Managing physical pain—whether it be a temporary injury or a chronic condition—isn’t easy. Unfortunately, there usually isn’t a singular solution for treating pain. A variety of tools, from medication to lifestyle changes, used in tandem is often best for improving one’s comfortability day-to-day.
For those currently dealing with some degree of pain, we have good news. Nufabrx, a wellness brand backed by various medical experts, boasts a product line that provides effective and inexpensive pain relief products (among other exciting items!)—and we’re impressed.
The brand’s pain-relieving items consist of wearable compression sleeves that use the healing ingredient capsaicin to offer comfort by increasing blood flow and blocking the brain’s ability to register pain signals from the body. This ingredient is typically purchased over the counter in the form of a cream, patch, or spray for topical pain relief. However, a common complaint about these products is the strong and unpleasant odor, and the overall mess they cause when applying.
“Capsaicin works by blocking your pain receptors and providing you with temporary soothing pain relief,” explains Bryn Mawr, PA facial plastic surgeon Jason Bloom, MD. “Nufabrx technology enables this active ingredient to be infused directly into the clothes you wear, and with it woven into your fabric, you get all of the benefits without all of the bother [that traditional capsaicin is known for].”
According to Nashville, TN plastic surgeon Jack Fisher, MD, this ability to infuse capsaicin into a wearable fabric is a major milestone in the industry of pain relief. “Capsaicin has been around for over 25 years, but how do you sit there apply it multiple times a day?” he says. “The functional ability to have capsaicin embedded into clothing [is a game changer].”
Nufabrx offers three different product options—a knee sleeve, wrist sleeve, and an ankle sleeve—for targeting pain in those specific areas. The knee sleeve can be beneficial to everyone from an athlete recovering from an injury or hard workout, to a someone suffering from daily arthritis pain. The wrist sleeve, on the other hand, can be beneficial in wrist pain by supporting the wrist and fingers. “Most people today are constantly typing, texting, and holding phones all day, which causes increased hand strain,” explains Dr. Bloom.
Finally, the ankle sleeve will provide relief for injuries that occur most commonly in runners or people who do a lot of standing at work. “All of the sleeves are thin enough to be worn under your clothes for all day comfort and relief,” adds Dr. Bloom.
Upon wear, many people will feel a slight tingling sensation, which is the capsaicin being absorbed into your skin. Also, depending on what you are doing while wearing the sleeve, capsaicin will be absorbed differently. For example, if you are working out and sweating, your pores will open up, causing the capsaicin to absorb more quickly and therefore deliver results quicker.
As a bonus, capsaicin also lasts for over 25 machine washes, so you can rest assured the material will stay effective even after multiple rounds through the laundry.
While everyone’s experience with pain is different, it’s comforting to know that technology has immensely elevated our options for pain relief—especially when it comes to ease of use. Adding these sleeves to your arsenal of pain-relieving products takes away the burden of having to continually reapply treatments to your skin all day—the clothing does it for you. As always, consult your doctor before trying any new products to treat ongoing medical concerns.
