To get all your pain-relief supplies together, first pick out a container for it all; things simply stay together and organized better if they have a basket or tub to sit in. Then, think through all the different pain-relief supplies you may need. You’ll want, for instance, a few different types of pain killer – maybe one with a sleep aid involved – a hot water bottle or its equivalent, some ice packs, and some bandages for attaching ice packs to sore areas at the very least.

If you have kids, you may also want some children’s pain medication and some antiseptic spray or cream that is also pain relieving. Your other pain-relief needs will depend totally on your own situation, but think carefully over what you have needed at various times over the past few months.

Then, gather up all your supplies and inventory them on a note pad as you put them in their easy-to-find container. It may seem silly to take an inventory, but it can actually be really helpful because it can allow you to see when you’re running out of things. If you check the contents of the basket against the inventory once a month or so, you’ll be able to pick up replacement supplies as you go, eliminating all of those frustrating late night runs for pain killer or heat therapy pads.

This doesn’t mean that you need an entire medicine cabinet in your dorm room, but some smart preparations can make your stay at college more fun and less annoying. Pick a small bag or container of some sort that will slide easily under your dorm room bed, and start packing it with necessary medical supplies.

The best way to remember everything you need to pack is to make a list. Think about all the things that you use on a regular basis, including bandages, antibiotic cream, anti-itch cream, and athletic tape. If you tend to sprain ankles on a regular basis, you should take some athletic bandages with you.

Also, think about the medications that you use on a regular basis. Everyone should have a decent supply of painkillers in his or her dorm room, and you’ll also need things like antihistamines in case you have a minor allergic reaction. Besides this, you’ll want to have stomach settling medicine on hand, and if you’re prone to heartburn, some antacids as well. Don’t forget about things like cold medication, which can be a real drag to be missing when you need it most. Along with that, you might want to toss in some sore throat lozenges. Once you have this all packed, you should be set for school.

Threshold ramps can make life easier for those in need of a wheelchair ramp. These ramps, such as the EZ-Access Aluminum Threshold Ramp by Homecare, make it possible to pass door landings when in a wheelchair or scooter. (You may need to purchase two in order to accommodate both sides of the landing.) The thresholds are made to be lightweight yet sturdy, so that they can easily be moved as needed, and they are suitable for sliding door tracks. With an adjustable top flap and a range of sizes, threshold ramps make it unproblematic to roll out to the patio.

Other medical supplies that may be helpful for people with physical disabilities include cup holders for wheelchairs. These adjustable cup holders can be adjusted to fit the cup size. They fit most wheelchairs, including 7/8” or 1” tube frames. New Solutions manufactures one such holder, while Ableware manufactures one that has an easy-to-tighten lever knob.

Homecare makes a wheelchair-back tote that functions as a sort of “backpack” for a wheelchair. It is especially useful as a tote when shopping. You simply mount the carry-on to the wheelchair handles with adjustable straps. The fabric is water resistant in case of rain.

For those who need a portable automotive hand control system, Colours manufactures a product for automatic transmission vehicles for drivers who have lost the use of their legs. Although sufficient hand dexterity is required to use it, the hand controls are adjustable and easy to install on most cars.

With medical supplies like these on the market, life can be less exasperating and more enjoyable again.