What to Get Someone with a Bad Back

Do you know someone who is dealing with a bad back? Chances are you do, but you might not even be aware of it. Around 23% of the adult population suffer from chronic back pain, which means there may be someone you know who is as well. There are all kinds of reasons why people have bad backs, including the result of an injury, an accident, genetics, or even a long term stress issue. No one asks for a bad back, but it seems like they’re a pretty common ailment. 

So what can you do if you know someone dealing with a bad back? Help them out of course. We have a list of both practical and thoughtful items any person who has back pain would love to receive, including:

• Gifts to help with back pain management
• Ways to improve their pain throughout the day
• Items that will make them smile, even if they’re having back pain

Practical gifts for those with back pain

Because sometimes you just need something useful to help deal with your bad back

If someone you love has a bad back, you know that they’re probably dealing with pain on a daily basis. Perhaps they’re seeing a doctor or a chiropractor already to help them with their back, but sometimes that’s not enough. We use the muscles of our backs everyday, and just the slightest wrong movement can throw it into a painful spasm. No matter if your loved one has a treatment plan, or they’re just starting to address their painful back, they could probably use some extra help while they’re at home.

Consider giving them any one of these gifts to help make their day a little less painful.

Foam Roller

If the pain in their back is the result of muscle issues, a foam roller could be a game changer. These are simple devices that your loved one can use anytime they’re at home and they have some down time. The rollers are designed to move along the muscles of your back to release tension and muscles that are tight. There are a variety of exercises you can do in the comfort of your home to help with a bad back. 

A roller is a great idea, especially if they’re not seeing a professional about their back pain. There are plenty of YouTube videos out there, making it really easy to set up a series of exercises that would be beneficial to their aching back. Relief comes with a consistent routine, however, and those exercises should be done throughout the week in order to get good results.

Back Brace

Another easy gift for someone who is experiencing back pain is a back brace. These are simple items that can easily be put on in the morning and be worn all day long. Braces come in all kinds of sizes and can offer mild or concentrated support. Braces allow the user to go about their day without the worry of straining their back. One of the worst things you can do with a bad back is to stop moving, and braces are a great way to ensure they can still go about their day as they normally would.

All you need to know is their size, and then you can search out what some of the best options are. We like:

• Flexgard Support Back Brace
• Mueller Lumbar Support Back Brace
• Neo Medina Tech Lumbar Back Brace

Lumbar Support Pillow

Following up on the back brace, another helpful addition for anyone who suffers from back pain is a lumbar support pillow. These are especially helpful if the person works at a desk at home or they go into an office frequently. Many jobs require us to sit for most of the day, which can get uncomfortable pretty quickly for those with bad backs. A lumbar support pillow is easy to attach to any chair, so that the entire back is supported. These kinds of pillows can also be a great addition to their car seat as well. Having just a little extra support when they’re going to be sitting for a while can make all the difference in the world when it comes to keeping the pain to a minimum.

A lumbar support pillow is a great gift for anyone with back pain. Image courtesy of Mashable.

Gift Card 

Another easy gift that anyone who is suffering from back pain would love to receive is a gift card to their favorite store or restaurant. If you know that they’ve had their eye on something particular to help their back, but you don’t want to get the wrong size or the wrong level of compression, then you can always go with a gift card. Places that sell helpful pillows, braces, and other items used to treat bad backs include:

• Walmart
• Target
• CVS
• Amazon
• Walgreens

Getting them a gift card to any of these stores is a great way to give them the opportunity to choose exactly what it is that they need. Perhaps they need a new heating pad or some ice packs, but you weren’t aware that they needed this. A gift card allows them to choose what they need, and is always an appreciated gift.

If they’ve been stuck in the house for a while because of their painful back, consider sending over a gift card to their favorite restaurant, so they can enjoy a meal there when they’re feeling better. Having something to look forward to is a great way to stay positive and get through the issues they’re having with their back. Alternatively, you could send them a gift card to meal services like GrubHub, DoorDash, or UberEats.

Set Up a Meal Train

If your loved one has a bad back due to a recent accident, injury, or surgery, consider setting up a meal train to help them out. One of the best places to set up a meal train is Give InKind, which is a site that allows you to start a page and organize people to participate in the meal train. People can sign up and offer to bring over home cooked or purchased meals to the recipient who is dealing with a bad back. That way, everyone knows when they’re supposed to deliver their meals, and what the other participants are bringing. This avoids repeats in meals, and ensures that the meals are spaced out enough.

Give InKind is also your one stop shop for organizing other ways to help, such as childcare, pet care, or general home maintenance tasks that they cannot do with a bad back.

Thoughtful gifts to give someone with a bad back

Brighten their day with these comforting gifts that would be perfect for someone with a bad back.

Aromatic candles are a wonderful way to unwind and destress.

While practical gifts are always appreciated, sometimes you just want to give something a little more personalized. This is where thoughtful and comforting gifts come in. While you can’t make the back pain disappear, there are ways you can help your loved one deal with it and even find some relief. Of course if their back pain is getting worse, you should encourage them to seek out the help of a professional, but little gifts along the way can’t hurt!

Candles or aroma diffusers

One of the best ways to turn a painful back day into something much more manageable is with a good smelling candle or aroma diffuser. These are such simple gifts but can make the world of difference in someone’s home. Just head out to your local Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, or Walmart and check out their candle selection. Amazon is also another fantastic place to find all kinds of relaxing scents. 

If you’re not sure if they’ll enjoy candles, you could also try out an aroma diffuser. These devices use essential oils to make homes smell amazing. You can find lots of different aromas to choose from, such as:

• Lavender
• Lemon
• Mint
• Cinnamon
• Vanilla

Diffusers not only make the rooms of a home smell amazing, they can also help the mind and body relax. Breathing in the wonderful scents signals to our brains that it is time to relax and destress. Having a home that always feels comfortable and welcoming is essential to our wellbeing, especially if someone is dealing with pain on a daily basis. 

Spa Day

One treatment that many medical professionals who treat back pain recommend is massages. And what better excuse to visit your local spa with a loved one with back pain? Most salons offer all kinds of different massages that would be of great benefit to those suffering with bad backs. You could choose to treat your loved one and join them for a relaxing spa day, or give them a gift card to their favorite spa. They can choose exactly what type of massage they want, whether it’s a Swedish massage, hot stone, deep tissue, or even an aromatherapy massage.

The massage professionals will be able to adjust their techniques according to the needs of your loved one, and help to work out muscle tension in their back. There are also all kinds of add-ons that would complete the spa day like a facial or a manicure/pedicure.

Care Package

Another gift that anyone would be happy to receive is a care package. While you may think that these are reserved for students away at school, the fact is care packages can be sent to anyone, including people who are dealing with a bad back. If your loved one’s back issues came about as the result of an accident or injury, a care package is a great way to show that you’re thinking of them. The best part? You can include almost anything in them. Whether you want to shower them with their favorite snacks, or give them some amazing products for a little self-care, the gift of a care package is hard to beat. 

Include items you know the recipient would enjoy such as: 

• Salty snacks like chips or pretzels
• Dips, salsas, or chutneys
• Sweet snacks like chocolate or gummy bears
• Nice lotions, face masks, or bath salts
• Their favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages
• Gift cards
• Books or movies
• Socks, slippers, or a blanket

You can include anything they might like in your care package. It doesn’t have to have a theme either. If you’re strapped for time, you can also choose to send over a premade care package too, which will also be much appreciated by your loved one.

Offer Your Assistance

And finally, offer your time and assistance. If there are tasks that they need to do but cannot, offer to help them out. You could ask if they need assistance with mowing the lawn, caring for children or pets, gardening, cleaning the house, or getting groceries. Help with any and all of these chores would be greatly appreciated. It would also make their day just a little bit better. If they have appointments to see a doctor for their back, consider offering them a gentle ride. 

You could offer to come over and spend time with them, especially if they’re stuck in the house. Alternatively, if they’re ready to go out, take them to a restaurant, a movie, or go shopping together.

There are all kinds of things you can do to help out someone with a bad back. From back braces, to meal trains, to care packages, show your support with any of these gift ideas.

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