TL;DR: Check out my quick list here to get a simplified view of my favorite products for working from home with chronic pain or illness. Then you don’t have to read this whole damn thing!

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My History with Chronic Pain and Illness

I have had chronic pain nearly my entire life, and been chronically ill for much of it. I have moderate to severe scoliosis and was braced for four years for it as an adolescent. At a young age, I was also diagnosed with Scheuermann’s disease—otherwise known as juvenile disc degeneration—a genetic disease that significantly affects my spine.

On top of those, I have PCOS, which brings with it extremely painful ovarian cysts, insulin resistance, and a host of other hormone-related symptoms. I also had chronic stomach issues that kept me in bed for three miserable years and eventually landed me at Mayo in Rochester, where they still couldn’t quite figure it out. And I can’t forget about the lifelong anxiety and depression, which we now know compounds all the other symptoms. So, most days, it feels like imbibing in a neverending cocktail at a bar I wish would just kick me out. 

Appreciating the Need for Accommodations

I have never had any issues with talking about my medical history, but what I have neglected is accepting that I need accommodations for these things. I extend patience and grace to others who require accommodations for either chronic pain or chronic illness, but until recently, I haven’t been good at extending that sentiment to myself. My life has been upheaved yet again in the past couple of years, and that upheaval has inspired me to take much better care of myself. Coupling that with a growing movement of working from home, I finally had a decent chance to figure out what accommodations would help me lead a happier life and get more (paid!) work done.

Some of these suggestions are explicitly geared toward work, and some are more generalized. However, I have purchased and used them all and only recommend products or accommodations that have worked well for me. If I haven’t liked it, it is not on this list (with one exception that I note below). 

Quick List

Desks and Accessories

Huanuo Lap Desk

Aiz Cart on Wheels Home Office Workstation

GoYouth 2 in 1 Under Desk Electric Treadmill

Tounee Telescopic Laptop Stand for Desk with 360° Swivel Base

High Back Office Chair

Cushion Lab Patented Pressure Relief Seat Cushion

Cushion Lab Extra Dense Lumbar Pillow

Massagers, Tens Unites, and Ice Packs

Homedics Total Recline Massage Cushion

Comfier Shiatsu Neck Back Massager with Heat

Renpho Thermacool Massage Gun with Heat and Cold Head

Papillon Neck Massager

Renpho Eyeris Eye Massager with Heat

Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager with Heat

InvoSpa Shiatsu Back Shoulder and Neck Massager with Heat

Tens Ems Unit 24 Modes Muscle Stimulator for Pain Relief Therapy

TheraPAQ Knee Ice Pack Wrap

Migraine Relief Cap Ice Head Wrap

Relief Expert Ice Pack for Neck and Shoulders

Magic Gel Ice Pack for Back Pain Relief

Reusable Ice Pack

Shoes and Accessories

Telic Women’s Energy Flip Flop

Brooks Women’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoe

Whitin Women’s Minimalist Barefoot Shoes

Warwick Enterprises Adjust A Heel Lift

Plantar Fasciitis Strong Arch Support Insoles Inserts

A Few Helpful Extras

Vriksasana Sacroiliac Hip Belt

Puliv Portable Pill Dispenser Bottle

H2O Capsule 2.2L Half Gallon Water Bottle

Desks and Accessories

Lap Desks

When editing, writing, tutoring, designing—anything I do—I typically sit on a futon chair with a large movable footrest and use my Huanuo lap desk. I purchased the Huanuo lap desk on Amazon and have loved it. I rarely sit at a traditional desk. If I do, the pressure on my lower spine becomes unbearable in about 30 minutes.

I have two of the Huanuo lap desks, primarily because they were one of the cheapest on Amazon and large enough to hold a 17-inch laptop. It also has a sweet wrist pad, a decent built-in mouse pad, and a little slot to hold my phone up. Best of all, it has a handle, so I can hang it on a hook when not in use. This is not the sturdiest or fanciest lap desk on the market, but it is one of the cheapest and most functional. Sometimes, that is the best we can do when working with tight budgets.

Standing Desks

The Aiz workstation is the one product I purchased and wouldn’t necessarily recommend, but it is what I have. It’s great that this desk is so adjustable, but it is also quite flimsy and difficult to maneuver. The bottom shelf is already broken, and I am counting the days until I can replace it. But it was relatively cheap and has worked all right for me for years, so I still use it. I do gravitate toward my trusty futon chair and lap desk, though, and I think I would be more inclined to work at this standing desk if this baby wasn’t such a janky eye sore.

Walking Pads and Treadmills

I purchased the GoYouth under-desk treadmill to use underneath the standing desk a few years ago, and it has worked well for me. The worst thing about this beast is that I lost the remote during a move, and it is NOT FUNCTIONAL without the remote. Come on! What a pain. But I contacted the company, and they were able to send me a new one, and this walking pad has worked well since. Walking is one of the most comfortable activities for me, so—coupled with the janky standing desk—this has been a lifesaver. This walking pad is again one of the cheapest and highest rated (four stars), although you can drop a bit more dough and get one with five stars.

Adjustable Laptop Stands

The Tounee telescopic laptop stand is rad. It is super sturdy—sometimes a little too sturdy when adjusting the height—and has helped me immensely when setting up a non-standing desk. I have a work surface in my home office that I use for Etsy photo shoots, and I set my laptop on this stand so I can be upright while taking photos. If I want to sit down, I just lower the stand and am good to go. I love this thing and highly recommend it for a quick and easy solution if you don’t have the money or space for a standing desk.

Egonomic Desk Chairs

I love my Ovios ergonomic office chair. It is comfortable, elegant, and sturdy. When I purchased this chair, I worked in a front office, so I had to get something both comfortable and pretty. This chair covered both of those. Now it works great in my house. I paired it with the Cushion Lab seat cushion and the Cushion Lab lumbar pillow, both of which are a little pricey but absolutely worth it if you can swing it. These cushions are one of the best things on the list. They make sitting for longer periods of time so much more comfortable.

Massagers, TENS, and Ice Packs

Massagers that have Helped me the Most

I have several massager units, some of which I love and some of which I haven’t really used. This list includes the ones I love and continue to think are worthwhile. My absolute favorite is the Homedics reclining massage cushion. I specifically searched for a back massage cushion that could lie flat. This was the only one that came up. It has worked wonders for me.

I actually bought this massage cushion at a writer’s conference when I was having a fever dream during a very ill-timed bout with COVID. I was in such achy pain during the night that I woke up and bought this. It arrived at our house the next week, and I had completely forgotten I had purchased it, but thank goodness I did. It works exceptionally well and allows me to watch a film and lie comfortably in bed at the end of a long day while still getting my back ready for a better night’s sleep. Of course, a full-body massage chair would be ideal, but I don’t have the money or space for something like that, and this reclining massager substitutes one nicely. 

I also recently purchased the Renpho Thermacool massage gun with a hot and cold head—another banger. My husband and I saw something similar at Costco, but we didn’t know anything like it existed. We found one with even better reviews on Amazon and made the plunge. Again, worth it. I have had many gun massagers through the years, but this Renpho one is the best. The hot and cold settings really can’t be beat.

Some Honorable Mentions

I have a few other massagers: the Comfier Shiatsu neck and back massager, the Papillon neck massager, the Renpho eye massager, the Cloud Massage Shiatsu foot massager, and the InvoSpa back and shoulder massager. These have all been super trusty and helpful in times of need, especially when I have specific spots in my back, neck, or legs that need special attention. I highly recommend them all.

TENS Units

I can’t forget about TENS units, which aren’t exactly massagers, but they achieve similar results. I have used TENS units for years, longer than anything else on this list. They are so, so helpful. If you only purchase one thing on this list for chronic pain, consider a TENS. I use this particular TENS unit. It’s cheap and works wonders for both nerve and muscle pain. Sometimes, having one of these hooked up to me is the only thing that will get me through the day. I also use the Avcoo TENS unit. It’s strong and portable, and the interface locks when you have it in your pocket. I can’t ask for much more than that.

Ice Packs for Pain Relief

As far as ice packs, this migraine relief cap has shined above all the rest. If you suffer from headaches or migraines—especially hormone-induced ones that are impossible to treat—this ice head wrap can take the edge off. It’s another one of my go-to pain relievers. And not just for me; my entire family has used this cap at one point or another. I also love the Relief Expert ice pack for neck and shoulders and this Magic Gel ice pack, which provides excellent relief for stubborn neck and back pain. I also have had debilitating issues with my knee lately, and the TheraPAQ knee ice pack wrap has helped tremendously with the pain I get while sitting and standing.

Shoes and Accessories

These three shoes are now the only shoes I consistently wear, and I stan them all.

First, I have a wild love for the Telic Energy Flip Flop. My mother bought them for me at the Minnesota State Fair years ago, and when mine got too small, I was worried I would have to wait until the next State Fair. Luckily, I found them on Amazon. They’re soft, super durable, and waterproof. They are perfect for anyone who needs more support in a flip-flop. Telics are not cheap, which is the biggest detractor, but I have never needed to replace them (other than when my feet widened during pregnancy). 

I also wear the Brooks women’s walking Shoes. They are some of the best for over-pronation issues. They are a little ugly, but at my age, I don’t care. These clunkers help my feet, legs, and back, and that is what matters the most.

The Whitin barefoot Shoes are the newest in my arsenal, and they have proven to be worthy. I came across a similar shoe on TikTok and found this cheaper version on Amazon. They have excellent ratings, give your toes room to spread out, and are comfortable. I paired them with my go-to insoles, lifts, and these Tieless elastic shoe laces. With scoliosis, my left leg is slightly shorter than my right, so I use the Warwick Enterprises heel lift to even that out. For insoles, I use the strong arch support insoles for plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is such a monster, and these insoles quickly solve that.

A Few Extras

During a trip to the chiropractor years ago, I hurt my hip, and it has never gotten better. I use the Vriksasana sacroiliac belt to help with persistent hip pain. This is one of the most challenging issues for me to deal with right now, and this belt has allowed me to sleep during some pretty painful nights. So I am very thankful for that. 

Chronic pain and illness are often accompanied by serious vitamins and medications. I use the Puliv pill dispenser to easily keep track of what I need to take every day. My family members use this same dispenser as well. I highly recommend this as you don’t have to fill it every week, which is simply too much of a chore for me. However, if you have trouble remembering if you have taken your pills on a certain day, this dispenser might not be for you. 

Finally, I drink as much water as I can. The most efficient way I have found to keep myself accountable with drinking water is to have a sweet water bottle. Our family uses the H2O Capsule half-gallon water bottle. I mean, it has a carrying strap. Enough said.

One last thing insight: sleep can be tough for those of us with chronic pain or illness. I often have trouble sleeping a full night. If that happens, I give myself the space and time to take a much-needed power nap during the day. Naps have been shown to be essential for pretty much everyone, so I take this very seriously. Here is a recent article from the BBC on the importance of power naps: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240126-why-power-naps-might-be-good-for-our-health

Take a quick read, then feel free to head for a nap. That’s what I just did.