5 Tips for Showering with Chronic Pain
/By Crystal Lindell
One of the first things I had to come to terms with when I developed chronic pain in 2013 was that showers were no longer something I could do on a whim.
My pain, which was eventually diagnosed as intercostal neuralgia in my right ribs, flares up when I put the energy and work into taking a shower.
I’m not sure why showering seems to aggravate it, but I assume it’s related to the fact that I’m standing in one place for a long time, moving my arms in a certain way to clean my hair, and then the movements I do to get dressed afterward.
All this means that I have to plan my showering schedule the way other people plan their gym workouts – with the expectation that I’ll need rest afterwards.
I do still shower almost every day, because it’s important to me and I like feeling clean. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a struggle. And I will confess that there are some days when the pain is just too intense to get through a full shower.
However, there are things you can do to make it both easier to shower with chronic pain, and to go longer periods of time between showers.
Below are suggestions and advice that I’ve learned from living with chronic pain and caring for disabled relatives who live near me.
Tip 1: Change your showering schedule to nights
The first thing I did when I realized that showering was going to be an ordeal was to shift to showering at night. This sounds like a small thing, but for me it was a major change in my daily routine.
Back when I started having chronic pain, I was still driving into an office everyday for a day job. Getting up to take a full shower, wash my long hair, and then get dressed in office clothes sometimes meant that I didn’t have the ability to drive into the office at all. I would literally have to call my boss to ask if I could work from home or take a sick day.
When I realized that I no longer had the luxury of showering in the morning, I shifted to doing it the night before. That way, I could save my morning energy for throwing on clothes and light make-up before heading to work.
I no longer drive into an office job everyday, but I do still shower at night if I have anything I have to do outside of the house in the morning.
It’s honestly one of the foundations of living with chronic pain: you have to plan out things that you didn’t have to think about before. You have to make sure you’re rationing your energy to get the most out of your limited supply.
For showering, that means scheduling it for times when it doesn’t conflict with other high-energy activities.
Tip 2: Use dry shampoo when you can’t shower
A lot of people already know about the wonders of dry shampoo, and how it can help you go longer between washing your hair. But most people don’t realize that it works best when it’s used as a preventative measure to keep your hair relatively clean.
The trick to getting it to work best is to use it on freshly washed and dried hair, so that it can absorb the hair’s natural oil as it comes in.
There are a ton of dry shampoo options on the market, but in my experience, the more expensive ones aren’t necessarily better. So feel free to reach for whatever you see at your local drug store.
Personally, I’ve had a lot of success with the Batiste Brand. I like that their shampoos come in a lot of different scents and that they even offer versions for brunettes, who want to avoid the white residue that’s common with dry shampoos.
Tip 3: Sponge roller curls can help you go longer between hair washings
After watching Agent Carter – a 1940s Marvel super hero TV show – I went through a phase where I was obsessed with all things 1940s style, including hair.
That’s how I accidentally stumbled onto my next tip: setting your wet hair in foam sponge rollers will help you go a lot longer between washes. The women of the 1940s did this because shampoo was rationed or hard to come by during World War 2. It turns out they knew what they were doing.
That’s because curly hair, even if it’s been brushed out, does not get oily as fast as straight hair. So if you add curls to straight hair, you won’t have to wash it as often.
Here’s a quick Youtube tutorial that goes over the basics of using sponge rollers. There are tons more in-depth tutorials if you’re interested. Just make sure your hair is completely dry before you take the curlers out, otherwise they won’t set.
There are sponge rollers on Amazon currently listed for less than $10, but you can also find them at almost every drug store and discount retailer.
Of course, there is one massive downside to using sponge rollers or any type of curling method at home – they take a lot of time and energy to do your hair.
However, most salons will offer a service called a “wet set” for a reasonable price. It’s a tried and true service for older women, who tend to be in the demographic of people who aren’t able to wash their hair every day.
As part of a wet set, the stylist will usually use rollers to give you tight curls, and then style it afterwards so that you can go longer between hair washes.
Tip 4: Invest in a shower chair
There are also accommodations that you can use to get through a shower easier. For example, I think a lot of people don’t realize just how helpful a shower chair can be.
While I don’t use one myself, I have relatives who use a shower chair, which often is the difference between them being able to shower vs. not being able to shower at all.
These days, you don’t have to order shower chairs from special medical supply services. You can get them for a very reasonable price online. This shower chair on Amazon is currently listed for less than $40, and it features a removable back.
Tip 5: Use cleansing wipes between showers
Of course, there may be days when you just can’t get through a full shower, but you don’t want to feel dirty. In that case, I suggest investing in some bath wipes for adults.
Again, I have not personally used a product like this, but I have multiple disabled relatives who found them to be extremely helpful.
These bath wipes on Amazon are currently listed for less than $20, and they claim to both cleanse and soften your skin.
You don’t need bath wipes to achieve this effect though. A wet washcloth with some soap used in a few key places can also achieve a similar effect.
Hopefully you found some good tips on this list, and if you have any other tips or advice for getting through a life where showering is sometimes a luxury, please share them in the comments below!
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