Christmas shopping with chronic pain can be a real nightmare. After all, you will be doing a whole lot of standing, walking, and carrying. If you are one of the 20% of people who are already suffering from chronic pain, then all of that shopping can magnify the aches and stiffness you feel in your joints. That is why we have put together some tips to help you have an easier time going Christmas shopping with chronic pain.
Here are our recommendations for reducing any potential joint pain while going shopping for the holidays.
Shop Online
Shopping online is the easiest solution to avoid Christmas shopping with chronic pain. You may just want to do this from now on! You can probably get everything you want as gifts from the comfort of your own home. There is a tremendous amount of online shopping going on right now. In fact, before the pandemic, 63% of shoppers began their shopping online. Now, due to various lockdowns and stay-at-home mandates around the nation, the figures are even higher.
There are often incredible deals to be had when shopping online compared with brick and mortar stores. There is often free shipping over a certain amount that is offered in the world of e-commerce, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. The best part of shopping online is that you don’t even have to get dressed for it!
Create a Shopping Strategy
If you do decide to venture out into the real world and shop in person, you should create a strategy before you go. For instance, if you are going to go and shop at a mall, see if you can pull up its layout online. This will help you figure out where the stores you want to visit are located, where the closest parking areas are, and what the most efficient walking path would be.
Dress Comfortably
You will probably want to wear something soft and comfortable. That’s because clothes that are rougher and more form-fitting will put pressure on your body, leading to additional pain you could live without. The longer you shop, the more irritating your clothes will feel against your skin. So, if that means wearing sweatpants and a bamboo or silk shirt, then that’s what you should do.
Use the Assistance of Mobility Aids
Mobility aids, like canes, walkers, and motorized scooters, can be a major help when doing Christmas shopping with chronic pain. After walking around for hours and standing in lines, you are going to be grateful that you decided to use a mobility aid. Often, many larger stores even have these aids available to use for free while you are shopping. Also, malls will often have motorized scooters available to rent.
Ask for Help
With so many people buying things for the holidays, it can get overwhelming and challenging to find the products you are looking for. When you are unable to find something you are looking for in a reasonable amount of time, then go ahead and ask a sales associate for some help. There is no reason for you to walk through every aisle when there are people in the store who are paid to help you. They will probably know exactly where the item you are looking for is, and help you get out of the store sooner.
Don’t Carry Heavy Packages
Just as there are people in stores who can help you find something, there are usually sales associates who can help you with carrying your packages. If there is nobody available to help you carry your packages, then look for pushcarts that may be there. If a store you go to doesn’t have either of these, then you can bring something like a baby stroller and place heavy items inside of it as you cart all of your items around.
Rest Frequently
If you notice that you are getting tired or are starting to feel the aches and stiffness in your joints, then take a rest break. Resting by sitting down somewhere for a few minutes will make a big difference in how much pain you are in. Take these rest breaks frequently so that you have the ability to persevere through your Christmas shopping.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Your feet are going to take the brunt of the strain while shopping. That means you should make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes. For women, it is a good idea to leave your heels at home. Instead, wear a pair of comfortable sneakers that provide cushioning and support that heeled shoes simply can’t provide.
Be Mindful of How You Stand
Standing for a long time will start to put a strain on your lower back, which will begin with soreness throughout your body. During the holidays, there are undoubtedly long checkout lines. When you have no choice but to stand in line, you want to be mindful of how you are standing. Make sure you have an even amount of weight on your feet. Standing up straight, with your lower back in that natural arch towards your front will help you avoid more severe strain.
Take a Joint Supplement
Taking a joint supplement every day before you start your day is an excellent way to keep joint pain away. A popular and natural joint supplement to take is JointFuel360. This supplement is packed with anti-inflammatory compounds, like black pepper extract and turmeric, as well as antioxidants like resveratrol. It even has type II collagen and other ingredients that not only reduce pain and inflammation but can actually help heal your joints.
Wrapping Up
Christmas shopping with chronic pain is definitely not fun. Thankfully, you now know several tips that will help alleviate the aches and stiffness you may experience when out on a long day of holiday shopping. If you follow our tips, we promise you will have a more comfortable Christmas shopping experience than you expected to have.
