Winter Warmers - Pain Relief

Image by insane gal via Flickr

With winter brings dark nights, cold frosty/snowy days and for me and many other scoliosis sufferers - increased back pain.

The cold weather tends to cause an achy type pain and extra stiffness in my lower back, which for some reason I've noticed even more since my surgery and have noticed even more over the past few days. This is one of the reasons I detest winter, that and fear of slipping on icy ground and damaging my metalwork.

During winter, you'll usually find me with a hot water bottle or heat pad permanently attached to my back, as I find heat therapy really helps to relieve my aches and pains. 

As we've been hit by freezing temperatures and snow this week in the UK, I thought I'd share some useful tips/products that I've found and that could help get us through the upcoming winter months.

1. Heat Pads

I found this mobile heat pad on stressnomore.co.uk and think it looks perfect as you can actually strap it round your body! It beats having a hot water bottle tucked down the back of my trousers!

 
This one is also from stressnomore.co.uk. The Beurer HK63 Rheumatherm Magnetic Heating Pad cleverly incorporates heat and magnetic therapy for pain relief.




Amazon also have a good selection of heat pads.

2. Hot water bottles

A scoliosis sufferers best friend! I find my hot water bottle works wonders on my aching back and feels like bliss.

3. A hot bath / shower

If you find having a bath comfortable it can really help the pain. I actually find having a bath quite uncomfortable post-surgery as I cant bend my back against the bath and just have to sit upright which isnt very comfortable! Perhaps a bath pillow would help but I'm yet to find a decent one. I also find it quite difficult getting in and out of the bath so I prefer to have a shower which can be just as good for pain relief!

4. A lie down on a memory foam mattress / topper

For me, memory foam is the best invention ever and a lie down on my memory foam topper instantly relieves my pain. Lots of cushions also help.

5. Thermal tops

I've recently tried wearing a thermal vest top underneath my clothes which really helps to keep the cold out of my back.

Failing the above, a holiday to a nice hot beach will also do just fine! ;)