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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.
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.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
"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.
"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.
"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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
"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.
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.
"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.