Monday, July 31, 2017

Review of a Great DIY Back Pain Relief Tool

Body Back Buddy on Amazon
A co-worker has brought a pain-relief tool to the office and has offered to share. I have since used this Body Back Buddy self-massage tool multiple times to find relief for chronic pain and to help relax my shoulders and back. If you experience chronic pain in your back or shoulders, this little gadget may also be helpful to you. I know that it has been so helpful to me at work that I'm ordering one of my own to keep at home.


Migraines and the Search for Pain Relief


My co-worker and I suffer from chronic migraines.  She and I are constantly discussing ways we find relief and things that are not as helpful. When she brought this massage tool to work my initial thought was that it was a gimmick. But I gave it a try anyway. With chronic migraines,  you become willing to give most anything a try.

As soon as I picked up this plastic hook with knobs, I found relief. It was intuitive to use. I just hooked it up over my shoulder and started "rubbing" the knots near my shoulder blades and spine.  

I had thought the hard plastic knobs would be uncomfortable. But the hardness of the knobs was, in part, what makes it so effective. And the curve of the item helped me to apply hard pressure to my tender spots. I was able to both press against and rub the stubborn knots as well as run the plastic knobs up and down my spine. 


Tender Points or Muscle Knots?


My sibling is officially diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and talks about her tender points and pain. We compare notes. I have similar painful points that I call my "traveling bumps". There never seems to be an explanation for the location of these tender areas.  I have not been officially diagnosed with Fibro and while my pains may be caused by whatever causes my migraines, the pain is similar to my sibling's Fibro. I am planning on suggesting that my sister give the Body Back Buddy a try.

This massage tool has been wonderful at reaching and releasing my painful "traveling bumps" no matter their origin.


Three of my four favorite moves with the Body Back Buddy (photos courtesy of Amazon)



The Pros and Cons of the Body Back Massage Tool


There are many pros and only a couple of cons that I have found with this wonderful pain relief tool. I am sure that you'll have your own opinion of the Body Back Buddy massage tool, but this is my list:


Body Back Buddy Pros:


  • immediate relief where you are - without the time commitment and expense of massage appointments
  • heavy duty and sturdy plastic - it does not feel as though it will break while in use
  • the curve and placement of the knobs are intuitive - I picked it up and used it effectively without looking at any instructions
  • compared to other pain relief tools and mechanical massagers - it is very affordable
  • I can easily massage my neck, spine, shoulders, and back with this tool (it also massages your feet, but I have kept my feet off of it, since it is borrowed)
  • the Body Back Company has made this, in the US, since 1995 and has a good track record and good reviews

Body Back Buddy Cons:

  • beware of copies and knock-offs that seem to be more cheaply made and less sturdy
  • it is large and can't be hidden in a small bag or purse for transport
  • I am overweight and cannot do the technique that involves placing the Back Buddy around my middle (seen below) 
the only technique I cannot do (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Related Pain Relief Articles:


Barbara's husband suffers from neck pain and finds relief by using magnesium oil spray. For more information, take a peek at her article My Husband Loves Using Magnesium Oil for Neck Pain

Over time, I have found that peppermint essential oil often eases migraine pain. I use Dr. Bronner's organic castile soap and hot steamy baths to find pain relief. Dr. Bronner's soap has many uses and if you aren't familiar with this fantastic soap, let me introduce you with my review of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


8 comments:

  1. I love self help massage tools! Anything that helps those migranes gets my vote! Thanks for the review, I am very interested in this tool!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What an interesting looking tool - almost looks like a Medieval torture device... LOL. Fascinating to learn how helpful it is in relieving back pain. In the past few years I have been experiencing lower back pain after standing for a long time or even with repetitive motions, such as sweeping or vacuuming. Interesting to learn that this massage tool might actually help relieve my back pain. Thanks for this review, Dawn Rae.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have one! And indeed, it works great. My issue tends to be around the right shoulder blade and likely due to too much computer (mouse) time. No matter how much I've tried to pin down the area of my back for my husband to massage, he misses it almost all the time. The Body Back Buddy, on the other hand, "finds" the exact spot and I can manipulate it by myself, whenever I need it. In fact, it's amazing how much relief I get from just a few minutes of use. I definitely highly second your recommendation for this amazing massage device!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Over the years, I have tried a variety of massage tools striving to get relief from back pain caused by scoliosis. It is wonderful to have one actually recommended by someone who uses it, instead of being "sold" a product through advertisement. I guarantee you, I wouldn't worry about not being able to hide it if it will actually relieve the pain. When not in use, I would simply hang it on my wall and call it Objet d'art!

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  5. How interesting!! First of all I'm really glad that this helps you. I don't suffer from migraines, but every once in a while I get a pain at the base of my neck down through my shoulders. This looks like a must try. Thanks Dawn.

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  6. I'm already laughing at the comments because they are what I was thinking too. Medieval torture device and object d'art! But if it works, I won't be laughing anymore. I need a good back scratcher and this looks like it might do that trick as well. You have piqued my interest Dawn Rae, going to go check it out and see if it will ship up here.....

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  7. Very interesting product, and it looks like it would provide some relief. I have several family members who suffer with back pain and this could be helpful.

    ReplyDelete

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