ProsourceFitKi Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set with 100% Natural Linen for Back/Neck Pain Relief and Muscle Relaxation

Amazing. Just as in the picture.

First off I have a severe form of fibromyalgia along with spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease and pinched nerves. My pain level at times is unbearable...worse than my emergency c-section that I had no pain control for and delivered unmedicated.I really like the blue color and the fact that it is a mat and a pillow. On the inside is a foam. The outside, well, it seems painful.When I opened the box this was wrapped in plastic. I carefully opened it and lightly touched the hard white pointed plastic points. Wow! Did I really just order a torture device?I talked my hubby into trying it first without his shirt on. Immediate pain like a million needles poking into you at once. Let me mention my hubby was on the couch for extra cushioning. No amount of extra cushioning will ease this. However he stayed on it. Within a few minutes the pain started easing and he felt a warmth on his back. He described this feeling like Icy Hot cream on your back. Another few minutes pass and he says he feels his muscles relaxing. He tells me this should help me a lot since he never has much pain. He gets off and I look at his back. Ouch that looks painful.I decide to wait until close to bedtime and use this on our bed. After removing my clothes I carefully lay on this midieval torture device. My first thought was "This feels like a cruel joke an a real torture device." I consider getting up but decide to try for a few minutes. Soon the painful plastic points feel less painful and I feel a gentle warmth start. Interesting. So I am laying on this with the pillow under my neck. The neck pillow does not hurt as bad. I decide to wait a while. I feel increasing warmth and secretly wonder if I am starting to bleed and die and this contraption.I stay a while longer. I suddenly start feeling weird things happening to my muscles in my lower back. I will try to explain. My muscles feel like tightly pulled string. It felt like strings were slowly started to pull apart. Almost like water balloons popping. I felt more warmth and a little pain.Now I know from experience I get stiff when laying down. So here I am alone wondering how I can get up without hurting myself. I slowly start moving. WAIT A MINUTE!!!!! Where did my constant companion go to? I did not feel stiff and I felt less pain than I had in years. I checked the mat to make sure I had not gotten cut. I was good.I wish this mat was bigger, maybe a whole body length as I hurt head to toe. I do not yet have the courage to lay it on the floor to try it that way. Can this be made to have the points retract for getting on and off easier?My husband comes back and does my night time massage. He can not believe how loose my muscles felt...especially in my lower back. Needless to say I slept better than I have in a long time.Be careful touching this. I can imagine they could possibly cut. I will wait a week or so to use this on the floor. If your pain is bad, use it on your couch or bed until you can tolerate this weird feeling more.This is a helpful product that I am glad I bought. I really wish it came with a storage bag for when it is not in use.This will definitely be used every day.

Update March 2020: My love of Spikeo (affectionate name for this inanimate object) is known through all my friends, and over time many have tried it. At least 4 of my friends who have tried mine ending up buying one. Even people who think it looks terrifying have found it remarkably soothing. One thing: About a year into my relationship with Spikeo I bought another one to live at my parent’s house for when I have longer visits over the holidays. The new one was SO sharp — turns out that with daily use, the spikes get slightly dull over time. Eventually I felt like my original wasn’t packing the same punch, so bought a new one for myself about 18 months after the original purchase. My new one is gray, which is actually quite pretty and a little less garish. I would advise everyone to get new spikes every couple years or so if you want that signature OUCH with your pain relief.Original review:I have fibromyalgia and have spent hundreds of dollars on various pain remedies throughout the years. Most things haven't really helped, including physical therapy -- the only thing that would provide relief was Tylenol and scalding hot showers. This mat appears to be invented by a sadist and it definitely HURTS, but with regular use my pain has become much, much better. It also helps relieve pain when it happens, but I've found it to be more useful in reducing pain generally rather than addressing a particular pain spot.My best evidence of its effectiveness is that I get extremely thirsty after massages and the same thing happens when I lie on the mat for 20-40 minutes. I don't know what the thirst means (a quick Google says something about the lymphatic system?) but I take it as a sign that this mat actually does something for my knotted-up muscles.I love the mat so much that I made the following meme. I hope it helps in your decision on whether to purchase this.

Like many other reviewers, I too was skeptical about this mat of sharp plastic. But, having chronically tight shoulders, the $20 price tag seemed worth a shot. The first 2-3 minutes feel like fire torture: everything hurts and starts to burn. After the initial feeling of being stabbed subsides, the muscles warm and just relax into the mat. I usually lie on it for 30-40 minutes at a time. The mat does leave marks that last for 5-10 minutes, and the muscles are red and warm to the touch--similar to a mild sunburn. However, the tension relief is real! My back and shoulders are noticeably looser after a session on the stabby mat. Yes, it's cheap and has a small learning curve to figure out how to lie down without scraping yourself. If you can handle that, this mat-o-doom may be an affordable path to pain relief!(It should be noted: I have a decent pain tolerance and use this without clothing. It might be too much for anyone with sensitive skin.)