Gift Ideas for Chronic Pain Relief

Is your fondest wish for the holidays to have some relief from your back pain? Is this the year that you've resolved to exercise regularly? This newsletter can help by outlining some gift ideas designed to help relieve your pain. Whether it's a gift to yourself or you're hinting to your loved ones, these ideas can give your back a happier holiday.

The gift of fitness

A recent study reported that more than half of U.S. adults do not get the minimum recommended amount of moderate exercise -- for 30 minutes per day, five days per week. This statistic is particularly troubling for back pain patients, since exercise is so crucial for their pain relief. Exercise can stimulate fluid exchange in the spinal discs, providing nutrients to help healing and reduce painful swelling in surrounding tissues. Exercise can also strengthen and stretch your muscles, providing more support for your back and preventing future injury. Learn more in Exercise and fitness to help your back.

Finding the right exercise equipment or program for you can help you to achieve your fitness goals. These are a few spine-friendly options to consider:

• Exercise bike
  Low impact exercise such as the exercise bike or an elliptical machine is gentle on the back but provides an aerobic workout that can help strengthen key support muscles. Patients with certain spinal conditions may find that the exercise bike allows them to enjoy an aerobic workout more comfortably. Learn more in Exercise bikes for a low stress work out.
• Exercise ball
  An exercise or "Swiss" ball helps to strengthen the core body muscles that support the spine and can provide increased balance and stability. Learn more in Exercise ball therapy for low back pain.
• Time with a trainer
  For anyone starting an exercise program, time with a trainer or physical therapist can be the key to continuing to exercise after the initial commitment. A trainer or physical therapist can help to design an exercise program that is right for you and demonstrate proper technique. See How a physical therapist can help with exercise.

Gifts for every day

Everyday tasks and movements can be back pain triggers if they are done without the proper back support. Here are some gift ideas to make your regular routine more comfortable.

• Ergonomic office chair
  Sitting is a position that many of us spend a lot of time in, but it is a position that puts stress on the spine, aggravating back pain. An ergonomic office chair can provide support for the lower back, and be adjusted to the most comfortable position for your back. See Choosing the right ergonomic office chair.
• Supportive cushions
  Whether it's an orthopedic lumbar cushion for your car or a pillow to support your neck while you sleep, cushions can relax your back and neck muscles by providing support for specific areas. A variety of pillow types are discussed in Pillow support and comfort.

• A new mattress
  The right mattress can make a difference for chronic back pain or insomnia sufferers -- and finding one with both proper back support and sleep comfort is important. Learn more in Choosing the best mattress for low back pain.
• Travel aids
  Traveling with back pain doesn't need to be the end of your travel enjoyment. Rolling luggage, a comfortable backpack case for a laptop, or a travel pillow can make your experience a more pleasurable one. For more, see Pain- free travel tips.
• Massage
  Scheduling a massage with a licensed massage therapist could be a wonderful gift, especially if your pain is musculoskeletal. Massage, like exercise, can stimulate blood flow, bringing healing nutrients to painful muscles. See Massage therapy for back pain. Want the benefits of massage but find it difficult to schedule the time? Consider a massage chair. Learn more in Benefits of a massage chair.

Lifestyle changes may be the best gift of all

Getting a fancy exercise machine or office chair for the holidays will not help your back if it sits in your home gathering dust. Give yourself the gift of pain relief this holiday season by making a commitment to keeping your back healthy. Consider adopting tried-and-true, highly effective habits for reducing back pain this coming year, such as:

• Losing excess weight
  Extra weight can put pressure on your spine and cause low back pain, and can put you at increased risk for other problems like osteoarthritis. Healthy weight loss is best achieved with a balanced diet and exercise. See A healthy weight for a healthy back.
• Improving your posture
  Poor posture strains muscles and puts stress on the spine, and over time can lead to anatomical problems with your nerves and joints. It's important to know how to obtain correct posture in any position (sitting, standing, bending, etc.).

Have a happy, healthy holiday season.

Best wishes,
Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD, Medical Director
Stephanie Burke, President

About the Spine-health.com Newsletter: Each issue of the Spine-health.com newsletter, SpineNews Update, is written by the founders of Spine-health.com - Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., M.D., Medical Director for Spine-health.com and Stephanie Burke, President of Spine-health.com.The content in the newsletters is not peer reviewed by Spine-health.com’s Medical Advisory Board.The articles to which the Spine-health.com newsletters link have been peer reviewed by members of the Medical Advisory Board.