"I've spent countless hours in doctor's offices over the years as a result of my chronic back pain," said former NBA Champion and IcyHot spokesperson Shaquille O'Neal. "IcyHot SmartRelief is groundbreaking - it's wire free, lightweight and smaller than a credit card so I can wear it all day long.

In truth, science doesn't actually say a lot about the efficacy of Icy Hot. Studies have been so minimal and inconclusive over the years that it's led many professionals to simply believe that the “pain relieving” sensation is nothing more than a placebo effect.

Tiger Balm Active Muscle Rub is great if you tend to suffer from back pain after a workout. To prevent this from happening, this pre-workout pain relief product increases the blood flow to cold joints and muscles so that pains from sore muscles will be lessened.

As a first-line therapy for mild pain, Icy Hot and other topical analgesics may offer a modicum of relief by temporarily distracting you from the pain. However, it's important to understand that there is no “healing” going on from the Icy Hot itself.

"I've spent countless hours in doctor's offices over the years as a result of my chronic back pain," said former NBA Champion and IcyHot spokesperson Shaquille O'Neal. "IcyHot SmartRelief is groundbreaking - it's wire free, lightweight and smaller than a credit card so I can wear it all day long.

In truth, science doesn't actually say a lot about the efficacy of Icy Hot. Studies have been so minimal and inconclusive over the years that it's led many professionals to simply believe that the “pain relieving” sensation is nothing more than a placebo effect.

Tiger Balm Active Muscle Rub is great if you tend to suffer from back pain after a workout. To prevent this from happening, this pre-workout pain relief product increases the blood flow to cold joints and muscles so that pains from sore muscles will be lessened.

As a first-line therapy for mild pain, Icy Hot and other topical analgesics may offer a modicum of relief by temporarily distracting you from the pain. However, it's important to understand that there is no “healing” going on from the Icy Hot itself.

Voltaren, Aspercreme, Icy Hot, or Bengay may be used for joint pain - but broadly speaking, diclofenac gel (brand Voltaren) is the best topical cream for treating arthritis pain.

Best Overall Penetrex's Therapy Cream is our top overall choice because its loaded with soothing ingredients that can help reduce inflammation. It features arnica, a herb frequently used in pain relief creams to soothe the skin,1 as well as popular ingredients like vitamin B6 and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane).

Which Pain Patch is the Strongest? Opioid patches are considered the stronger form of pain relief patches. Amongst the opioid patches, the active ingredient which is found to be the most effective at pain relief and improving individual quality of life is Fentanyl Patches.

The main reason Tiger Balm is better than other topical products like Icy Hot, is that it doesn't just mask the pain. Tiger Balm's ingredients actually help draw out the lactic acid in your muscles, which means your muscles will feel better even after it wears off.

Aspercreme, Icy Hot, and Bengay may all be used to treat minor joint pain, backaches, muscle soreness, strains, sprains, bruises, and nerve pain (in the case of their lidocaine products). In contrast, Voltaren is used to specifically treat joint pain on the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet.

• Best Seller. Penetrex, Pain Relief Therapy,2 oz. 4.2 out of 5 stars 83,587.
• Activene Pain Relief Cream Anti Inflammatory formulation with Powerful Arnica. 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,573. 1 offer from $24.97.
• MaxRelief Arnica Montana Pain Cream For Sufferers of Knee, 3.5 oz. 4.3 out of 5 stars 3,318. 1 offer from $22.25.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin/citric acid/sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer), naproxen (Aleve), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin are some of the top-rated over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medications.

Naproxen (Aleve) is the most powerful anti-inflammatory pain reliever available without a prescription. It is especially effective for sprains, sunburns and arthritis and other conditions. Similar doses of Naproxen tend to last longer than other non-prescription pain relievers.