Pain Relief Products
A great deal of research and development is being done to develop new products for chronic pain. Spurred on by the urgent need to address the opioid crisis with alternatives to addictive pain medications, there is a massive demand for new treatments. As a result, we are seeing a great deal of progress in pain relief technology and the creation of new pain products. We’re also seeing pain relief tools that were once only available in a specialist’s office be made available for use in the home.
PEMF therapy uses safe, low energy Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields at precise frequencies to restore the cell’s efficiency, allowing it to perform its function. Instead of simply masking pain like other pain relief therapies, PEMF works at the cellular level to accelerate the body’s ability to repair injured cells, with no side effects, and relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
It does not need to touch the skin, so it will not irritate the skin and is easy to wear throughout the day.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) units are applied directly to the skin, hence the “transcutaneous” in the name. Electrodes are placed on the body at the site of the pain to deliver electricity that travels through the nerve fibers in order to block the pain receptors from being sent to the brain.
A TENS may be used to help with many types of chronic (long-term) pain, such as arthritis or other joint pain , back and neck pain, fibromyalgia, muscle pain, and neuropathic pain.
EMS stands for Electronic Muscle Stimulation. These devices are designed to provide relief by stimulating the muscles directly. EMS is used in therapy to treat swelling and inflammation that can put a strain on both the muscles and their supporting joints and ligaments.
By reducing inflammation, it is possible to help restore function and prevent joints from becoming dislocated by strained muscles. Many physical therapists and doctors recommend EMS units to their patients for muscular pain relief.
There are prescription-only devices for migraine treatment that use external trigeminal nerve stimulation (e-TNS) to either relieve migraine pain or prevent a migraine from occurring.
The trigeminal nerve is the largest of the 12 cranial nerves, and it transmits sensory information — like pain — to your brain. These devices aim to intercept pain signals along that nerve. This is not available over the counter, so you’ll need to talk to your doctor about a prescription.
Corrective orthotics can help reposition the area of the body that is the source of chronic pain. When we think of orthotics, we tend to picture inserts into our shoes to correct for fallen arches and other foot issues – and these can work wonders for foot pain.
There are also orthotic braces for the back to support and correct the spine, and many other parts of the body. The concept is the same – realign the body to relieve the pain while providing additional support to reduce stress and strain on the area. Typically, you would see a specialist who can create a custom orthotic for you.
There is also a wide variety of braces, posture correctors, and wraps available over the counter that you can use effectively to treat pain from injuries. Simply wrapping an injury soon after it occurs can reduce inflammation and provide additional support to aid in healing.