How to Build a Chronic Pain First Aid Kit
Disclaimers: This is what’s in my kit, what I need for my condition. You need to do what’s right for you.
I have severe fibromyalgia, asthma, autism, vision impairment, anxiety, OCD, depression, BPD. The first three are what the kit is for.
Now, I’ve done this before but now that I’m flying out of the country soon, I had to rework my kit. It showed me that my flare box (which lives at home) and my backpack kit need to be the same thing because I can’t be swapping items all the time. If I have a meltdown or flare outside, it does me no good if my best products are in my home-flare box.
When I go out it fits in my little backpack alongside water, umbrella, wheelchair gloves, wallet, and emergency external battery for my phone.
At home the kit lives in my walker alongside emergency food and water, flare medications, ereader, 7 day pill wallet, and noise cancelling headphones.
I used to prep for “pack enough to get me home safely.” Now its, “Pack so I can stay out longer and enjoy myself more.”
1. Small travel cosmetics bag
I say ‘travel’ because they’re more compact with more storage space. (Available on eBay, most drug stores/chemists)
This is mine, I got it on eBay for $10. It folds out, has lots of compartments, and a handle on the other side.
2. Invisible hair elastics (the kind for tiny braids) for packing/containing
3. Tiny sauce portion cups (or zip lock sandwich bags)
Here’s what’s in mine that helps me:
Instant heat pack (has a little chemical compartment in the centre that bursts under pressure and turns it hot.)
Physio band for stretching aching joints - this is especially helpful if you have to be sitting for long periods, wheelchair, planes, class etc. Use invisible hair elastic to keep it rolled up
Baby wipes - sweating, vomit
Compression gloves for when my joints start to ache and my hands tremble
Bandaids (learning to push a wheelchair will shred your fingers when you’re starting out)
Roll on oil for headaches and anxiety
Spare batteries for TENS machine
TENS machine - gently shocks my muscles to make my back let go of my ribcage
Deep Heat for aching legs
Anti inflammatory gel for shoulders and hands
Emergency medication - nausea, pain, nerve blockers, migraines
Mars Bar for low blood sugar
Squishy stim toy for meltdowns and anxiety
Ear plugs (set) for serious sensory overload - don’t use dirty ear plugs, you can get infections. I have noise cancelling headphones as well but they aren’t as good as ear plugs in emergencies.
Listerine breath strips - in case I puke, also some meds taste vile.
Inhalers (steroid and ventolin)
All packed up, this is what my kit looks like:
I would be really grateful if people could reblog this to help other spoonies. If you have other ideas, I would love to hear them!
Please reblog with your condition and what helps you. Spoonies need to look out for each other.
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