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Living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
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items I was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - CRPS for short - in March while recovering from a broken wrist. The pain made it hard to get dressed, do household chores (it was a great excuse not to do anything), exercise, work and even to the...
Note: some items in this list contain affiliate links from which I may receive a small commission.
Note: some items in this list contain affiliate links from which I may receive a small commission.
Sections
5
Self-Care
Entertainment
Exercise
Clothing
Physio
Self-Care
It's easy to feel down when you are in pain, particularly when you can't do your usual self-care routines. This is a list of things I did to modify my self-care routines.
One of the hardest things for me was getting my shampoo and conditioner out without leaving a slippery pile on the shower floor. A couple of generic pump action tops fixed the problem with me having to buy a different brand. 💡I got mine for free fr...
Shampoo/Conditioner Dispenser Pump - 2 Pack
My medication increases my sensitivity to the sun. Using this bb cream let me combine sunscreen and foundation in one so I could look put together without over-using my wrist.
Cancer Council Face Day Wear BB Cream Matte (Light Tint) SPF 50 + 50ml
Pump action body wash that is gentle on the skin was a must.
Ego QV Gentle Wash 1 Litre
Tubeskin was an essential as it topped my clothing and wrist splint from rubbing on and irritating my skin which would cause my pain to flare. I also wore one over my wrist when doing my physio exercises to stop my hand sticking to things due to the excess sweating.
Tubeskin Cut to Fit Tubular Bandage Skin - Small
My electric toothbrush (held in my good hand) made cleaning my teeth faster and simpler.
Electric Toothbrush
I used an extra pillow to elevate my hand during the night. It helped to reduce the pain and swelling. I liked a medium firmness pillow as it offered a nice blend of support and softness.
Pillow
Entertainment
With only one working hand, I needed to find things to keep me busy and entertained that didn't require the use of two hands.
Fun for 4-6. Playing cards was out as I only had the use of one hand. This is a fun game that only requires the full use of one hand to write and draw.
Telestrations | The Op Games
Playing games on my phone was good except that any vibrations from my phone aggravated my wrist. So I turned the vibrations off for phone calls and all of my games so that I was able to use my phone for a small amount of time each day. The Notes and Reminders apps on the phone also helped me to remember things when I was experiencing brain fog.
iPhone | Apple
Exercise
As a self-confessed sports junky, I needed something to replace my normal exercise routine as I couldn't lift weights, run or play hockey. Here's what I did instead.
Taking a water aerobics class twice a week was a core part of my recovery. The water offered resistance, but also helped regulate the temperature in my wrist. I started out without using any of the “weights” and just doing what I could, and am now doing the full program.
Water Aerobics | WebMD
Clothing
Dressing was very painful. Most days it was impossible to do pull up my normal jeans or do up my bra. Loose tops were no good as my pain would flare due to the unexpected contact when they grazed my skin. This is what I wore instead
I lived in these leggings. I several pairs of leggings, but I went an bought myself an extra pair of these ones. They are super stretchy and are the only one I could pull on and off easily with one hand. They have a pocket so I had somewhere to put my phone so I could keep my working hand free. Yes, I was spending a lot of time doing my physio exercises, but these felt good enough for shopping and seeing people as well.
3/4 Leggings | ZYIA
Hello dopamine dressing! That's wearing colours that make you feel good. This top comes in lots of colours, but the bright orange top was perfect for me. The colours and quotes are based on the chrakra, and I'm happy to take any help I can get to f...
Sleeveless Activewear Top for Women | Empowered Clothing
I won't pretend these bras were easy to put on with one hand, even now there are days when I give up. However, they were better than a regular bra which I couldn't put on at all. They were also easier for my husband to do up without squishing me into...
Heidi - Front Closure | Bra Easy
I have this exact shoe, inherited from my mum. Perfect for those days the fingers aren't working well enough to do up the laces.
Women's Tan Suede Comfort | BILLY Footwear
I love boots. I have lace up boots, over-the-knee boots, but a previous season’s version of these boots were the easiest to get on due to their perfect side zip placement and soft leather. The low heel was perfect with my large jeans (on those days ...
Calafat 21 Cuero Leather Ankle Boots
Physio
My physiotherapist diagnosed CRPS early, which helped in my recovery, and then gave me a graduated return to exercise program to increase my flexibility and strength without aggravating my CRPS.
SportsCare Canberra | Barton
Initially I had 0 grip strength in my left hand. By squeezing extra soft putty in my hand each night while watching TV I was able to increase my grip strength so that I could hold things in my hand.
Therapy Putty - Extra Soft | Theraflex
I bent and twisted therabands to strengthen my wrist. I started with a soft one and then graduated to a stiff one.
THERABAND FlexBar Tennis Elbow Therapy 3 Pack
I used weights to increase by wrist strength. I started with 500g and worked my way up.
METEOR Anti-Slip Vinyl Dumbbells Set