In the years before I fell pregnant I was a pretty healthy specimen, no major illnesses to speak of and apart from a niggling pain in the shoulder from a previous car accident, no real ‘injuries’ to speak of either. When I first moved to Peterborough I spent most days at the gym and loved nothing more than a good workout to keep me in tip-top condition but nothing could prepare me for how much being pregnant and the ensuing years of carrying around small children would affect my physical wellbeing. I feel like I have gone from 0-60 in a matter of minutes (so a bit slower than your average sports car but you get my meaning).
I know that there will be many mothers out there who disagree with me, but they will probably be the ones who were self-motivated enough to keep up their sports schedules, ante-natal yoga and the like whereas I pretty much just let myself be taken over by my pregnancies. I realise now that this was not the best idea but you live and learn.
My main areas of suffering are my lower back, all that bending and lifting (yes I know I should be doing it from my knees – but they hurt too – somebody call the retirement home we’ve got another inmate coming!) has left me with burning pains right in the lumbar region and a pain in the neck (no not my Husband, he’s pretty darn good actually).
When I was breastfeeding Beanie Boy, I tried to avoid taking painkillers because I wasn’t sure how much of it would be passed onto him through my milk so I had to find an alternative pain-relieving method which was when I discovered Thermacare Heat Wraps and I have been using them ever since whenever my back pain flares up.
Thermacare Heat Wraps contain patented heat cell technology which provides deep therapeutic pain relief for up to 16 hours, this is as effective as taking the maximum dosage of over-the-counter Ibuprofen tablets and they are so discreet and comfortable they can be worn underneath your clothing. The heat is provided by the heat generating ingredients in iron, charcoal, salt and water which react on contact with oxygen. The wraps stay warm for up to 8 hours, whilst continuing to provide low-level heat directly to the affected area providing a further 8 hours of sustained pain relief and deep muscle relaxation.
In a recent survey it was found that 48% of Mums suffering from aches and pains say that lifting their children is the main cause of the pain. In fact, one in five mums carry their children around for four or more hours a day when they are young which equates to a full two months of carrying their child over the space of a year. I think I probably do this even more since Beanie Boy LOVES it when I put music on in the kitchen and we dance around, it was fun when he was smaller but now that he’s putting on weight my back doesn’t enjoy it as much.
I was sent a pack of Thermacare Heat Wraps to review for the purpose of this post and so I’m currently pain free but I was also surprised to learn that they also do Heat Wraps Neck, Wrist and Shoulder and Knee & Elbow Wraps so I may soon be looking somewhat like a Mummy from Scooby Doo!
If you would like to read tips and advice on how to deal with back pain why not visit www.backexperts.co.uk
ThermaCare® HeatWraps Lower Back & Hip £6.12 for pack of two
-Wraps snugly around the affected area, providing targeted pain relief that penetrates deeply, warming the muscle right where it hurts.
-Applied directly to the skin****, allowing you to stay on the move.
· ThermaCare® HeatWraps Neck, Wrist and Shoulder £6.12 for a pack of three
-Cleverly conform to your neck, shoulder or wrist.
-Thin enough to wear under clothes, flexible enough to wear on the move.
· ThermaCare® HeatWraps Knee & Elbow £6.12 for a pack of two
-Especially designed to fit your knee or elbow.
-Allows you to move freely while delivering therapeutic heat to tight muscles.
ThermaCare® HeatWraps are available from supermarkets and pharmacies.
DISCLAIMER: I was sent two Thermacare Heat Wraps for the purpose of this post. All words and opinions are my own.