Chronic Illness: Tools of the Trade

Living life with a chronic illness is difficult, time consuming, exhausting, and should be an employment option on the dropdown list; Full Time Sick Person. Sometimes it feels like we're in over our heads, fighting one losing battle after another. Many of us have aquired our own personal little arsenal of tools to use as we wage war against our stubborn bodies. Each person's arsenal is different, depending on their condition(s), allergies, tolerances, the kindness of their doctors, and financial place in the world. I've decided to share what I keep stashed away in mine.

1. TENS Unit

TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator, which is a big fancy title for a unit with little electrode

that send tiny shocks into your muscles and scare away nasty pain signals. I use a fairly standard model that I

purchased off of Amazon and everyone I've spoken to has told me that they have the exact same one, so I think I

made the right choice when I purchased it in desperation at three in the morning.

2. Heating Pad

Heating pads and hot water bottles are well known for their pain relieving and muscle relaxing properties. I,

personally, keep a small rectangular heating pad and a nicer neck and shoulder pad with various heat settings. I've

found that the neck and shoulder pad fits nicely over my lower back, over my hips, wrapped around knees, and so

forth. Heating pads work wonders for sore and tense muscles, and helps when dislocations cause muscle spasms.

3. Ice Packs

Another obvious tool to deal with pain and other symptoms would be ice. If it hurts, numb it with ice. If your knee

swells after a dislocation, ice it. Ice packs are also really helpful during POTS flares, by keeping my body

temperature down and helping with painful blood pooling in my feet.

4. Tiger Balm

Tiger Balm and other pain creams like Biofreeze work by creating a cooling/heating effect where applied to help

block pain signals. Some people find them to be super effective, others not so much, and personally I don't feel

too much of a difference when I use them on their own, but in tandem with other methods they can make a huge

difference.

5. Pillows

An obvious aid that anyone with EDS can attest to would be pillows in all different shapes, sizes, and numbers.

They can be indispensable for us as a means to prop ourselves up in a comfortable position, elevate injured limbs,

and even prop body parts up to hold them in socket. Something I've been using them for recently is spinal

decompression. Placing two pillows underneath my hips, laying face down, and doing what I can to relax back

muscles (be it deep breathing or a heating pad) has been incredibly helpful. It helps by using gravity and your own

body weight to lightly pull your vertebrae apart- just enough for a light stretch. For those of us with achy, stiff

backs it can be huge. In my case the benefits are only temporary, but I'll take any relief I can get.

6. Neck Cushion

I suppose this could be categorized as a pillow, but I decided to give it it's own point. Some people with EDS

experience spinal instability in the neck, some cases mild and some extreme. I get neck aches as much as the next

hypermobile kid, but on days when my head feels heavy and floppy, a neck pillow can make relaxing and watching

a show soothing instead of painful. I might look a bit eccentric, but it's absolutely worth it.

7. Eye Mask

Something I've only recently added to my personal arsenal is an eye mask to block out light. From blocking out

light pollution during normal sleeping hours, to napping during the day, or even blocking light during a migraine,

it's become seemingly indispensable.

8. Medical Mask

Medical masks are something you'll see often in social media posts about chronic illness. Many chronic illness

patients have issues with allergies, fragrance sensitivities, or weakened immune systems. In patients like this

(myself included on all three), having a barrier and filter between irritating and germy air and what we breathe in

can be anywhere from helpful to life saving, all depending on conditions and severities. My mask is black with

yellow flowers on it, because making medical devices pretty can make you feel so much better about having to

use them.

9. Medications and Supplements

Medications such as painkillers, and muscle relaxers, NSAIDs, and even vitamins can be a huge help in waging war

against chronic pain. I use over the counter pain medications such as a mix of Aleve and Tylenol (be sure not to

mix NSAIDs together!), and even Pamprin to help with pain levels. In my case, its not very effective, but it's all I

have. I've found that taking a daily multivitamin can help prevent some muscle cramps, especially during times

where I have trouble eating much at all.

10. Gatorade/Electrolyte Drinks

For those of us with POTS, it can be difficult for us to stay as hydrated as we need to be with plain old water,

which is where electrolyte drinks come in. By adding sodium and potassium, our bodies are able to absorb and

hold onto more of the water content. This is essential in soothing symptoms and can fight off muscle cramps that

are caused by dehydration.

11. Ginger Chews

Ginger anything can help curb nausea to some degree. I keep real ginger chews (courtesy of Trader Joe's) in my

bag to help tide me over when I'm out in public and get hit with a bit of a sour stomach. They're also handy to

have if I feel my blood sugar get a little low.

12. Braces and Compression Garments

Most of my fellow EDS patients probably have their own not-so-secret stash of braces that rivals a major hospital

ortho department. Whether they were prescribed as a preventative measure, or serve as a reminder of when that

dislocation sent us to the doctor/urgent care/ER, we have more than we can usually count. On top of this,

compression garments can help keep our joints in as well by providing enough resistance to make frequent slips

less likely. Compression garments, specifically gloves and socks, can also help prevent blood pooling in those

with POTS. Double bonus.

13. Mobility Aids

A portion of those with EDS and/or POTS, as well as other chronic illnesses, utilize mobility aids. Whether full

time or part time, they can range from the aforementioned braces to canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs.

Even if we can technically can get around without them, it can be tedious, painful, and even dangerous. Some

days are better than others in what our bodies can and can't handle, and even on these days some of us opt for \

our aids as well for more preventative measures.

14. Vaseline

As someone with fragile skin that splits and scratches easily, I like to carry some vaseline with me to slather over

broken skin to create a barrier. It also helps keep my lips from splitting and bleeding as often as they usually do

when left alone.