Wearables and gifts for sufferers of back pain
December 17, 2017 2:01 AM   Subscribe

Am looking to buy a wearable heat pad for back and shoulder pain... anyone have any particular brand you like? Any other gift ideas for sufferer of said back and shoulder pain also welcome...
posted by noonday to Health & Fitness (7 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
Do you want the kind you microwave/boil/heat in some way and then wear? Or the kind that uses a rechargeable battery?

For the former, my mom has shoulder pain, and likes this one a lot. She'd like to try a battery-powered one because they can be lighter. But, the two we got her both stopped working after a couple months (she uses the heating pad for maybe 30-45 minutes, 3-4x a week). So, I'll be following this thread with interest.
posted by bluefly at 6:03 AM on December 17, 2017


A Tens machine is great if they don’t already have one.
posted by littlewater at 9:06 AM on December 17, 2017 [2 favorites]


If you’re looking for accessory gift ideas, think comfort items. Tea, chocolates, blankets, etc that they can enjoy while laid up.
posted by crazycanuck at 9:55 AM on December 17, 2017


There is a divide between microwave/heat up and battery/plug in. In my experience, the first is better if you're using it for around twenty minutes (my favorite brand is elasto-gel). The second works if you need heat for longer periods of time.
posted by likethenight at 11:46 AM on December 17, 2017


A gift certificate for massage.
posted by cotton dress sock at 5:34 PM on December 17, 2017


OMG TENS is AMAZING. If you go that route, include some extra pads; you can use them several times, but they do wear out.

One thing I love (besides having plug-in heating pads for both work and home) is those disposable, air-activated stick-on heating pads. I have been finding them at Dollar Tree and just buying 20 at a time -- that way I can keep one in my purse at all times, in case I am not near a "real" one. They are tiny and unobtrusive in my bag.

A heated mattress pad is just ridiculously good.

I love to take really hot baths -- if she likes that, epsom salts are great, and a bath pillow and one of those drain covers that lets you take deep baths.

Hi, I have endometriosis and I basically live from heating pad to heating pad.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:18 AM on December 18, 2017 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Awesome suggestions! For portability I got the wrap suggested by bluefly... I’ll look into a tens unit of that doesn’t work. Thanks for making my holiday shopping a little easier!!!
posted by noonday at 6:56 PM on December 18, 2017


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