This morning, I woke up with a nagging ache in my hip joint and a bright red butterfly-shaped blush over my cheeks. The realization of an impending chronic pain flare struck me, and I prepared to feel the usual dread that accompanies it.
But this time was different. This time I was prepared, and instead of feeling hopeless and terrified, I felt empowered.
This didn’t happen by accident. My empowerment was hard-earned. I have suffered from chronic pain for sixteen years, and for the first ten of those, I was lucky enough to only have a handful of flares to add to the constant, underlying pain. And eventually, I learned to cope with that constant pain, so my life was almost “normal”. The past six years, however, have brought new diagnoses, and dozens of new symptoms, and the last ten months have been the hardest of my life. I developed symptoms I never expected, and my flares went from few and far between to taking up almost half of my time.
Two weeks of each month, I was bedridden. Those new symptoms were impacting my feet, so I couldn’t stand or walk. Then I started a blog, and began to have hope. Until those new symptoms began impacting my hands, and I couldn’t type. My plans for the future had to change. Again. And I was terrified.
It took me two full months after my hands began to hurt to pick myself up and start looking for options. I found a website called The Mighty, and read stories written by people who were suffering the same way I was. No longer alone, I found the courage to own my illness and take control of my life and my flares in a way I never had before.
I spent weeks researching the best tools to help me cope at home. I spoke to my doctors, my physical therapist, and my friends who also have chronic illnesses. Every day, I scoured The Mighty for any and all tips on living with chronic pain. And then I created a plan.
Well, not a plan, so much as a tool kit. My Chronic Pain Survival Kit. Maybe I felt a bit like a doomsday prepper, but that was a small price to pay for the peace of mind I got from knowing that I had a plan and supplies in place to make the worst days a little bit better.
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Here’s a peek inside my kit:
For Pain Management:
- A high-heat heating pad
- A portable TENS unit
- Arthritis compression gloves
- Biofreeze roll on
- ThermaCare heat wraps
- Prelief acid reducer
- Panty liners
- Frankincense essential oil
- My medications in this cute organizer
- A list of what medications to take when – because, Fibro Fog is very real
To Keep the Meds from Turning My Body into the Sahara:
- Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
- Neutrogena Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen
- Gold Bond Healing Lotion with Aloe
- A cute cup for water
To Track Symptoms and Flares:
- A Pain Journal
- Paper Mate Flair felt tip pens
- Emergency chocolate
So I Can Move, if that Happens to be my Thing that Day:
- A fluffy down alternative blanket
- BOBS by Skechers slippers – because I can’t handle being barefoot anymore
- LuLaRoe leggings and tops
Entertainment:
- An Amazon Kindle Fire Kids to occupy my daughter
- An extra cell phone charger
- A Roku – so I can watch Netflix
So, what do I do with all this stuff?
All the small and portable items go into this cute bin (not an affiliate link) I got from Target so I can carry them with me. The big, fluffy blanket lives on my couch with my heating pad, so those are always in place where I need them. I’ve been basically living in LuLaRoe and Skechers since my feet and hips started joining in the fun, so those are pretty much constantly on my person. The extra cell phone charger stays plugged in beside the couch, and I have a Roku in the bedroom and the living room for Netflix binges.
If you’re working on building your own Flare Day Survival Kit, I highly recommend the items above – as needed for your own personal symptoms, of course.
What would you add to your Flare Day Survival Kit? Let me know in the comments!
I am sorry that you have to live through chronic pain, but am amazed by your foresight to but together this kit! That a great way to help yourself through difficult times.
Thank you SO much, Emily! This kit has really made my flare days much more bearable!
I so appreciate you posting this list. I am especially excited for the heating bad because I need a new one. I also didn’t know that biofreeze came in a roll-on. Great idea about keeping an extra phone charger by the couch!
I have gone through SO MANY HEATING PADS and this one is my absolute favorite! It’s soft and flexible, not the kind with a hard plastic-covered insert, and it gets much hotter than any other I’ve found. I love the Biofreeze roll-on because it’s like getting a mini massage when I put it on, and that’s always a welcome feeling. And the charger beside the couch has become something I can’t believe I ever lived without.
I love the ’emergency chocolate,’ that made me chuckle. I have several forms of arthritis and know exactly the pain you are going thru. It took about 20 years to get a diagnosis so don’t give up. I found amazing gloves at a local horse and tack store. The fabric was first used on horses who had an injury or arthritis symptoms, it was so beneficial that they made fingerless gloves for people. They ease the pain in my fingers and I can wear them even while I work. I am not an affiliate or anything and this is a local store but you might find something similar where you live. http://greenhawk.com/wdItemDesc.asp?strilhID=Web&strmdNumber=DRC8386&stricSKU=DRC8386
Thank you, Lisa! Emergency chocolate is a necessity! Lol! And thank you for the lead on the arthritis gloves – I have a pair I love now, but I have been searching for a great alternative to try!
I’m a chronic migraine sufferer so my arsenal is-
-my prescription meds for when a migraine attack hits
-an ice pack or heating pad if i’m home suffering
-advil to “boost” the meds
-diet coke or ginger ale for nausea
-a dark room/eye mask
gotta be prepared, right?
That sounds like a PERFECT survival kit for chronic migraine! I’m lucky enough to only get migraines once or twice a year, and I reach for the same things, other than the prescription meds. I should definitely add an eye mask to my survival kit for the days a dark room isn’t available. Thank you for sharing!
I’m a huge essential oil fan so will try the frankincense. Although I don’t have chronic pain, I picked up some great tips for occasional issues. Thanks!
Frankincense has helped me with SO. MANY. THINGS. It’s definitely a must-have for any essential oil fan!
Wow I had no idea this existed. I’m so sorry for your pain, but I’m glad you’ve found some ways to help manage it!
Thank you, Hayley! It’s been a huge relief to discover some things that help me, and I hope they’re able to help someone else, too!
Love This!
Emergency chocolate and sketches slippers. I didn’t know others had the same issues with being barefoot!!!
Thank you, Elizabeth! These Skechers slippers have made me SO. MUCH. MORE. COMFY. I highly recommend them!
So great to find others who are experiencing the same journey as myself. Thanks for the ideas and tips and for being open about the struggle so that others can also become more aware.
Thank you, Yvette! I hope my journey is able to help others who are on this path. Sending lots of mental hugs!
Chronic pain can literally suck the life out of you. I can’t imagine going through what you are. Though my pain is different (I have pain from two car rollover accidents 15 years ago) my go to arsenal is to attack it before it happens. I see a chiropractor every 4 weeks and a massage therapist every 6 weeks for preventative maintenance. Even if I’m feeling good, I still go in. Because if I don’t, I know I’m in for a world of hurt about a week later. Another in my “pack” is to do yoga. Stretching out and warming up the muscles does a world of good at keeping the pain away.
Oh, goodness! I’m so sorry to hear that! Preventative maintenance is SO important in many cases. There are a lot of little ways I try to stop the pain before it starts, and yoga is definitely one of them. I also limit the amount of time I’m on my feet, and avoid scheduling too many activities is one day so I don’t get burnt out. I’m so happy you have found a system that works for you!
I am sorry about the pain you experience but how bold and strong of you to create a kit to help others in the same situation!
Thank you so much, Christie! That feedback means the world to me!
I love this idea so much I have a kit for at home and a lot in the car in case I’m at a friend’s or out and need to take a break….its saved me a few times especially since I added a military style poncho liner blanket to it it’s not pretty but it’s warm and not heavy so it doesn’t touch and vomit bags to deal with gastroparesis.