Could non-medicinal patches be a better alternative for joint, nerve and muscle pain? We asked the experts from ToBetterDays
What are the advantages of patches over other treatments such as creams?
Our patches are easy to use and offer a no-mess option to target the area affected by discomfort. They should be worn for eight hours and gradually release the active ingredients during the time they are worn. There is no need to reapply them multiple times a day. They are invisible and many people even forget that they are wearing one! Because they are applied directly on the area of pain and absorbed through the skin, they can work in as little as 30 minutes.
What are the problems with common painkillers such as NSAIDs?
NSAIDs and other painkillers are commonly used as a method of pain relief. However, they are not suitable for use by everyone and can cause serious side effects, especially if they are used over a long time. Long term use is often required by people affected by chronic pain, so they are the ones at the highest risk of the unwanted effects. Although necessary in some cases, we believe it is fair to say that these treatments can never be a long-term solution for a chronic condition.
What products are available in the ToBetterDays range?
At the moment we have 2 types of products available in our range: Active Joint patches and Migraine Support patches. The joint, nerve and muscle patches come in 3 size packs: Big Joint Pack (15 patches) best suited for bigger flatter areas like backs, shoulders and legs, Small Joint Pack (15 patches), best for tricker areas like elbows, fingers and wrists and a Trial Pack which allows you to try both sizes (3 big and 6 small patches) to see what suits you best. The recently launched Migraine Support Pack (15 patches) can help reduce the length and severity of migraines, as well as decrease recovery time.
What are the active ingredients and how do they work?
The main active ingredient in the patches is vitamin D, which is known to be essential for overall health. The vitamin D (cholecalciferol) is the same type your body naturally produces from the sun – but in this case, applied topically, the concentrated ingredients are delivered through the skin, which allows our patented formulas to directly reach the damaged nociceptors, which are the pain receptors. In the joint, nerve and muscle patches the vitamin D is supported by a small amount of dextrose, and in the migraine patches by camomile, lavender and ginger extracts which are known to help soothe migraine symptoms.
How do I use them, and how often?
Our patches should be applied on clean, dry skin. We recommend applying up to two patches directly on the area/s of discomfort and using them for around 8 hours or overnight if needed. They can be used daily or applied whenever you are experiencing a flare-up.
Can I get trial packs?
Yes, we have a Trial Pack option for our joint, nerve and muscle patches, which contains 3 large and 6 small patches. The Trial Pack allows you to see which size of the patch suits you best at a discounted price. Patches of both sizes have the same amount of ingredients, but are suited for different areas of the body.
How does your subscription programme work?
Our subscription is a convenient way of ordering the patches that can allow for savings of over £100 a year by offering free postage and 10% off each pack. You can subscribe to multiple packs and have the freedom of choosing the frequency of deliveries. It is a flexible subscription that you can cancel at any time.
Where can I find out more about the effectiveness of Vitamin D and glucose in pain control?
There are literally thousands of research papers covering the great and growing role of Vitamin D in a host of conditions. These are a few examples relevant to its mode of action on nociception.
The Non-Genomic Actions of Vitamin D
The role of vitamin D in the endocrinology controlling calcium homeostasis
Vitamin D is an endogenous partial agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel.
Vitamin D and Its Potential Interplay With Pain Signalling Pathways
Minireview: Vitamin D Receptor: New Assignments for an Already Busy Receptor
The Role of Vitamin D in the Management of Chronic Pain in Fibromyalgia
Vitamin D3 for the transdermal treatment of pain and inflammation
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) Improves Myelination and Recovery after Nerve Injury
Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Regulation of Voltage-Gated Chloride Channels
What is the story of ToBetterDays?
To Better Days was founded in Jan 2018 by Clarice Borges (CEO) and Adrian Hope – with a double mission. First, to bring to market the inventions and innovations by Dr John Lyftogt, a sports medicine doctor based in New Zealand, and discoverer of the role of Vitamin D as a safe topical analgesic. Second, to create a brand which was positive in its outlook, was honest about how it could or could not help, was always empathetic, kind and never judgemental, as the founders felt the chronic pain community had enough of being misunderstood or unheard or unseen. To Better Days has the aspiration of really being a voice for this group,of looking high and low to curate advice and tips to support those living with chronic pain and to champion further investment and research into chronic pain, which is an area they feel is neglected. After 2 years of continued research and engagement with the MHRA, the To Better Days joint patches were launched in January 2020 and the brand continues to work towards its double mission of bringing innovative non medicinal alternatives for pain as well as supporting in any way they can the chronic pain community.
Where can I find out more about ToBetterDays and its products?
You can find out more about our products by visiting our website: https://tobetterdays.co.uk/. All of our products are listed on the shop page, where you can also read about their ingredients and recommended use. If you are not sure about which product to choose, you can take our short quiz. Based on your answers it will recommend you products that are best suited for your needs. In case of any questions you can visit our FAQ page or message our friendly team by using the contact page which is available in the footer.
Our products are not classified as medicine and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.
