5 Cool Things to Help You Endure Summer Heat With Chronic Pain
/By Crystal Lindell
As temperatures heat up this summer, it can be difficult to get through hot sunny days when you’re also dealing with chronic pain and chronic illness.
Weather is such a huge factor in the severity of day-to-day chronic pain levels, and if you’re on certain medications heat can also impact your body in other ways, like skin irritation and ankle swelling.
Here are 5 things I use to get through the summer months while also dealing with chronic pain and chronic illness.
My number one summer survival item is the Gold Bond Friction Defense Stick. I use it on my arms and thighs to prevent the heat and humidity from chaffing my skin if I’m wearing shorts, a tank top, a bathing suit or any light summer clothing.
And this stuff seriously works! Putting it on after my morning shower makes such a huge difference in my quality of life throughout the summer.
If you have a long day of walking, or swimming you may need to re-apply a few times, but for most day-to-day activities, I have found that once in the morning is more than adequate.
Find it on Amazon here.
Every summer my excessive ibuprofen use combines forces with my Ehler-Danlos Syndrome to make my ankles swell up – especially if the humidity is high.
So I swear by these compression socks, which virtually eliminate that symptom, even after long car rides. I have multiple packs of these in multiple colors, and throughout the summer months, I wear them almost daily.
No, they aren’t super stylish with shorts, but if you wear them underneath pants, nobody can even tell.
Find them on Amazon here.
Speaking of pants, I tend to prefer them to shorts most of the time, even in the summer months. And these light, airy pants are great for enduring the heat.
They offer all the comfort of pants, with all the breathability of shorts. I use them as pajamas, as well as pants to wear over my bathing suit at the pool, and even for lounging around during the day.
According to my Amazon order history, I have literally ordered these pants eight times! I have them in every color and even in multiple sizes. They’re also great at enduring weight fluctuations that are common when you’re on a lot of medications and dealing with chronic pain because of how stretchy the waist is.
But the best things about these pants might be that they have pockets! If you’re familiar with the world of women’s pants, you know just how valuable and rare that feature is!
Find them on Amazon here.
Sometimes chronic pain and related medications make us especially sensitive to heat and humidity, but a personal, adjustable fan can be a great way to cope.
We have this fan in multiple colors, and we use them throughout the summer to direct air flow exactly where we want it.
It’s relatively quiet for a fan, but it still packs a punch when it comes to cooling you off during the summer months.
Find it on Amazon here.
If you’re looking for a comforting summer read, I can’t recommend “Garden Spells” by Sarah Addison Allen enough. It’s a very light, easy read that follows the stories of two sisters who have to navigate common sibling friction with the added stress of coming from a magical family that the whole town thinks is “weird.”
I read it for a book club recently and flew through it in two days. It’s a great light read, even if you’re have a chronic pain flare and can’t get off the couch. It also takes place in the south, and the heat is a common theme, making it perfect for getting into the summer state of mind.
Find it on Amazon here.
What products do you use to get through the hot and humid summer months while dealing with chronic pain? We’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments below!
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