Meet Hannah, A Music Therapist who Regained the Relief and Freedom to Pursue her Dreams with Thermotex
Thermotex recently connected with Hannah, a talented and inspiring young woman who uses her musical gifts to provide therapy to others. After experiencing a car accident in 2016, Hannah suffered with constant back pain that made work, university, sports, and her greatest passion – music – a struggle. We feel so grateful to share Hannah’s story. Learn more about her journey with pain and how Thermotex gave her the freedom to reconnect with what she loves most.
“My name is Hannah, and I am a music therapist working and living in Calgary. On July 14, 2016, I was a student in Nova Scotia. I was just about to embark on my final year of university, and I wanted to take some time to explore Nova Scotia before I graduated, so my friends and I took a day trip to Halifax in our recently purchased, used car.
We had arrived in the city, and we were just blocks from the harbor when my friend, the driver, told us that something didn’t feel right. As it turns out, the car’s power had failed, and its electronics were completely dead, leaving her unable to turn the steering wheel or press the brakes. We watched in slow motion as we drove off the road and straight into a telephone pole.
While two of the four occupants of the car remained relatively unscathed, the driver suffered a severe concussion, a broken nose and a dislocated knee. I ended up with a compression fracture in my lower spine, and I completely tore my muscles from my hips back, covering the entire lower half of my back. We were rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, and we spent several hours there undergoing ultrasounds, x-rays and other tests to uncover further damage.
The first two weeks of my recovery were the most difficult – I couldn’t move without debilitating muscle spasms rippling through my back. I was in constant pain. It was a week before I was able to walk at all. I had to take a break from my job as a server, and it was difficult to be stuck in my apartment with nothing to do. I was unable to exercise, or play sports, and I had been an avid soccer player for 14 years. When I did make it back to work, I was only able to work 2-3 hours at a time given the walking and lifting required for serving.
I longed to regain my movement as a musician. Sitting and playing the piano or the guitar for more than 10 minutes at a time was strenuous, as my back muscles were not strong enough to hold me up. Slouching eased the pain on my muscles, but it was preventing my spine from healing properly. I was constantly forced to choose between long-term benefits and immediate pain relief.
Although I was so happy to spend time around friends and dive into my studies when I made it back to school, it came with a physical toll. I found it difficult to carry my backpack around campus, walk for long periods of time, and sit on hard-backed chairs as my fracture had caused a painful protrusion in my back. During the school year, I went to see a physiotherapist multiple times a week and a massage therapist once a week.
When I finished university, I still practiced physiotherapy, but less frequently. The treatments helped, but I was constantly looking for a way to soothe my aching muscles. While the general pain finally dulled after about a year, I still found it was aggravated by things as small and simple as everyday chores around the house. I had been using microwavable hot packs on my back, but the heat faded quickly and the relief was only temporary.
Then one day, my boyfriend introduced me to Thermotex. His family had several at home, and he lent me the Thermotex Far Infrared Platinum Heating Pad to use. When I was on the couch, or in bed doing homework or watching television, I would turn it on to relieve my aching back. The relief was almost instant. The pain would subside for several hours before I would need it again.
When I moved to Winnipeg to do my music therapy internship, I brought my Thermotex with me. I would use it in bed for an hour or so a couple of times a week. My physiotherapist said she noticed a difference in my mobility, and I noticed changes to in my pain levels, especially long-term. I found I could finally go several days without pain, and that had become so rare.
Just over two years after the crash – here I am. I have started my own music therapy private practice, I started playing soccer again, and my pain is fairly minimal. For my work, I facilitate group and individual settings with clients who have been diagnosed with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, and mental health issues. As a traveling music therapist, I spend substantial time driving and carrying around bags full of instruments. In my sessions, I often sit on the floor, on a hard-backed chair with my guitar, or on a piano bench to play.
When I work a particularly long day and my back gets agitated, my Thermotex pad is the first thing that I reach for. I have not taken painkillers since I have started using the Thermotex – it eases my pain faster, and for longer periods of time than painkillers ever could. Thermotex has been and continues to be a saving grace for me.”
– Hannah
To soothe her chronic back pain, Hannah uses the Thermotex Platinum Far Infrared Heating Pad.
The Platinum System is the most studied, popular and versatile far infrared therapeutic device in the industry. Boasting 3 patented heat inserts, the Platinum System provides targeted, safe and effective infrared heat to almost every part of the body.
Engineered to flex and wrap to relieve pain & inflammation with far infrared heat therapy; the Platinum penetrates 10x deeper to increase blood flow in large muscle groups in the body including the upper and lower back, hamstrings, abdomen and arms.
Thermotex Platinum Far Infrared Heating Pad – All Purpose
The Platinum System is the most studied, popular and versatile far infrared therapeutic device in the industry. Boasting 3 patented heat inserts, the Platinum System provides targeted, safe and effective infrared heat to almost every part of the body.
Engineered to flex and wrap to relieve pain and inflammation with far infrared heat therapy; the Platinum penetrates 10x deeper to increase blood flow in large muscle groups in the body including the upper and lower back, hamstrings, abdomen, arms and legs.
Therapeutic Heat & Pain Relief
-
Therapeutic Heat For You -
Thermotex Platinum Far Infrared Heating Pad – All Purpose
Original price $259.00 - Original price $358.99Original price$259.00 - $358.99$259.00 - $358.99Current price $259.00In stockDetails Specifications How to Use Videos Engineered to flex and wrap to relieve pain & inflammation with far infrared heat therapy; the Pl...
View full detailsOriginal price $259.00 - Original price $358.99Original price$259.00 - $358.99$259.00 - $358.99Current price $259.00 -
Thermotex Gold Far Infrared Heating Pad – Low Back, Hips, Hamstrings, Feet, Sit Bones
Original price $169.00 - Original price $238.99Original price$169.00 - $238.99$169.00 - $238.99Current price $169.00In stockDetails Specifications How to Use Videos Designed to relieve pain and inflammation with far infrared heat therapy, penetrating 10x deeper to i...
View full detailsOriginal price $169.00 - Original price $238.99Original price$169.00 - $238.99$169.00 - $238.99Current price $169.00 -
Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad – Knee
Original price $219.00 - Original price $288.99Original price$219.00 - $288.99$219.00 - $288.99Current price $219.00In stockDetails Specifications How to Use Videos Designed to relieve pain and inflammation with far infrared heat therapy, penetrating 10x deeper to in...
View full detailsOriginal price $219.00 - Original price $288.99Original price$219.00 - $288.99$219.00 - $288.99Current price $219.00 -
Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad - Foot
Original price $189.00 - Original price $254.99Original price$189.00 - $254.99$189.00 - $254.99Current price $189.00In stockDetails Specifications How to Use Videos Designed to relieve pain and inflammation with far infrared heat therapy, penetrating 10x deeper to in...
View full detailsOriginal price $189.00 - Original price $254.99Original price$189.00 - $254.99$189.00 - $254.99Current price $189.00
