Okay, since noone has added a post I will start the ball rolling. I have found the elastic waistband to be my friend. Yes those awful elastic pants your mother and grandmother wore! But they have no buttons or zippers. It was thru necessity that I discovered overalls. They were actually in vogue for several years. They are big and baggy and easy to step into. You can pretty much pull them up with your pinky if need be. Looks like that fashion craze is out and now I have difficulty finding overalls anywhere at any price!!!!
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

Well let's see...

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

I also do the sports bra thing usually, especially if my hands and wrists are in really bad pain! I wear regular jeans but they have to be stretch denim, not regular ones, or i can't get them up...and i like them tight, so stretch ones it is!

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!

^ Oh and speaking of hair care products, i have the worst time trying to squeeze out shampoo and conditioner so that is a good idea for me! (what the user above me posted)

I asked my rhuematologist to sign off on a handicapped placard for me. This allows me to get a good parking spot any time of day or night. It is especially helpful at holiday time when parking is at a premium!

I snap my bra on backwards and then turn it around once it's fastened. Stretchy clothes are a must. During the summer, I wear skirts with elastic bands. Two showers a day definitely helps during a flare.....I don't have a bathtub. Honestly, my hygiene sort of goes downhill during a really bad flare. I tend to try and keep myself moving so I don't become stiff as a rock. I'll lie on the floor, (tough getting down and tough getting up), but once I'm there, I'll just sort of move parts of my body....snap crackle and pop. Yes. I'll just lift one arm, omg, pain. Then the other, then a leg, pop goes my knee, omg pain. Yep, that's how I do it. When I'm ready to get up.........well that's a whole different story.

One word "mephistoes". They are an expensive european gym shoe that has a wide toe box and molds to your individual foot. They can be sent back to the manufacturer to be re-tooled like new for half the cost of a new pair. I warn you they are heavy and ugly, but boy they became lifesavers for me in the beginning. My rhuemy suggested them and I went with my husband to look at them at "The Walking Store" and took one look at the price tag and said no way would I pay $125 for a crappy looking pair of gymshoes. My hubby urged me to try them on, and all I will say is I walked out the store wearing a skirt sweat sox and mephistoes. They are worth every penny I paid. You can find them at Nordstroms and the Walking Store or look them up online to find a store in your area! I thought if I would ever pay big $$$ it would be for a pair of italian leather boots. But hey I couldn't wear those now anyway! Clarks are also good shoes, they make really cute mules and are a lot less pricey!

Well, you can now add me to the group who has a handicap parking permit. Got mine yesterday. I had an appointment with my PCP yesterday and my knees were so bad (it's been raining here a lot) that he filled out the paper work for me to get the permit and told me to go get it.

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

Hi all, good idea bize!!! I have had the handicap tag for a couple of years but i only use it if the store is really busy or i am flaring! I too have found elastic waist works best but i buy jeans with elastic.. other then dress slacks or skirts for church! My hubby is a big help he mops floors for me, I just dont have the strength all i do is smear dirt around lol...someone said jars were there problem well here is a idea i use for that..buy those rubber like shelf liners and cut them into a 6x6 square and the lid just pops off even new jars...i have my left wrist fused so it doesnt bend at all and that has helped me alot it even opens 2 liter bottles easily! ok i rambled enough if i think of something else that will be helpful i will let u know...i have had RA for 20 years so alot of things i have changed is just natural to me now! Take care and painfree days to all!

Soft socks are the best. I also have a wax warming machine to do wax treatments on my hands when they are sore. Re: pop tops, there is a tool you can get that is terrific.It's called "J-Popper" and is available at kitchen stores and probably on the net. There is a similar tool for bottles.

This is a great post idea!

I highly recommend bras that close in the front, rather than in the back - so much easier on my shoulders and hands!

I live in the Northeast, where it is cold (at least to me, i am very sensitive to it) 5 months out of the year. I found the greatest thing! I got an electric blanket to put on my bed! I turn it on about 15 minutes before I go to bed. Makes it nice and toasty when you get in. Then I set my alarm about 1/2 hour earlier in the morning. When it goes off, I turn the blanket back on. It warms up pretty quickly. The heat given off for that 20 minutes that I lay there all snuggled up, is enough to take (some) of the ache out and helps me move a bit easier.
They aren't cheap, but it is worth every sent!

I use a couple of different jar openers, and along with pump bottles for shampoos etc, I have a hair dryer stand so I don't have to hold it. What a great tool that is, got it on Target.com for about $20. For pants around the house try Yoga Pants, they aren't quite "sweats" but very comfortable and you could go out in them with a longer shirt or sweater.

When my hands act up and my fingers swell and render my hands useless I have learned to use the inner part of my forearm instead. Amazing the things you can pick up with that forearm. Getting in and out of the bathtub, I brace my forearm and lift myself out. Amazing how our bodies learn to compensate for its broken or non working parts!!

I have a dollar store back scratcher that I use to slide my pants up..reach things that are in back of fridge..put hate on..put socks on...drag things closer to my reach..push buttons on coffee maker...Hope this helps!! We can be soooo creative!!!! lol!