The Pain Relief Hall of Fame
One hundred ways to help your body feel better.
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At the Strategist, we talk to everyone about everything — and that includes pain. Anyone who has lain awake at night feeling their head throb or their muscles ache knows how much of a difference small adjustments can make — warmth, cold, pressure, support — and how much more meaningful those recommendations are when they come from someone with firsthand experience. Whether it’s the turmeric capsules Tony Hawk takes to avoid skateboarding aches, the small piece of plastic that makes IVF shots less painful, or the chic pill organizers recommended by disability advocates, we’ve heard about a lot of ways to help our bodies feel better and to make pain less isolating. For the first time, we’re collecting our favorite pain-relief products all in one place: the Strategist Pain Management 100.
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A gel cap that stays cool in the fridge or freezer.
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Loved by opera singers and Pilates teachers.
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Strategist sleep writer Amelia Jerden’s favorite for achy hands.
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Joint cushioning from the highest-density grade of sheepskin.
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A moist-heat pad that gets very hot, recommended for endometriosis.
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Cooling pain relief used by skiiers and runners.
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Strategist associate editor (and marathon runner) Jeremy Rellosa’s hack for sore legs.
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Crafted from buffalo horn in Miaoli, Taiwan.
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Targets an acupressure point on the wrist.
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Ballet dancer Erica Lall uses them after every performance.
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For targeted relief from inflammation and headaches.
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More powerful and quieter than any other model we’ve tested.
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They help Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen prevent plantar fasciitis flare-ups.
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The divots help target larger muscle groups.
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The best one on the market, according to Strategist contributor Alex Ronan.
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It moves in a circular pattern, which our reviewer prefers to percussion for fascia release.
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“You feel muscles that you didn’t even know needed to relax relaxing.”
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A mat that uses electromagnetic pulses to stimulate cell repair.
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It eased Strategist beauty writer Krista Bennett DeMaio’s perimenopausal sleep disruptions.
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Especially useful for IVF injections and vaccine-averse kids.
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Just the right density, will hold its shape for years.
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Dense, lightweight, and nicer-looking than a lacrosse ball.
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Two bolster heights suit a variety of sleeping positions.
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It has had an “amazing impact” on Strategist contributor Alexa Tucker’s chronic nausea.
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Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang relied on it while healing from knee surgery.
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Can be chilled in the freezer for headache relief.
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The best for “finding and releasing strange tensions.”
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Heat, vibration, and compression in one cord-free device.
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An organic-cotton goose that can be warmed in the oven or cooled in the fridge.
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A home version of the stretching board found at physical therapists’ offices.
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Calf-compressing sleeves that are compact enough for travel.
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Designed by a founder with chronic illness.
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Can convert to a stick roller to target deep tissue.
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One side smooth, one side ridged for a less intense cold.
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Helps with vocal fatigue, allergies, and immunity.
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Comes in two strengths for moderate to severe pain levels.
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Recommended by a cruise-ship performer who spends months in cramped quarters.
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A non-squishy pillow for necks that need extra support.
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Fill the porcelain base with warm water and rub it over sore areas.
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Instantly cool, no need for the fridge or freezer.
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An essential tool for kneading out muscle tension.
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Convertible from a J- to a U-shape.
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Soft, moldable, and large enough to wrap around a shoulder or knee.
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“The second I got up, there was generalized relief,” writes our reviewer.
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An ice bath that is self-cleaning and low maintenance.
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Okay, it’s a sex wedge, but you can use it as a support for semi-reclined sitting.
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No different from the name brand, according to an internal-medicine specialist.
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Ease pressure on joints during long periods of standing.
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Uses essential oils to relieve sinus pressure.
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Like a sleeping bag filled with far-infrared heat.
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“I feel the aches more when I’m not skating if I’m not taking it.”
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Strategist senior beauty writer Dominique Pariso uses it for muscle recovery.
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Salt-shaker-esque metal massage tool that can be used over clothing.
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Actress Ming-Na Wen brings it on flights and long car rides.
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Made from every part of the ginger rhizome.
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Lighter and slightly bigger than a lacrosse ball.
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Jay Duplass relied on it for muscle recovery while filming a horror movie.
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“That foam roller’s my best friend. Keeps me from moving like I’m 55, you know?”
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It improved Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon’s karaoke performance.
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Or pickleball elbow, as was the case for our reviewer.
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Comes in half-bed and whole-bed sizes and has phone-free controls.
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“Game changer” for Strategist senior editor Crystal Martin’s arm and back pain.
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Powered by a difficult-to-produce strain of bacteria not found in many other probiotics.
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Ties secure it around your body like a scarf or cummerbund.
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Twenty heat settings and two controllers, one for each side of the bed.
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A tighter fit than the Nodpod but not claustrophobic.
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Used and loved by three Strategist staffers.
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Protected Brandy’s voice while she was starring in a Broadway show.
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A little hook that digs into your hips to relieve lower-back pressure.
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Uses stretchy Velcro bands to support an important joint for postural stability.
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They helped Strategist writer Arielle Avila train for her first half-marathon pain free.
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Space for several pills, durable enough to live in the bottom of your bag.
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Made a noticeable difference in Strategist associate editor Jeremy Rellosa’s marathon training.
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A steamy burst of eucalyptus, camphor, and menthol.
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Seven compartments, folds up to the size of a pack of cards.
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Stimulates the median nerve on your wrist to prevent motion sickness.
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No bells and whistles, just a "big, ugly foam log” that gets the job done.
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Recommended by Olympian Carrie Tollefson, it can work all major running muscles.
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For bunions, plantar fasciitis, and foot cramps.
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Has body scanning, heat, and zero-gravity positioning.
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Air-compression massage and heat in a leather chair with a wood frame.
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More height than a foam roller for targeting the tissue around the spine.
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Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio used it to survive a long, cold winter.
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Reduce IBS-related abdominal pain and bloating.
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They reduce strain from resting elbows on a hard surface all day.
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An Etsy search term courtesy of Lena Dunham.
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Adjust the intensity by pulling down on the hand loops.
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The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.