Hi, I'm Shubhi, one of the co-founders of Burst. This guide is for anyone managing arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or chronic joint pain.

A lot of the people who use Burst for arthritis didn't know that the TENS unit they bought on Amazon, the glucosamine they buy at Costco, or the massage gun they keep in the closet were all FSA/HSA eligible. They were paying out-of-pocket for things their FSA/HSA would have covered. I'd rather you not.

Below is a quick walkthrough of what's eligible, how a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) works, and how to actually get reimbursed.

What FSA/HSA actually covers for arthritis and joint pain

The IRS standard is "products used to treat, mitigate, or alleviate a specific medical condition." Arthritis (in any form) and chronic joint pain both qualify as conditions. So products that help you manage them are reimbursable, even though many of them are sold as general wellness or fitness gear.

The piece most people don't realize is what gets you across the line: a Letter of Medical Necessity. That's a short note from a licensed clinician saying the product is being used to treat your specific condition. Your FSA/HSA administrator (HealthEquity, Optum, WEX, Inspira, Lively) wants this on file before they reimburse a category like supplements, ergonomic equipment, or recovery devices.

Two facts worth knowing. The fee for getting an LMN is itself FSA/HSA eligible, so the LMN request can be paid with your FSA/HSA card. And if our clinician doesn't approve your LMN request, you get a full refund. You're not out the money either way.

Categories of arthritis and joint-pain products often eligible with an LMN

These are the categories I see most often in real Burst LMN requests for arthritis and chronic joint pain. Brands are illustrative, not endorsements, and not affiliate links. The LMN works regardless of where you buy.

TENS units and electrotherapy

TENS units (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) are one of the most common arthritis and joint-pain purchases. iReliev, Omron, AccuMed, TechCare, and dozens of other brands make units in the $30 to $200 range. Most TENS units are FSA/HSA eligible without an LMN because they're classed as medical devices, but pads, replacement gel, and accessory kits sometimes get rejected without supporting documentation. An LMN clears that up for the device plus consumables for 12 months.

You can buy these at Amazon, Walgreens, CVS, Costco, or directly from the brand. The LMN works the same either way.

Compression sleeves and supports

Knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist supports, hand braces, and full compression garments (Bauerfeind, Tommie Copper, Copper Fit, Mueller, McDavid) are heavily used for arthritis and joint pain. With an LMN that names arthritis (or osteoarthritis or RA) as the condition, the category is reimbursable. People often buy these in multiples (one for the gym, one for everyday) and a single LMN covers all of them for the same body region for 12 months.

Heat therapy, paraffin baths, and infrared

Heating pads (Sunbeam, Pure Enrichment), microwavable wraps, paraffin wax baths (HoMedics, Therabath, Revlon), and infrared heating wraps are common for arthritis flare management. These are eligible with an LMN. Paraffin baths in particular are a category most people don't realize qualifies, even though they're a textbook arthritis management tool.

Ergonomic tools and adaptive equipment

Ergonomic chairs, ergonomic mice and keyboards (Logitech MX Vertical, Kinesis), grip-assist tools, jar openers, easy-grip kitchen tools, button hooks, and other adaptive equipment qualify with an LMN that names arthritis. The category is broad. The LMN should connect the specific tools to your condition (which is what we write into it).

Mobility aids

Canes, walkers, knee scooters, grabber tools, and stair lifts are eligible. Most are reimbursable without an LMN because they're classed as durable medical equipment, but the LMN smooths reimbursement for items administrators flag as borderline. If you're buying from a non-medical retailer (a hardware store, Amazon), the LMN avoids the most common rejection reasons.

Recovery devices: massage guns, foam rollers, percussion

Theragun, Hyperice, Ekrin, Bob and Brad, Chirp wheels, foam rollers, percussion devices, and vibrating recovery tools are FSA/HSA eligible with an LMN. Massage guns are one of the most popular Burst LMN categories overall, and arthritis is one of the most common conditions LMNs are written for.

Glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric, omega-3, and other supplements

The supplement category for joint health is large: glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, turmeric (curcumin), omega-3 fish oil, collagen, boswellia, and SAM-e are all commonly used. None of them are FSA/HSA eligible by default. With an LMN that names arthritis or chronic joint inflammation as the condition, they all become eligible. One LMN covers the supplement (any brand) for 12 months.

Topical analgesics and CBD

Topical pain relievers (Voltaren, Biofreeze, Aspercreme, Tiger Balm, capsaicin creams) are mostly FSA/HSA eligible without an LMN because they're OTC drugs. Topical CBD products are a more complicated category that often benefits from an LMN to clarify medical use, depending on your administrator's rules.

How Burst gets you reimbursed (3 steps)

Step 1: Request an LMN at app.getburst.com/request-lmn

Under 5 minutes. List the products. Describe your condition (arthritis, osteoarthritis, RA, or chronic joint pain). Submit.

Step 2: A Burst clinician reviews and signs

Most LMN requests are reviewed in under 24 hours. A licensed clinician on our network reviews your request. If your situation qualifies, you get the signed LMN PDF in your inbox. If it doesn't, you get a full refund.

Step 3: File the LMN with your administrator

Log into HealthEquity, Optum Financial, WEX, Inspira, Lively, or whoever handles your plan. Upload the LMN plus your receipt. Hit submit. Reimbursement usually lands in your account in a week or two.

The Burst team wrote a step-by-step walkthrough for the most common administrators: How to file your LMN for reimbursement.

We don't care which brand or store you buy from. The LMN covers the product, not the storefront.

One LMN, 12 months, any store

This is what catches people off guard. A single LMN from Burst covers that product for 12 months. Once it's approved, you can keep buying the same Theragun, the same glucosamine, the same compression sleeves, all year, and keep using your FSA/HSA for them.

People who manage arthritis tend to shop everywhere: Amazon for the supplements, Costco for the heating pad, the brand site for the TENS unit, Walgreens for the topical. The LMN doesn't care where you bought. It cares about the product and the condition.

FAQ

Is a TENS unit FSA eligible?
Yes. Most TENS units are FSA/HSA eligible without an LMN. Replacement pads and accessory kits sometimes get flagged, and an LMN covers those for 12 months.

Is glucosamine FSA eligible?
Glucosamine is FSA/HSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity that names arthritis or joint pain as the condition. Without an LMN, supplements are not eligible by default. Same rule for chondroitin, turmeric, MSM, and most other joint supplements.

Are massage guns FSA eligible?
Yes, with an LMN. Theragun, Hyperice, and similar percussion devices are reimbursable from your FSA/HSA when the LMN names arthritis or chronic joint pain (or related conditions like fibromyalgia).

Are compression sleeves FSA eligible?
Yes, with an LMN. Knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist braces, and similar supports are reimbursable when the LMN connects them to arthritis or joint pain.

Can I use my FSA card directly, or do I have to file for reimbursement?
Either works. Some FSA-certified storefronts accept your FSA card at checkout for pre-approved categories. For most LMN-eligible purchases (supplements, ergonomic, recovery devices), you'll pay out-of-pocket and file the LMN with your receipt for reimbursement after.

What if my administrator rejects the claim?
Administrators sometimes ask for additional documentation on first-time LMN submissions. Reply with the LMN PDF and your receipt. If they still reject, email support@getburst.com and we'll help you appeal.

Is the LMN fee itself FSA/HSA eligible?
Yes. The fee for the Burst LMN request is an eligible medical expense.

Stop paying out-of-pocket for arthritis management

If you're managing arthritis or chronic joint pain and you're shopping across multiple brands or stores for things that help, I'd rather you stop paying out-of-pocket for purchases your FSA/HSA would cover. Get an LMN from Burst in under 5 minutes. If our clinician doesn't approve it, you get a full refund.

Request my LMN →

If you're not sure whether something specific qualifies, hit reply on any Burst email or write to support@getburst.com. I read every email myself. I'd rather sanity-check for you up front than have you guess.

Thanks,
Shubhi
Co-founder at Burst