Original Orient Adventures

Living with chronic low back pain isn’t easy. I’ve been diagnosed with spinal radiculopathy — in simple terms, pain without clear issues showing up on imaging. When my back flares up, it can trigger a chain reaction: pain in my lower back, radiating down my sciatica, hip, thigh, and leg. Sometimes it’s one leg, sometimes both. And when I compensate with the “good” leg, the next day that leg hurts too.

Over the years, I’ve tried acupuncture, chiropractic care, and physical therapy. Unfortunately, none of these gave me lasting relief. They mostly led to more appointments and more money I didn’t have.

Braces: Helpful but Temporary
I’ve used different braces — back braces, knee braces, and others. They act like “band-aids,” providing short-term relief by compressing the injured or swollen area. A standard back brace wraps around the lower back and stomach, creating pressure that eases pain. But wearing one too often can weaken your muscles, since they adapt to the support instead of building strength. That’s why I avoid relying on braces daily.

My Decompression Back Brace
A few years ago, I purchased a decompression back brace with a built-in heating element. Heat has always helped my pain, so this seemed promising. The brace inflates to gently stretch the spine, reducing pressure on the vertebrae.

The brand I bought was the Oramuon Heated Decompression Belt (not sponsored — just my personal experience). It’s marketed as:

Heating Pad & Vibration for Lower Back Pain Relief, Lumbar Traction Device Back Massager with Heat.

It offers three heating levels, a vibration function, and a pump for decompression. Best of all, it’s cordless — charge it up and go.

What Worked (and What Didn’t)
✅ Heating + Decompression: These features genuinely helped. The heat eased muscle tension, and the decompression dropped my pain a few levels.

❌ Battery Life: The biggest downside. The product claims 130–410 minutes of use, but mine lasted only 30–90 minutes depending on the mode. I often found myself tethered to a charger.

❌ Vibration Feature: Personally, I didn’t find this helpful. In fact, vibration sometimes made my pain worse.

My Ratings

Decompression: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)

Heating Pad: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5 when fully powered)

Vibration: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)

Battery: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)

Overall, it’s not a miracle cure, but it’s a tool that helps me manage pain when I need it.

Final Thoughts
I’m sharing this as a regular person dealing with chronic pain — not as a paid review. If you’ve tried similar devices, I’d love to hear your experience in the comments. And if you know someone struggling with back pain, feel free to share this post with them.