Yesterday I shared my favorite booties and mittens that help warm up my hand and foot joints. Today I want to share two additional products that I have found to be extremely helpful when dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis pain.
First are my Thermoskin Thermal Gloves
A few people on Twitter had recommended these, so I gave them a shot. They are absolutely wonderful. If you’ve worn compression gloves before, you may find that these feel very thick in comparison. They are. I honestly haven’t mastered doing many activities with them on, I primarily use them when I’m resting or sleeping. Although they are easy to get on, they can be a little tough to remove, mainly because your hand might be a little sweaty! I find that pulling them off (so they’re inside out) is the easiest way. These gloves work in minutes to reduce my pain and when I remove them, most of my swelling is nonexistent.
I did notice some of the threads were loose when I received them from Amazon. I was initially concerned but can tell you that after months of wear, they are still in great condition..I haven’t had any problems.
Secondly, I’d like to share my Omron Pain Relief Pro Unit–
I’ve been to Physical Therapy numerous times for my elbow and my favorite part of the visit was having the TENS unit put on me. I discovered a year ago that you could buy TENS units over the counter, without a prescription, and they’re flex spend account eligible, sweet! I read some reviews on Amazon and to be honest, I was so determined to buy a TENS unit, that I purchased this one because it was the only one in stock locally. I don’t regret it.
The unit is extremely easy to use. It has eight different modes: tap, knead, rub, arm, lower back, leg, foot, and joint. It also offers 10 levels of intensity and I’ve honestly never needed to go higher than an 8 so it should accommodate most levels of pain. The pads are pretty sticky and replacement pads are available at a reasonable price. You can also purchase additional pads so you and another family member can share the device.
Do you use a TENS machine or compression gloves? What are your favorite ways to reduce pain without medication? Please share in the comments below!