Chronic pain affects up to 50 million people in the U.S. alone. Needless to say, this type of condition can affect all other aspects of life, often making it difficult to live as normally as possible.
Whether chronic pain is mild or debilitating, an effective pain management system is essential to increasing the quality of life. Apart from medication and other types of medical treatment, making modifications to the home can also help ease chronic pain. Examples of such modifications include:
1. Massage chair
An Osaki massage chair is useful for both pain relief and stress management, so buying one is like hitting two birds with one stone. Since getting a therapeutic massage is not always doable, having a massage chair right in your very home provides the benefits of a massage without the need for human touch. Sitting in a massage chair for a few minutes can:
- Reduce tension in the muscles and improve flexibility
- Improve venous and lymphatic flow, promoting the absorption of nutrients and clearing of toxins from muscles and tissues
- Stimulates the release of endorphins or ‘feel-good’ chemicals in your brain, which can help ease pain and reduce anxiety
2. New doorknobs
If you suffer from arthritis, a condition that causes swelling and tenderness in the joints, you might find it hard to turn doorknobs when entering rooms. To address this issue and avoid feeling pain in your wrists every time you turn a doorknob, consider replacing your current knobs with easy-to-turn handles or installing gripping aids to your round doorknobs.
3. Grab bars
Grab bars in the shower and bathtub is not only useful for disabled individuals or the elderly, but also for people who suffer from chronic pain. With a grab bar to support your weight, you can ease the pain from your joints and help avoid accidents caused by sudden jolts of pain when you get out of the shower or bathtub.
Install grab bars near the toilet as well, especially if your condition makes it difficult to sit up and down. Furthermore, make sure you get grab bars that are strong enough to support your weight and have a contractor reinforce your walls if you live in an older house.
4. New cookware
Using regular cookware and kitchen equipment might not be kind on your hands, especially if you cook frequently. Hence, it’s a good idea to replace heavy cookware with lighter alternatives and opt for ergonomic kitchen tools, such as a ratchet grinder or a rocker knife. Doing this will not only make it easier to cook, but it will also reduce the risk of experiencing pain while you do.
5. Ramp
If walking up the front steps is hard on your knees, it might be time to install a ramp. Aside from making it easier to walk up and down the steps, a ramp will also make it more convenient to bring in groceries, luggage, and strollers.
6. Toilet seat riser
If squatting on the toilet is painful for you, get a toilet seat riser or a commode.
7. New mattress
With fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic musculoskeletal pain, it can be difficult to fall and stay asleep most nights. If you suffer from this condition or have another type of chronic pain that makes it difficult to sleep, getting a better mattress can help adress that problem.
Look for a mattress that is soft enough to ease tender spots but with a firmness that doesn’t allow your body to sink in. For fibromyalgia, a memory foam mattress is recommended due to its perfect balance of softness and firmness that helps ease pain and makes it easier to fall asleep.
8. Ergonomic work chair
Sitting in a regular chair for extended periods of time can exacerbate chronic back pain. So if the nature of your job has you sitting in front of a desk most of the day, invest in an ergonomic chair that is designed to support your back in all the right places. With proper lumbar support, your chronic back pain will likely be lessened or at least prevented from getting worse.
Living with chronic pain is never an easy feat, but there are a lot of ways to make it less difficult.
While there are pain management systems that can help ease chronic pain, it’s also recommended to make upgrades to your home that will aid in reducing pain in everyday activities, such as the ones mentioned above. So if you are suffering from chronic pain or living with someone who does, making these upgrades can make your home more comfortable and increase the quality of life.
