feeling. Guys, IVE NEVER written a review on Amazon (like if I have it’s been 2 sentences max YEARS ago) but look at the novel I just published lol. I’m forcing myself to do this because I feel like it could help someone else gain confidence, and be able to stand and walk so you feel loose and limber and sexy, and NOT have that weird nerve pain that I’ve lived with since I was a teen (does anyone know what I mean btw?) anyways. Best of luck, and I hope this product serves you like it did me. NOTE: since this is such an over-the-top review lol, I just wanna state that I’m not being paid in ANY way for this review, and don’t work for the company in anyway (I don’t even remember the name of the company to be honest without going back and looking lmao). Just trying to help my fellow people out there trying to make it everyday the best they can, and hopefully turn people on to a way to relax, and feel some small (or big!) pleasure/relief after those hard days because we all deserve that in life :) LAST IMPORTANT NOTE: if you are getting a really deep stretch down your cervical spine and especially if you remain in that position for a while: BE SURE to start to slowly move your head from side to side and engage your core to lift your neck up very slowly when you’re getting up or else you could injure yourself easily. You’re starting to build new muscles in an area where they’ve been weekend for a while and just always be sure to be gentle on your body and go slowly. There’s no rush to work up to the place you want to be at but you definitely don’t want to injure yourself. I can just speak from experience when I try to set up after stretching between my shoulder blades for so long it feels really stiff almost and weak to lift and if I just roll my head and use the muscle that feels stiff to pick myself up slowly with my core then it builds strength and makes it easier and easier and protects you from injury. I promise I’m done now

I'm not sure how this even works for people. Maybe it's because I have a long neck? Anyway, it doesn't work at all for me because it's open at the front and also inflates more at the back. The result is that it partially works if you're reclining and doesn't work at all if you're sitting up straight, so you get no benefit sitting in an office chair or walking around. You can always tuck your chin forward, since it only gives support on the back, so there is never any real traction from the device - getting traction is only possible by wedging yourself into your chair headrest or mattress when reclining. Maybe that's OK for people planning to use it while they sleep, but I would be extremely wary of sleeping using any device that inflates around your neck, since it constricts your bloodflow and could cause you to pass out without warning just like a martial arts chokehold. It's hard to even see what the point of this device is. It doesn't provide full traction all around because it's basically open in the front, and the only way to get it closed enough to function is to pull the straps so tight that you're choking yourself. Even if you were willing to do this, the velcro doesn't extend far enough to really work for an extremely tight close. I honestly don't know how this even works for anybody, let alone hundreds of people giving 5 stars. A regular foam cervical collar will support your head better without any risk of constricting your neck.

Several weeks ago I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in my neck. In addition to physical therapy, my doctor suggested that I look on line for an inexpensive devise to help relieve pain in between my PT visits and in the future. I found the Neck Fix. I used this device for several weeks and each time I felt relief from the pressure on the nerve. The Neck Fix is easy to use, easy to inflate and comfortable while in use. The best thing might be the extremely good customer service. After 6 weeks of use, I encountered a problem with the pump. I contacted them by email on Sunday morning explaining my problem. Within 3 hours I received an email stating that they would be sending me an entirely new complete unit upon them receiving my mailing address. I sent it to them and they responded again telling me that the product was in the mail and that they had upgraded my devise. You just don't get this kind of service anymore. I will not hesitate to use this company again.

In the ad's and videos... The inflation does not show the strands that hook up via Velcro... Even the pamphlet shows a woman fully inflated with both ends touching. I have a long thin neck. The two straps... Were at least 2 to 3 inches from each other.... There wasn't much lift under my chin. Except by the lower strap... There should be a size choice... Those Velcro straps can only go so far and they would lose their hold from pumping too much trying to get that chin area to raise higher even though it was uncomfortable... If you have a thin neck it just won't fit... Even with the pic of a woman looking totally fit. Either she had a thick long neck which is not normal or it was customized... They should offer a sizing option. Measure your neck and decide small, medium or large... They need different sizes... The strap should not make it fit... It only chokes you... The aired up pads should... So either make different sizes... Or extend what the Velcro can hook up to and make sure it's strong enough to handle the tension... I am returning mine... Great idea... Poor conception poor engineering... Poor development... If you can sende a upgraded version that fixes the main issue... I'll retract this review. Pay you again as I asked for a refund... And retract my FB comments as well. And reiterate my friends and followers to buy your product as long as it is a 2.0 version or whatever you might send me to try out and verify that this is what you should buy... Make it better... Good luck... Make me a customer again... Happy customer...

I bought this device after speaking with my doctor and getting his recommendations for a self-managed traction option to help manage my cervical stenosis pain. I've got an over-the-door waterbag device, but it requires two people to use safely and to be honest, is uncomfortable. I wanted something that I could use more easily in conjunction with the over-the-door device, and after getting the green light for this type of product, ordered this particular option. It's delightfully comfortable, from putting it on through the traction period. The ability to control the inflation/traction is reassuring, and it's simple and easy to use by myself. The pillows are velvet-feeling and fit my neck nicely. I did have an issue figuring out how to inflate the device at first. The bulb that came with my set has an open hole at the end -- by design or perhaps there was supposed to be a stopper that I'm missing I'm not sure -- but once I got the hang of covering the hole while pumping, it wasn't an issue at all. The 'bead' was difficult to move at first as well, but after two or three uses is much more malleable. I can use the device without problem, and I can feel a difference after a few sessions. It doesn't eliminate the pain, but it does help the pain management. This device does NOT replace my over-the-door device, but works nicely as an option in conjunction with that system, and is definitely worth it for the price. I'd recommend asking your doctor if you're using the device to manage any condition, as it does manipulate the spine, and am careful not to overinflate the device to the point of pain or difficulty breathing, but wouldn't hesitate to buy another of these if something happened to the one I have! I'm so thankful for a self-managing traction option to include in my pain management regimen! Oh, and the small ball that comes with the device is a delightful little device as well! Light yet firm, the small spikes are perfect for muscle massage in a variety of places, including my neck. It's definitely a great bonus to the traction device purchase!