Handheld Percussion Massage Gun

[Stainless]

For the last few years I've been watching the National Football League using Handheld Percussion Massage Guns on the sidelines mostly on players thighs. I figure this is mostly to keep them from cramping up. I'm no athlete but kept thinking this may provide some relief for RLS so I finally ordered one. They cost anywhere from $75 to $275.

After researching what at least some teams in the NFL are using I bought the most expensive one on Amazon, Hypervolt 2 Pro by Hyperice and paid for a 3 year warranty on top. I figured I would carefully unpack it, try it out and return it if I had to. The less expensive ones made by many companies may be just as good, who knows. It came in a day and was packaged well, built solid, quiet and felt great on my thighs. I expect I will be using it on other sore muscles but bought it for RLS.

My RLS kicked in an hour or two before bed and I used it on my thighs. It seems very effective at negating the RLS. I had the speed set at about 1/3 and there is no setting to adjust level but seems about right without beating up my muscles. I used it on and off until bed without having to get up and walk around. I got up in the middle of the night when nature called and used it for a few minutes without disturbing my wife in the next room. Again it felt great and I went right back to sleep, I do feel some residual pain from PLMS as usual this morning but not bad.

So far I'm thrilled and hope things stay that way. My RLS is concentrated in my thighs and on really bad days moves to my forearms. Pain is concentrated in the vastis lateralis muscles (outer thighs) which can get banjo tight on a bad night. I'm on 2 drugs that rule my life, make me feel like a criminal when I get refills and do nothing for daytime RLS. Supplements and a long list of other drugs have not helped over a lifetime, over six decades, of RLS. I know everyone's symptoms are different and don't expect this to be a cure all but am excited to post this and wonder if anyone else has tried it.

[Polar Bear]

It is so good to hear that this Hand Percussion Massage Gun is helping you. To have immediate relief upon using it is a blessing even if it is temporary.
You have described so well how you have used it and I'm sure that other members will read it with interest.
Thank you for telling us of your experience.

[ViewsAskew]

My whole family has symptoms primarily in our thighs - we often use the "karate chop" method of beating on the muscles with our hands. Seems that this would do that much more effectively.

[Stainless]

Views, I've been using the karate chop since I was a teenager.

[Stainless]

So it's been 8 months since I added the percussion massage gun to my arsenal. I use it about every other night. I travel with it even though it is heavy and bulky. It is no sure cure but feels good when awake at 2 or 3 am and many times gives me that edge to fall asleep. Plus I use it when I first lay down for a few minutes and for my less frequent daytime symptoms.

[Polar Bear]

Thank you for your update. It's great that this has continued to work for you. Well done.

[TimG]

I have a percussion massage gun that I use on occasion for a sore shoulder. The Physical Therapist told me not to use it more than a few minutes at a time. Maybe I should give it a try on my legs in the evening.

[Stainless]

My wife even used the percussion massage gun on my back to loosen congestion after a cold virus. It seemed to work well. I use it on any sore muscle.

[Bridgercan]

After overcoming his resistance, I taught my spouse how to karate chop my calves and back of my thighs—although I have to catch him in the right mood

After seeing one of these on sale recently, I’ve been wondering about using one for my symptoms—now I know and will give it a shot

[Stainless]

I'm recycling this post because well over a year later the percussion massage gun is part of my daily routine of dealing with severe RLS. Typically I use it when I get up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. It works pretty well and if not I take hydrocodone acetaminophen once or twice a week. So five days it works. Since I have NO daytime RLS I also use it when the monster starts about 8 pm and when I wake in the morning with sore thighs but the RLS is gone. Such a strange disease.

I'm 68, lifetime sufferer and don't know how common thigh pain is in our population. Mine started about 10 years ago when I got off clonazepam for a year and ended up quickly augmented on Ropinirole. The doc kept raising Requip dose until I was on 4 mg ER. I blame that for changing something in my brain/dopamine/RLS signals. Maybe it was just a coincidence and the evolution of the disease, but either way the percussion massage gun was a great investment.

[badnights]

I'm recycling this post because well over a year later the percussion massage gun is part of my daily routine of dealing with severe RLS. Typically I use it when I get up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. It works pretty well and if not I take hydrocodone acetaminophen once or twice a week. So five days it works. Since I have NO daytime RLS I also use it when the monster starts about 8 pm and when I wake in the morning with sore thighs but the RLS is gone. Such a strange disease.

I'm 68, lifetime sufferer and don't know how common thigh pain is in our population. Mine started about 10 years ago when I got off clonazepam for a year and ended up quickly augmented on Ropinirole. The doc kept raising Requip dose until I was on 4 mg ER. I blame that for changing something in my brain/dopamine/RLS signals. Maybe it was just a coincidence and the evolution of the disease, but either way the percussion massage gun was a great investment.

I know you went thru hell back when you were taken off clonazepam. Are you actually not taking any medication except hydrocodone/acetaminophen twice a week??

[Stainless]

Thx for reply. I'm still on Clonazepam and Pregabalin at bedtime. Neurologist gives me Hydrocodone for 2 am when I am in pain and have no chance of falling asleep, I was using it about once a week but did 3 times this week. I took it last night and got 4 more hours of good sleep. Percussion usually helps but last night it didn't.

When I get up in the morning the pain is gone until 8 - 10 pm. So strange. One specialist said it was because iron stores are reset in morning. I don't buy that. I find out my iron levels in 2 days from oncologist. Last time I got 2 IV iron treatments and legs got worse, then better, then worse again.

My neurologist sold his practice but is staying on for a year. Hopefully someone with more ideas replaces him. I see another specialist this month an hour away for a 5th opinion. I don't expect much. Last specialist wanted to put me on a DA patch that costs $500 a month. I think DAs are what got me here. Or maybe it was inevitable. Thx for letting me vent.

[badnights]

Venting is half the purpose of this place :>

Thanks for explaining about your meds - if you really had improved that much that you were only taking meds twice a week, you could sell a book on how you'd done it.

All WED/RLS is circadian, and better in the morning. Sometimes when I read your posts I wonder if you have something else, because your disease presentation is so far from the norm. But then, I could almost say that about myself now too - mornings used to be my sacred time, when I didn't get any symptoms and I could finally sleep (other than when I was augmented) but now, I often get woken up by symptoms at 7 or 8 AM. Evil!

Just remember when you see the new person, you're an expert in this disease. The doctor is an expert in many things, and deserves respect, but you likely will know more than him/her about this disease.

[srgraves01]

I use a handheld percussion massager on my chest and stomach muscles. I do find it helpful. I have to use it longer than I used to. But It still works. I used to use it on my thighs. But they are more difficult to massage and loosen up the muscled than they used to be. I use vibrating foam rollers on my legs now and with enough work I can loosen the muscles up.