Most people have worn something ill-fitting and regretted it. Whether it’s trousers cutting into your waist or an ill-fitting bra or poorly fitting shoes causing blisters, it’s a common occurrence. For some people; especially those suffering with fibromyalgia, the very act of wearing clothes can be a source of pain. Therefore, no matter the cause of the pain, being smarter with clothing choices can help manage it. This article will explore this.
Choose loose-fitting clothing for fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a hidden source of pain which has led to some people who ought to know better calling it “made up.” However, it is very much present and can be exacerbated by poor clothing choices. Just as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be mitigated through smart eating choices, fibromyalgia can be mitigated through better clothing choices.
As the condition can be set off even by a light tough (a clinical feature called allodynia), it’s important for sufferers to wear loose, light fitting clothing. One feature women struggle with is loose-fitting, non-constrictive underwear including bras.
Loose fitting clothing is also recommended for people with IBS where bloating can cause serious issues. If clothing cuts too tightly into the midriff then it can make this more painful and could make an outburst worse. Loose clothing around the tummy area will allow for more changes in the gut and will reduce bloating pain.
Texture-based pain and discomfort
A lesser problem with clothing with some relation to the issues sufferers of fibromyalgia suffer, is texture-based pain and discomfort. This is most widely seen in among people on the Autism Spectrum. This cluster of related symptoms and syndromes includes hypersensitivity to sights, sounds, smells, and textures which can manifest themselves as pain.
As a result of this issue, clothing texture is vitally important. The exact texture issue varies from person to person as ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is highly individualized. For those with fibromyalgia, the type of fabric is also important though for slightly different reasons.
Both people on the spectrum and those with fibromyalgia, soft natural fabrics are often best. For example, cotton is not only renewable and natural, but is great for sensitive skin. Consider these more natural fabrics for socks, pantyhose, underwear, bras, and so on.
Clothing aiding posture-related pain
Not all pain is helped by loose fitting clothing or improved textures. For posture and injury related pain, other solutions are required. An example would be competitive tennis player Joan Weissman who still plays in her 70s, but suffers from chronic rotator cuff and bicep pain.
The solution for Weissman was a custom-made posture shirt which featured bands which gently pulled her shoulders back and aligned her spine into a normal posture. It took only a few weeks for the gear to reduce her long-term pain and make playing tennis again possible. This proves that for some kinds of pain, it is possible to design clothing which will reduce pain and potentially solve the issue’s cause.
Talk to your physician and health experts about your long-term pain. Some problems cannot be solved by making clothing changes, but some can. It is recommended to always look at lifestyle changes from diet to exercise to sleeping patterns, so we should not forget what we wear too. Changing your fashion might just make your chronic pain a little easier to manage.
By Chrissy Phillips
