What to Keep Within Your Home in Case of Pain

Pain can crop up at any time. If it's a pain you understand, such as a headache at the end of a long day or a backache after doing yardwork, simple fixes are available to lower your discomfort. The proper supplies, properly stored, are key.

The Importance of Keeping Medicine Within Your Home

Anti-inflammatory pain medications, such ibuprofen and naproxen can be an effective way to treat pain caused by a overuse. If you twisted your ankle on a hike, elevating the foot to reduce swelling is a crucial first step. Ice, if available, should also be applied. Adding an over the counter anti-inflammatory can help.

Acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory. Instead, this pain reliever works on your brain and spinal cord. If you have stomach concerns, acetaminophen may be a better pain relieving product.

Choose a Safe Storage Spot

All of these pain relieving tools come in a clever little bottle. Many of them are brightly colored. Children can be drawn to all of these products and can quickly suffer an overdose of any of these medications. If you have small children that are prone to climbing, create a space where you can lock up these medications to reduce this risk.

Like many products, pain medications need to be stored in a cool, dry spot. Your bathroom cabinet is not a great option; moisture and heat may shorten the life of even over the counter medications. If you have a small lockbox or even a locking tacklebox you can place in your pantry, this may be the safest place to store your medications.

What to Keep Within Your Home in Case of Pain

In addition to over the counter anti-inflammatory and pain medications, make sure you have the tools to create a topical pain medication. Your refrigerator can be a great start.

Heavy duty food storage bags can be loaded with ice. If you hurt your knee playing sports, put ice in a plastic bag. Lay a lightweight cloth or cotton kitchen towel on your knee and cover it with the ice bag. Use the 20 minutes on/20 minutes off rule for the first 24 hour. Always use a barrier cloth when applying ice; frostbite is possible and will only add to your discomfort. Make sure you also use a timer so you don't ice any area for too long.

Another simple ice pack option is to fold a kitchen towel flat inside a gallon-sized freezer bag. Saturate the towel inside the bag and lay it flat in your freezer. This is an excellent ice pack for back pain. Once it's frozen, you can wrap it in a larger towel and lay on it for 20 minutes every two hours.

Your refrigerator can also be a helpful spot for pain relief. If a loved one gets a sunburn, a bottle of non-fragrant lotion in the refrigerator can soothe their discomfort and help them fall asleep.

Other Pain Relief Items to Keep in Your Home

Make sure your first aid kit is also set up to treat pain. You need tweezers, but it's also a good idea to stock an over the counter hydrocortisone cream. This medication can quickly take down the pain and inflammation of a wasp or hornet sting.

If you are using any prescription pain medications, do your best to store them far from little ones and to make sure they're not exposed to light and heat. Like over the counter medications, prescription pain meds can quickly suffer environmental damage and lose their potency.

Knowledge of acupressure points can also be helpful when you or a loved one are suffering. These points can be used to treat headache as well as neck or back pain.

Fight Pain from Your Pantry

Don't forget your pantry when you've got a loved one in pain. Heartburn can be extremely uncomfortable, but 1/4 cup of applesauce, particularly before bed, can soothe it. Cramps from diarrhea can be soothed with dry toast and small sips of water.

If you struggle with daily headaches or have a loved one who's always headed for the pain relievers in the afternoon, push water throughout the day. A strong dose of caffeine can also be a terrific way to tackle a really tough headache. 

Not every pain has a known source. Maintaining access to quality pain medications can reduce stress for your entire household. Knowledge of acupressure points may help you tackle certain conditions. Safe storage of all pain medications is key.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Jessica Puckett, DACM, LAc