Confessions of a Fitness Instructor

Therapeutic Relief from Chronic Pain + Giveaway

Haaaappppy Friday! Surprised that I’m writing on a Friday night? I don’t know why, you must all know I’m a bit of a workaholic. 😉

By now, we all know I have fibromyalgia. Hip-hip-hooray (not really). But I’m fortunate enough to not be on any medications for my condition (And that is a real hip-hip-hooray moment!). And I credit a lot of the reason I am not on meds to be on my activity level and diet, but also the alternative treatments I use when I am having bad days.

The reality for me is that I hurt everyday, not always in the same places, not always the same kind of hurt, and at different levels, but I hurt. And it’s often the kind of hurt that massages and ointments can’t touch. Ibuprofen helps, but I’ve been really trying to stay away from it as much as possible since it can be so hard on your stomach.

One of the things I always do when I’m having more intense pain, is use one of our many oat bags for moist heat on the areas of the body most effected by my condition. My mother makes these bags so we have a lot of them (I am guessing about 8 in our house), but if you don’t have a mother bringing oat bags over anytime you need one, you can easily make one yourself by putting plain rice in a sock and tying off the end.Then you pop it in the microwave (one of the only things we actually use out microwave for!) and heat it up. How long you need to leave it in depends on the size of your bag (or sock!) so start with 45 seconds and go in 15 seconds intervals from there until you get your desired heat level.

I’ve also found relief from the use of essential oils, especially mint based oils (like peppermint), used both in bath water, topically and in lotion or sprays.

This I’m not sure I’ve talked about much (or maybe at all) but about 10 or 11 years ago I took a 30 or 40 hour course on reflexology. I’m not a certified reflexologist but I have a good understanding of the reflexes in the body (especially on the feet) and have used them many, many times both on myself and J to help with pain and discomfort.

So when  Medical Arts Press, a wholesale retailer of medical equipment and supplies contacted me to see if I was interested in offering a giveaway for my readers to help them manage chronic pain I was all over it especially when it includes two items that use my most favorite alternative therapy for fibromyalgia (moist heat)!

One lucky US reader will win:

Mother_Earth_Pillows_

 Shoulder Triggerpoint Pillow

Sombra_

Sombra

TheraBeads

TheraBeads

Of course you don’t need to suffer from fibromyalgia or any other condition with chronic pain to take advantage of these products – everyone has pain from time to time and these products would be great! I’m really quite envious of whoever wins this prize as that TheraBeads pack looks AMAZING! I have asked my mother on more than one occasion if she could make me a full body oat bag and this looks like a step in the right direction 😉

To enter please follow the instructions in the rafflecopter form below – and good luck!

Giveaway is open to residents of the USA only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


xoxosuzi

findmeFollow Me on Pinterest

optinpost

Disclosure: This giveaway was generously provided by  Medical Arts Press, I received no compensation, I just wanted to give my lovely readers a chance to win something to help them manage their pain in a more natural way.

Comments

  1. Mippy/Sabrina says

    I know it’s not a pillow but I am totally going to purchase this in a couple months! 😀 I love the IMAK® Back Cushion and Lumbar Support! 🙂

  4. Rachel @ Pain-Free Kitchen says

    I’m actually interested in the leg spacer pillows. I found occasionally that if i put my hand in between my legs when I was sleeping on my side, that some of the tightness in my lower back would go away. I wonder if a pillow would be better. Especially one that will hold it’s shape.

    Also speaking of fibro pain, I had a pretty bad flare up last night. Mostly because I binged the whole day with gluten and then took a nap. But instead of reaching for my emergency vicodine, I put two Icy Hot patches on my back. I highly recommend them for when the pain is keeping you from sleeping. I put them over two bad tender points and it relaxed the spasms.

    • Suzi Fevens says

      I almost always sleep with a pillow between my knees, otherwise I find my knees bother me (possibly because I’m managing to hit those pressure points but having my legs together), and liked the look of the leg spacer pillow too!

      Thanks for the tip on the icy hot patches! I really like the Wiccy Magic Muscles massage bar from LUSH, it’s the only product I’ve used that seems to help with muscle soreness (though someone sent me a topical spray to try out this week so I’m hoping that will work too!).

  7. Amy Lynn says

    I would love to get the Core Products® CervAlign Pillow; 7″ Lobe. I am a side sleeper and I get pain the in side of my neck and this style of pillow would eliminate the bunching!

  8. Amy Lynn says

    The Therabeads pack does sound amazing ~ I could use that right now! Thanks for the giveaway Suzi and showing us these awesome products 🙂

  9. Camille says

    I would love to try the Stress-Ease Pillow! I am so happy to have found this giveaway because I have several friends who suffer from chronic pain. This is a great little list of ideas for gifts/care packages for them. Thank you.