
Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I take hot baths 2ce a day. In the morning to wake up my achey joints and at night well because I have always been a night bather. Anyway, getting in and out of the bathtub has become exceedingly difficult when my hands, wrists or arms flare. Of course my husband has learned to help me with far more of my daily hygiene than he would like, but he travels and sometimes I am left on my own. He had a bathrail put on the tub, so that I can at least put my weight on it and navigate getting in and out of the tub. Grant you on my own often it is a challenge, but without the use of a rail bathing would often not be an option for me. Lastly I will give you my can't hook your bra secret! Initially I discovered sports bras. I buy inexpensive cotton hanes brand at Walmart. Sine they have no cup size I buy them one size larger and that allows me to get them over my head with minimal trouble. When I flare even a sports bra becomes too difficult to put on as I can't lift my arms above my head, so I started using bandaids. But they hurt and didn't really do the job! I was at Nordstrom's one day in the lingerie dept. and saw a display for breast petals. They are silicone disks that you wear in place of a bra and they are reusable. They also make paper ones but they can only be used once and I have never tried them. Originally I was spending $15 for one pair, but while shopping for sports bras found them for half that p0rice at Walmart! I hope this last tidbit was not sharing more than anyone wants to hear! LOL
All my haircare products are now in pump instead of squeeze bottles.
My husband has changed all the turning doorknobs inside the house to the ones that you push down on.
Around the house I wear those big thick flip flops that the kids wear for extra padding on my feet.
I'm sure I'll remember more eventually LOL.
Mouse
Everyone in the house knows to leave jar lids and ketchup caps and stuff not too tight, it has to all be on to where i can open it, or i have to ask someone to do it, thank God i have 3 boys! lol
Everyone has pretty much adjusted to my way of living i guess you can say.
If i can't open a can, i ask a friend or son or my husband to do it, friends and family do everything that i can't do, thank God for good friends and a hubby that is always here to help!
I use forks to open Sprite cans or whatever for the littlest when nobody is here and i buy easy to open stuff, and if i buy like a bag of chips and can't open it, i use scissors, i use scissors to open a lot of food packages and things, and high heels to hit tacks in the wall where the corkboard is.
I guess it's just being resourceful. I have to use every recourse i can to do things.
I also have the bar in the bathtub, it actually is just a bar that is on the tub/shower but i use it when my knees and hips hurt!
I told my PCP that I felt stupid using a permit and that I felt stupid using a cane. His response to me is that I needed to realize these are not signs of "defeat" they are signs of "limitations". He's such a GREAT guy.
Oh by the way, if there is anyone out their looking for a cane with character, do a web search on "Ye Olde Cane Shoppe". They have some really adorable canes and they're pretty inexpensive.
Mouse
This is a great post idea!
They aren't cheap, but it is worth every sent!