Arthritis

 

Overview

10 tips and tricks

Overview

There are many illnesses and disabilities that can cause a loss in someone's mobility and agility. The most common being  arthritis. There are many types of arthritis and if you live long enough you can count on developing this disease, a least a minor case of it. 

 

Arthritis means inflammation of the joints and actually consist of more than one hundred different conditions running the gamut of  tendonitis (tennis elbow) and bursitis to crippling forms such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis is the number one cause of long-term disability in Canada. In our society arthritis is associated with the elder. Even though it is true that many older people do have arthritis, this disease does  not discriminate and thousands of people are stricken in the prime of their lives, as well as very young children. More than four million Canadians, or one in seven, are affected by arthritis. Approximately one in 1,000 children under the age of 16 suffers from arthritis, making the disorder more common than most chronic childhood disorders, including cystic fibrosis and diabetes. The common symptom is joint and musculoskeletal pain which is why they are grouped together as 'arthritis'. Often this pain is a result of inflammation of the joint lining.

Inflammation is involved in many forms of arthritis. It is the body's natural response to injury. The warning signs that inflammation presents are redness, swelling, heat and pain. These are the same kinds of reaction the body has to a sliver in the hand, for example. When a joint becomes inflamed, it may get any or all of these symptoms. This can prevent the normal use of the joint and therefore it can cause the loss of function.

Swollen, tender joints can turn even the simplest tasks — dressing, washing or brushing your hair — into a real challenge. Arthritis imposes all kinds of barriers to daily living, and to break down those barriers there are many devices available.

Just as a mechanic selects the proper tool to complete a particular task, you have to find the best way, using the most appropriate tool to accomplish a specific activity.

In our day to day life we are already using tools to aid us in our daily chores such as the washing machine, the oven and the dishwasher. The difference with 'assistive devices' is that they are designed to protect the weakened joint. Arthritis can make the simplest activities, from peeling vegetables to getting a bath a painful and dangerous task.

It may seem like a lot of work, redesigning your approach to a host of routine activities, but why let arthritis dominate your life? Why become frustrated by simple tasks or barred from doing them, when the right tool, combined with the right approach, can make them possible — and make your life easier, less painful, less exhausting, and a lot safer?

10 Tips and tricks

1.If you find it difficult to bend or have weight on your knees washing the bathtub may seem impossible. To make this chore easier wet the tub then sprinkle Comet or Ajax, finally use a clean mop to scrub away the grime.....No bending is necessary.

 

2.When your joints are really sore here is a way to make them feel better. Take a hand towel and put it under hot water...ring it out a bit and put it in a long plastic bag...tie it so no water drips out. There, you just made yourself a heat wrap.

3.A set of nail clippers with the attached nail file can be very useful. The nail file can be use to pop-up and push-in the tabs on soda and juice cans, or anything else that has a pop-top. It can also be used for peeling up the edge of a food box or anything else that says "Peel Here" if you are unable get a good grip. Just remember to always use something fairly dull, like a finger nail file, a letter opener, or a butter knife so that you won't cut yourself.

4.For driving, weight lifting gloves can be used. The palm is padded, and so are half the fingers. The padding cushions sore and swollen hands. They are thin, lightweight and make driving much more comfortable. These can be found at your local department store or your local sports store.

5.If your an avid coffee drinker this is a good tip for you. To make getting just one coffee filter easier, take a section of filters and turn them inside out. 

6.Instead of using a drinking glass for beverages drink out of  a mug with a large enough handle to put your whole hand through.

7.Those big fat rubber bands can be very helpful to individuals that have trouble gripping. They can be wrap around doorknobs and drinking glasses to provide a better gripping surface. 

8.If holding a cleaning rag make your hands hurt and cramp try slipping your hand into a sock to dust or to complete other household chores. You'll find dusting and scrubbing easier when you don't have to grip the cloth, you can leave your hand flat and wipe away!

9.Many medicine bottles and over the counter bottles have the child-proof lids which are also arthritis-proof! With an old fashioned nut cracker (the hand held metal ones) you can break the child-proof section. Just clamp the nut cracker on to the middle of the cap and squeeze till you hear a pop, then turn with the nut cracker still attached. After that it will open the same as a non-child-proof bottle. 

10.For "picking up" around the house a long pair of barbecue tongs come in handy. No more bending, kneeling or stooping.