My RA Foot Pain Relief With Red and Infrared Light Therapy

In my 20 years living with rheumatoid arthritis, foot pain has been a chronic issue. The pain, at times, can be excruciating. Over the years, I have taken many steps to advocate for myself and get the proper treatment for my feet.

I also have an arsenal of tools that I use to help alleviate and control my RA foot pain. Proper supportive shoes and custom-made orthotics have helped to decrease my pain level. I also use acupuncture, a portable heated foot spa, and various pain-relieving foot creams.

Discovering pain relief slippers

My most recent tool added to my foot pain relief routine is using a combination of red light and near-infrared light therapy on my feet. I have been wearing pain relief slippers. The slippers use red light (660-nanometer) and near-infrared light (880-nanometer) therapy. I use my slippers (almost) once daily for 20 minutes.

The directions say you can use the slippers up to 3 times a day. I learned a lot about the light technology used by reading the manual and information on the box. When I turn my slippers on, I can visibly see a red glow. Red light is visible to the eye. However, my slippers also use near-infrared light technology. The infrared light is invisible to the human eye. It is important to note the higher the wavelength of light the deeper into the body it can reach.^1,2

My pain relief slippers are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Also, the slippers are eligible to be paid for by my flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA). They are a bit pricey and range from $115 to $250 USD.

Benefits of red light therapy

A few months ago, I was reading an article on the Cleveland Clinic’s website. The article mentioned that NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) began using red light in space with a focus on growing plants; they later used it to help with wound healing for astronauts.¹

Red light therapy is thought to work by going beyond the surface of the skin and helping to stimulate cells in our body, specifically the "power plant" in your body’s cells called mitochondria. "With more energy, other cells can do their work more effectively."¹

Potential benefits of red light therapy include:¹

• Reduced inflammation in cells
• Increased circulation of blood to our tissues
• Stimulation of collagen production

Relief for my aching and painful feet

My slippers provide a nice warmth to my feet. Over the past 2 months, I have noticed a considerable difference on days I do not use my slippers. On days I do use my slippers, I have experienced a noticeable decrease in foot swelling and foot pain. Also, I personally feel more relaxed after using my slippers.

More research is necessary

The use of red light therapy can be controversial to some out there. There is a lack of large-scale research and studies in relation to its use for RA pain.

That being said, I did my research and found a device that was FDA-approved. I also got medical clearance before using the slippers, which I recommend to anyone considering the use of this type of light therapy; be sure to clear it with your doctor first!