The Ultimate Chronic Pain & Self-Care Kit

Maybe I should have called it – 26 tips you have never heard of for chronic pain by a chronic pain warrior.

I created this list from living with chronic pain for 18 plus years and after so many hospital stays and recoveries; When the pain cycle starts, I need all the help I can get. Fast.

So over the years, I have compiled a list of great products or ideas to help the pain and make life easier.

I hope it helps you too, please let me know in the comments.

1. A bigger than average bedside table with good storage. this helps me keep everything close by for when I have a flare, it eases my anxiety and makes it easier to rest faster. In the draws have a hot pack, warm socks, snacks, water, med bag, tissues, lip balm, moisturiser, earplugs, eye mask and a notebook to list everything else you think of while you are laying down resting; it’s usually where I have my best ideas.

2. Treat yourself to a beautiful makeup bag, to store all the things you need in flair and keep your meds inside, earplugs, favourite lip balm, headphones. This way you only need to grab your kit and have it with your handbag while out and everywhere with you at home. Mine is about a4 size and fits perfectly in a bag. this tops my bag being a dumping ground, lets people help me quickly, makes it easy to swap bags and grab on the run.

3. Use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones around the house or in public, not to completely stop sounds, but just to help muffle them. It helps me when I’m overwhelmed by sounds and very helpful in the shops when the whole world seems to be talking at once.

4. An electric hot water bottle. I love mine I take it everywhere. I even made it a new cover to suit me. Plus it makes me super comfortable and I can carry it in my bag. If I need to get it from the car to a restaurant, I just hide it under a baggy shirt or jumper. It lasts a few hrs and charges next to your bed. No more waiting for by the kettle to boil.

5. If your bra is annoying and your tags irritate you, wear a soft singlet or a T-shirt underneath it. Bamboo is amazing for extra comfort if you need a change. I can’t wear bras, so instead, I buy very soft tops that don’t need a bra or wireless bras.

6. A diffuser – Set up a diffuser where you need to lay down when your flaring it’s amazing for essential oils. It’s a nice way to calm a whole house down. Relax with lavender or get a pick me up with orange oil. If you have pets make sure your oils are safe to use around them first.

7. Do you wake up with a sore jaw? I suffer from bad TMJ. I Tried sleeping with a moulded sports mouthguard and it helped a lot. You can get them for a few dollars in most chemists. It stops me tensing my jaw up and from getting widespread jaw pain while I sleep. A pen or pencil between the teeth for a minute helps too, just remember to not bite down to hard.

8. A weighted blanket. I have the best nights of sleep or naps with mine. I feel like I’m being hugged and it helps me relax quickly. Helps the most with my PTSD attacks, pain and anxiety. My young daughter loves it too.

9. Dry mouth from your medication? You can fix it with a dry mouth spray or toothpaste that you buy in the chemist. I always carry it in my bag.

10. Use a beautiful double-walled cup for tea, coffee with a lid and a cup and straw. I tend to knock things over and forget I’ve made drinks, this helps keeps them hot for 4 hrs and cold for 8. This helps me drink more water without thinking about it. Make sure you find one you love this way you will want to take it everywhere with you.

11. Hire a wheelchair, in the shopping center they are usually free. Don’t be afraid of it. It saves me when we have to be out for a long time and my daughter loves to ride along. Win-win.

12. Wear your sunglasses inside if you are struggling with brightness or a migraine headache. Blue light glasses are awesome too especially to watch TV and use technology with.

13. Keep moisturiser next to your bed in a nice pump bottle. It also helps you to remember to use it if you see it. I use a natural multi-purpose one for face, hands and skin.

14. Get a button grip for the back for your phone. It’s my lifesaver and also stops me dropping my phone on my face while I’m laying down and makes it easier to grip when my hands are playing up.

15. When you find PJs you love to buy a few pairs of them with different patterns. Same for shoes, tops and jeggings.

16. Invest in a real pair of ugg boots or summer house slippers that make you feel fancy. I have a few pairs of fluffy slip shoes and I wear them all day. My feet tend to hurt a lot, even just stepping from carpet to tile can hurt.

17. A coccyx cushion for the car, lounge or office. It takes the pressure off your spine and helps with long trips, cinema visits and keeps sciatica from striking.

18. I don’t like body pillows and I normally sleep with a different one between my knees and one in between my arms. Easy fix, simply buy the body pillowcase and put two different pillows inside to suit you and the pillowcase just helps holds them together.

19. A tiny purse and a small shoulder bag for the days you can’t carry much when your flaring. I found a card wallet with a clip on it so I can attach it to my keys. Plus I know it’s all together and safe in the bag. Make sure it fits your phone and some meds

20. Keep an emergency custom medical kit just for you, in the car, including sick bags.

21. Have a list of current medications on your phone. Helps you remember when memory isn’t working or I end up at the hospital with no purse.

22. If you can, invest in an electric bed or new bed. We spend over half our life asleep. I know I spend more time in bed than I do on my couch or in my car, so invest wisely.

23. Use Netflix or Stan when I’m bored to make lists of movies and search them later for when you are really in the mood or don’t have the energy to do it later. When you are exhausted it makes it easier to have something to watch without trying to make decisions.

24. Listen to audio books. I love reading but sometimes I just want to listen.

25. An eye mask to block out light and earplugs for noise. Add the weighted blanket and its magical. It’s like being in your own meditation pod.

26. Take your time to read this next one and when your ready, you can tackle this task. How to create a capsule wardrobe to make your life so much easier and comfortable.

Pull all of your clothes out of your draws and cupboards #Mariekondo style.

Lay them out on your bed.

Pick out all your favourite things first and ask “Would I buy this today?” move all the ones you don’t want into seasonal storage and donate/sell box.

Work on that until your only left with your favourite items.

Next Layout all your bottoms (jeans, shorts etc)

Hold one top at a time and see how many times it matches with your favourite all your favourite bottoms. If something doesn’t go with anything then it’s not going to get worn decide to store or donate.

Once you are finished see how many things you have left.
There is no special number of clothes but it helps you make easier decisions about your wardrobe and lessen your workload.

It helps with the overwhelming feeling like there isn’t anything to wear. Wear your favourite clothes every day, invest in awesome PJs or check out my Pinterest board – chronic pain wardrobe.

You have reached the end of my 26 tips you have never heard of for chronic pain.

I hope you found something useful and please remember to not rush out and spend money. A lot of these things can be done without spending anything.

Got something else? add it in the comments.

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