Coping with chronic pain can be difficult. You have to alter practically all facets of your life to cater to your treatment needs. The spring season is quickly approaching, pushing a lot of us to clean out hoarded closets and re-organize messy rooms, while simultaneously making sure our pain is managed.
At The Pain Center of Arizona, our providers know the burden that household chores can put on people living with chronic pain. Whether you have neuropathy, fibromyalgia, or back pain, spring-cleaning can be a pain. We encourage people to seek the medical advise from the professionals at any of The Pain Center locations and get back into life, today!
Laundry and housecleaning are inevitable parts of human life. People who have pain from strenuous movement and heavy lifting should follow the following tips while cleaning laundry:
- Avoid heavy lifting. Separate your clothes into different piles to prevent strenuous pressure on your back. When bending, use your knees and your feet; not your back!
- Avoid twisting. Some household laundry rooms have cabinets above their washers and dryers. Use a step stool when reaching for the detergent or fabric softener. If you are required to reach for something low, kneel down slowly.
- Stand to sort, fold, and iron clothes.
- Don’t overindulge. Do one major cleaning task each day.
You will likely have to transfer your laundry from the dryer into the bedroom. Chances are, some of that laundry will include bed sheets, which poses another hurdle for pain sufferers. Take a look over these tips for making the bed using proper pain management techniques:
- Wear loose clothing, giving your arms room to stretch.
- Make one side of the bed at a time.
- Do the farthest corner first.
- Do not lean across the bed to tuck in the corners. Instead, rest on your knees on the bed at the area where you need to tuck the sheets.
- When tucking in the sheeting, keep your back straight. Avoid twisting and turning.
Spring-cleaning requires a lot of work. Don’t be afraid to ask a loved one or friend for help during your chores. For more information on cleaning tips to avoid pain, contact a Pain Center physician, today! Keep an eye out for more tips to avoid pain while spring-cleaning.
If you suffer from chronic pain due to any condition or injury, find hope at The Pain Center of Arizona! Our dedicated team of board certified pain management physicians will work with you to treat your pain, increase your functionality and quality of life, and get you back into life! We have locations across Arizona, including Phoenix, Anthem, Surprise, Mesa, Gilbert, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and now Prescott and Tucson! We take multiple insurance plans; click here to see if we take yours! To make an appointment and take the first step toward getting back into life, call us today at 1-888-PAINCENTER. We hope to see you soon!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.