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According to an article from Forbes earlier this year, almost 21% of the American population in 2021 reported living with chronic pain. That’s over 51 million Americans. Chronic pain is defined as pain that last for at least three months & impacts the person’s daily life & activities.
High-impact chronic pain is more severe & refers to individuals who experience a substantial reduction in their daily activities. Almost 7% of the American population falls into that category, which amounts to about 17 million individuals.
Unfortunately, I am a person who, at the time of this writing, experiences chronic pain and occasionally high-impact chronic pain.
Story Time: Thanksgiving Weekend 2021
I was in a car accident the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2021. My brother-in-law & nephew came to visit us in Indiana for a few days. We had just dropped them off at Chicago Midway Airport and were about to get on the highway to head back home. As you can imagine, the airport was pretty congested. As we made a left to get on the highway, we saw a van pulled over on the side of the road (where they really shouldn’t have been). They did not have their hazard lights on so we could not tell whether or not they were moving very slowly or were fully stopped. By the time we realized they were not moving, it was too late. My husband rear-ended them on their right side, our left-side. His airbag didn’t go off but he had the steering wheel to brace himself. My airbag did go off, hit me super hard in the chest, and my neck whipped back, then snapped forward. It all happened so fast.
I was diagnosed with whiplash & had two bulging discs. My neck, upper back, and shoulders felt like they were on fire all the time (inflammation & soreness). I couldn’t do any heavy lifting or bending over. Repetitive motions were painful and my arms would get tired if I held anything for too long (almost shattered a coffee pot). I was fatigued all the time. I was told I should mostly be back to my old self within a year or so. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case & I still have daily pain & physical limitations. My last MRI showed I now have 4 herniated discs in my neck (ouch) & my last x-ray showed my spine has lost it’s natural curvature, which I’m now working to restore.
Managing Chronic Pain at Home
I’ve undergone various forms of treatment since the car accident. We’re not sure what the future holds for my treatment & healing (we’ll leave that in the Lord’s hands) but managing my pain at home has been critical to maintaining some quality of life & alleviating my symptoms.
It’s been difficult to accept my current limitations, for chores & tasks to be left undone because my body can’t keep up or I’ve done too much. It’s been difficult to not work out, play, and be active and silly the way I want to. While I do believe there is purpose in pain, there are times when it interferes with things that bring me joy or are important to me.
In today’s post, I’d like to share with you some of the pain management products I’ve gotten that have helped to reduce my symptoms, retain my sanity, and aid my relaxation breaks. I’m so sorry if you’re in pain & I hope that something in my list is a good solution for you!
They are primarily for neck/cervical, back, & shoulder pain but a few can be used more generally in other areas.
I also included some ergonomic products that can help reduce pain in your work-from-home setup, if you’re interested.
Note: I am not a doctor or physician so you should certainly discuss at-home pain management treatments with them first. I am simply sharing some things that have helped me with my personal issues that may be of interest to you, depending on the type of pain you have & the nature of the injury.
1. Full Back Gel Ice Pack with Straps
This back ice pack is truly a life-saver. When I get bad inflammation or spasms in my neck, upper back, shoulders, and mid-back, this pack helps so much. It has two sides: one that is soft & velvety and the other is more smooth & cold. If my pain is particularly intense, I’ll use the colder side. My favorite thing about it is that it straps on (you can crisscross the straps or wear it like a backpack) so if you have to move, do chores, etc., it stays securely on you. I’ve cooked with it, done laundry, etc. I will recommend avoiding putting the gel side directly on your skin because it gets very cold and you can damage your skin (and get really itchy!) as a result. It takes a few hours to solidify, but the 30 minutes or so of consistent relief is amazing.
2. Cervical Pillow/Neck Stretcher
This stretch you get from this cervical pillow/neck stretcher mirrors a movement my physical therapist use to do (see “traction“). This also has two settings: one for a gentle stretch (which they recommend you start with) and the higher setting which gives a more intense stretch (you just rotate it 180 degree). All you do is lie on the floor with your neck in the center, bend your knees, & put your arms at a 90 degree angle on the floor. When I have moments where my neck feels tight, this little cervical pillow helps me out. It’s relaxing, soothing, and I find it quite calming.
3. Topical Analgesic
This stuff is MAGIC. It’s a topical ointment you can really put anywhere you’re sore or in pain (just be sure to avoid your eyes & wash your hands afterwards). It’s strong, effective, & is long-lasting. It creates sort of a warming, numbing feeling which really helps if I have back spasms. It also helps me go to sleep if I’m having trouble managing the pain with icing. I find it lasts quite awhile & it just helps me to be more functional during the day and get more restful sleep at night.
4. Lumbar Brace
Love this lumbar brace! My husband uses it sometimes too when he’s doing heavy lifting, yard work, and if he’s got lower back pain. Some people use this while they work out, too!
We’ve found it’s great to provide some compression-type pain relief but also works as a preventative measure. Something to watch out for as we get older!
5. Orthopedic Cervical Pillow
I did not realize how much neck and shoulder pain I had was actually caused by the fact that I was using the wrong pillow! My old pillow was floppy & unsupportive. THIS pillow has two different ways you can use it (a lower slope and a higher slope), which is awesome if the type of neck pain you have fluctuates.
The design of the pillow helps to keep your shoulders down so you’re not “clamming up”, as I tend to do while I sleep. It’s also supportive in any position you can sleep in: on your back, your stomach, or your sides. I’m a tosser & absolutely, this pillow has helped me get good quality sleep again & I’m so thankful. I love it so much I bought two: one for home & one for travel. Highly recommend.
6. Compression Sleeves
These compression sleeves are intended for your legs but I use them on my arms, too! Sometimes, my forearms get sore or tense and these really help take the edge off and help me to feel more comfortable. If I power walk too hard, these really do help with my legs. The aching goes away shortly after wearing. I got a large size to accommodate my muscular calves & the medium ones work perfectly for my arms.
7. Deep Tissue Massager
My chiropractor introduced me to this!
My husband calls it “the sand blaster” 😂. This deep tissue massager has different vibration speeds & helps to reduce tension & pain all over your back. It aids muscle recovery & can even be combined with lotions & oils.
It has over 2K reviews, overwhelmingly positive. Highly recommend, especially if you’re unable to see a chiropractor or physical therapist for a time or can’t see one as frequently as you might like (these visits do add up). Gonna add this one to my Christmas wishlist!
8. Orthopedic Wedge Pillow Set
Last but not least, this orthopedic wedge set is wonderful. Velvety soft fabric, machine-washable, and has no-slip grips on the bottom. You can use these in bed or on your couch, which is how I use them. It provides much needed support to my neck, back, and shoulders and the triangle wedge helps to elevate your legs, which helps with blood circulation.
You can configure these however you like. I use this everyday while watching tv or reading. If you love reading in bed at night, this set would be awesome to protect your spine health & avoid putting too much strain on your neck and back.
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