Written By: Aline Browning
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine (2021), “Nearly 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which is more than those who have diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined.” The most commonly reported chronic pain in adults is low back pain, followed by knee pain, and chronic migraines. Fortunately, UltraComfort’s Comfort Zone Power Lift Recliners have patented positioning technology designed to help alleviate body aches and pains.
Low back pain can be caused by Sciatica, labor-related injury, Arthritis, Spina Bifida,or Spinal Stenosis, and many other reasons. Spinal Stenosis is a condition that becomes increasingly common with age. “Over time, the cumulative effects of gravity bring the vertebrae closer together, and the discs also tend to dry out and become thinner. With less cushioning between them, the vertebrae rub against one another, causing arthritis. Arthritic bone deposits can narrow the channels through which nerves pass, putting pressure on them and producing pain.” Harvard Health Publishing (2019).
Selfcare is a common treatment for Spinal Stenosis according to the Mayfield Clinic, “When lying on your back a pillow support should be utilized under the knees. Remember a pillow should support the neck not the head.” Furthermore their recommendations for proper sleeping posture are, “using correct posture and keeping your spine in alignment are the most important things you can do for your back. The lower back bears most of your weight, so proper alignment of this area can prevent injury to your vertebrae, discs, and other portions of your spine.”
UltraComfort power lift recliners with 4 and 5 Comfort Zones offer articulating headrest and lumbar support that can be easily adjusted to offer ideal support for your spine as well as leg elevation to alleviate pressure on the lumbar.
“Knee pain is the second most common cause of chronic pain” among adults in the U.S. according to Classic Rehabilitation, Inc. Often patients find themselves seeking a surgical remedy such as knee replacement. UltraComfort power lift recliners are luxurious and comfortable, offering support during a vulnerable time. They help patients and caregivers with lift assistance, balance, and help keep the leg raised above the heart, which may help with swelling.
According to Dr. Omoigui, from his medical journal on The Biochemical Origin of Pain, “Another leading cause of pain is inflammation and particularly Edema. Edema can happen from a weakening in the valves of the veins in the legs (a condition called venous insufficiency). This problem makes it hard for the veins to push blood back up to the heart, and leads to varicose veins and a buildup of fluid in the legs.” Cleveland Clinic, (2021). They also recommend, “Keeping your legs elevated above the level of the heart” as a method to reduce swelling. Our StellarComfort power lift recliners offer the Trendelenburg position, which positions the legs just above the level of the heart to achieve this recommended leg elevation.
Patients suffering from the symptoms of Edema can also be vulnerable to pressure sores. UltraComfort power lift recliners allow individuals to change positions frequently and we offer a large variety of fabrics that are both breathable and temperature neutral such as our exclusive UltraPlush Brisa fabrics. This durable fabric is softer to the touch than leather and has a porous surface that allows airflow to the skin.
Varicose veins are another form of chronic pain that can happen, mostly in the legs. According to the Mayo Clinic (2021), “Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins. Any superficial vein may become varicosed, but the veins most commonly affected are those in your legs. That’s because standing and walking upright increases the pressure in the veins of your lower body.” Varicose veins can cause burning and cramping sensations in the legs. This aching, throbbing, and swelling can also be accompanied by discoloration. The Mayo Clinic (2021) recommends, “Self-care—such as exercises, elevating your legs or even wearing compression stockings,” as a method to help prevent them from becoming worse.
The causes of chronic pain can vary considerably from injury-related chronic pain, to chronic pain caused by inflammation, to pain caused by exposure to environmental factors. In the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defined pain as, “An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.”
We try to measure and convey our pain in units, scales from 1 to 10, and even the Wong-Baker Pain Scale, which is a 0-10 scale composed of various facial expressions meant to communicate the level of pain an individual is experiencing. One thing is for sure, no matter how we try to communicate to others how we feel, at the time it very much feels like we are shouldering the burden of chronic pain alone. Pain, while subjective, as it happens to us on an individual basis, is also universal. It causes us to feel distressed or not like ourselves and we all do what we can to try to function normally despite our discomfort. UltraComfort power lift chairs can help you to retain some of the comfort and mobility that you had before this pain came into your life and will still prove to be a wonderful addition to your home long after the pain has passed.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/stories/september_pain_awareness_month.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12564-edema
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5902252/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/when-to-get-help-for-low-back-pain
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/varicose-veins/symptoms-causes/syc-20350643
https://www.classicrehabilitation.com/blog/knee-pain-statistics-and-causes/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2771434/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17499-spinal-stenosis