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While seeing a professional should always be one’s first recourse in the event of chronic pain, these days it is easier to stay on top of pain management because there are so many effective pain relief tools and devices at our disposal.
Below, we’ve curated a selection of HuffPost readers’ top pain relief tools and devices based on data from our previous coverage. These items are available at a range of price points and can be used for common ailments like plantar fasciitis, arthritis, menstrual cramps, migraines, TMJ pain and beyond.
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Take a look at the ones HuffPost readers are scooping up in droves and consider picking up a few for yourself for some much-needed relief.
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A Thera Cane massager
HuffPost readers and physical therapists love that this cane-shaped massager eliminates muscle knots and has six attached treatment balls for targeted body massaging.
"This is a convenient tool for working out tension and muscle knots that sit in hard-to-reach places of the shoulders and upper back. I love to use it while watching TV at the end of a long day. Easy to use and great for anyone who works a desk job," Monica Frydach, a Wisconsin-based physical therapist and founder of Moving Like A Mother, previously told HuffPost.
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Rad Rounds
Melissa Oleson, a physical therapist, registered yoga instructor and integrative nutritional health coach, keeps Rad Rounds on standby at home. (And so do HuffPost readers). These balls relieve aches and pains associated with conditions like plantar fasciitis and myofascial pain. They're designed for targeted massaging use, so you simply rub one around in circular motions on the affected areas for relief.
"Rad Rounds are essentials in my house to help keep me moving, work on my mobility, and trigger point trouble spots to help combat that forward posture we get from being behind our devices or as recovery tools from workouts," Oleson said.
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Slippery Stuff lubricant
Physical therapist Kristin Sapienza founded FemFirstHealth, a New York-based practice that specializes in pelvic floor physical therapy for women who suffer from pelvic pain, pain with sex or recovering from childbirth. She (and tons of HuffPost readers) finds the fragrance-free Slippery Stuff lubricant to be helpful to the patients that they treat.
"Sometimes extra lubricant can be stigmatized as if 'you need extra help.' But it comes very much in handy to have in your nightstand to prevent soreness from too much friction and improves sensation on both ends or for single play. It also increases pleasure and achieves a better chance of reaching an orgasm as well as enhancing it," Sapienza said.
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Plackers disposable dental guards
Dr. Richard M. Lipari, a dentist at Lipari & Mangiameli Dentistry noted in previous reporting that the best option for those dealing with TMJ pain is to get yourself a night guard professionally fitted by a dentist. But we all know that the cost of specialized dentistry can be inaccessible. In the meantime, these Plackers teeth guards may be an excellent solution. They have 15,090 five-star ratings on Amazon, and even hardcore grinding reviewers have said they're incredibly effective at preventing jaw and head tension and pain.
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TheraFace device
Not only is the TheraFace a skin care dream, but it can do wonders for TMJ-related jaw pain. My partner who suffers from TMJ uses it daily and has found it to be hugely helpful in reducing her pain levels and achieving major tension relief. She prefers the cone-shaped attachment, but will occasionally use the flat or micro point heads for a slightly less localized or intense massage. It’s one of the very few things that has made a noticeable difference in her pain management. The device is definitely pricey, but it's multifunctional and can help a lot in the discomfort department, and that alone makes it worth its weight in gold. HuffPost readers agree and bought it in droves.
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A pair of compression massage boots
"My compression boots massage my feet and calves using air and they squeeze my muscles, which feels really good," Kate Inoue, company dancer for the Los Angeles Ballet previously told HuffPost. "After a long day, I usually use them on the highest setting and it makes me feel refreshed and ready for the next day."
We found this highly rated pair of compression boots that feature three operation modes and three intensities combined with 10 professional massage programs that mimic the real feeling of human hands. These rechargeable, cordless boots claim to reduce leg and foot swelling, relieve pain and improve circulation with regular use. They currently have an 80% off coupon that you can click to redeem at Amazon.
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A myofasical release massage stick
Inoue said she uses this spindle roller massager especially on the arches of her feet, along tired calves and even the tops of her thighs. Myofasical release sticks like this can provide targeted muscle therapy and reduce pain by improving blood and lymphatic circulation as well as relaxing and stretching contracted muscles, and HuffPost readers love them.
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Pain-relieving arnica gel
Pacific Northwest Ballet soloist Madison Rayn Abeo regularly applies arnica gel, a kind of plant-based and homeopathic topical medicine that can temporarily relieve muscle pain and stiffness, swelling and bruising caused by minor injuries or just general overexertion. This popular non-greasy formula quickly absorbs into skin and leaves behind a pleasant cooling sensation.
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A rocking foot stetcher
According to podiatrist Louis J. DeCaro, "the best a [person] can really do is stretch the posterior column which runs from the hamstring down to the calf, to the Achilles and through the bottom of the foot to connect to the plantar fascia."
DeCaro teaches his patients heel inversion stretches, which he said should be done "prior to all activities that involve running or long walks and should be done with the foot as neutral as possible."
Although you don't need a device for the heel inversion or posterior column stretches that DeCaro refers to, many Amazon reviewers claim that this rocking foot stretcher has made "a world of difference" in treating their plantar fasciitis pain, and based on their purchase history, HuffPost readers tend to agree. It has also received the APMA seal of approval. The rocker design holds the foot in the optimal position for an accurate and efficient stretch and has slip-resistant pads to keep the stretcher in place while in use.
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A pair of gel ice pack socks
Another remedy, according to DeCaro, is icing the feet, but only at night and only after your last step.
"One of the most common mistakes is icing the foot during the day. Ice contracts soft tissue and thus exposes it to more tearing. If you ice after your last step for 10-15 minutes, then not only do you quadruple the healing process during the night but you avoid walking and tearing contracted tissue," DeCaro said.
These therapy socks feature full-size freezable gel packs along the sole, top of the foot and behind the heel for all-over pain relief. One Amazon reviewer with plantar fasciitis said these socks are an easy and comfortable way to ice their feet. They're available in sizes S/M and L.
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A pair of arch support orthotic inserts
DeCaro said that arch support shoe inserts are worth trying, although in some cases custom orthotics might be necessary.
These highly-rated insoles use a high arch and deep heel cup to offer support and maintain correct foot positioning so that the heel is better protected from impact. The inserts are available in both men's and women's sizing.
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An at-home paraffin wax treatment for hands
"For hand osteoarthritis, paraffin wax treatments can be helpful for pain relief," Dr. Amy Kehl, a rheumatologist with Providence St John’s Physician Partners and staff physician at Cedars Sinai, previously told HuffPost. At-home kits like this don't require a large salon-style wax warmer because the disposable gloves come pre-filled with a deeply hydrating and soothing paraffin. Enriched with jojoba oil, glycerin and lavender essential oil, they're reusable up to four treatments. HuffPost readers can't get enough of this luxurious treatment.
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A digital TENS unit
Dr. Carlos Guanche, a Los Angeles-based orthopedic surgeon, previously told HuffPost that the theory behind TENS units is that they stimulate the superficial nerves in the body that exhaust some of the pain fibers that typically cause pain around a joint.
"Some patients do get very significant improvement with these devices," Guanche said. "For that reason, we often recommend that patients purchase an over-the-counter device that will serve as a test to see whether the stronger prescription device would be more effective."
This model is relatively affordable, has over 63,700 five-star Amazon ratings and features five modes of custom stimulation.
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Vibrating heated knee braces
Kehl said that for many patients, topical heat can be therapeutic, especially in the colder months. Experts also previously told HuffPost that heat can reduce inflammation and encourage blood flow to muscles.
These Huffpost reader-beloved heated knee braces combine a stabilizing effect on joints with soothing heat, and can be worn during regular activities. The wraps also feature four vibrating massage modes and two adjustable heat settings. Available in two colors.
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A memory foam body pillow
According to chiropractor Robert A. Hayden, poor sleep posture is one culprit that frequently causes neck and back pain.
"I coach our patients to sleep using a side sleeping posture, if possible, with a body pillow placed so you can hug it with both the upper arm and the upper knee supported by the pillow," Hayden previously told HuffPost. Your head should also be level with the mattress and, he said, this will keep your body better aligned.
Hayden cautions against a soft pillow that's easy to burrow into, thus creating stress points in the neck. Instead, he suggests something that's supportive and just the right height — which is why we chose this memory foam body pillow that's U-shaped so it can keep you aligned no matter which side you sleep on. You can customize the level of firmness by adding more or less shredded memory foam fill, and the breathable cotton cover is removable and machine-washable.
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A deep tissue kneading pillow
A portable electric massage option is this contoured kneading pillow that mimics a shiatsu massage. We picked it because it features three-dimensional nodules that work to relax tight and overused muscles along the back, shoulders and neck. It also offers a soothing heating function and elastic velcro straps for securing it to an office chair or car seat.
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A plush memory foam foot rest
Sitting for long periods is one sure way to hip and back pain, especially if you work at a desk all day or are too short or tall for your seat. As Dr. Grant D. Shifflett, an orthopedic spine surgeon for DISC Sports & Spine Center in California, previously told HuffPost, one easy fix is a footrest. The supportive device is stuffed with memory foam to cushion your feet while they rest, which means you won’t need soft house shoes on to use it. It also has a machine-washable cover to keep it clean over time. Available in three colors.
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The Neck Rescue massager
HuffPost readers and my colleague's close friend, Alison Jaruzelski, swears by this massager that puts deep pressure on neck and spinal muscles. She said, “I got it shortly after I started physical therapy for neck pain and found that my migraines are tied to stiffness in my neck muscles that radiates up into my head. I find it helps somewhat but it never goes away completely. If I feel a migraine coming on and I have a lot of pain in my neck, I’ll sometimes sit on the couch and lean my neck back on it so I’m doing a little bit of massage while I’m doing my daily work. It’s most effective if I’m fully lying on the ground and putting deep pressure on it but I can’t always do that. My guess is it’s really most effective for people with migraines that also come with neck pain, since it targets muscles at the base of where neck/head meet.”
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TheraICE migraine relief cold cap
This cap is popular with HuffPost readers and offers cooling compression around the entire face and head. It can help to provide a fair amount of relief while also blocking out light and helping you to relax. It can stay cold for up to two hours and is made with stretchy, moldable material that cradles the contours of your head and face. It's available in pink or black.
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