Having any type of arthritis can affect your strength, your balance, your endurance, and your flexibility. Discover new ways to live your life.

You may have to think in a new way about how to go about daily tasks that were once routine, such as brushing your teeth or combing your hair. 

But the good news is that there are ways to approach these tasks so that they do not become insurmountable hurdles.  This section will look at some practical tips and advice about helping yourself when you are living with arthritis.

Whilst there is nothing we can do about the passage of time, there are strategies that can enable us to maintain health despite arthritis.

Give yourself time
One of the main pieces of advice is to give yourself plenty of time, including time for a break when you are doing any activity, however mundane.  Time pressure can lead to accidents and creates stress - not helpful generally but especially when you are dealing with arthritis, as stress can actively make your symptoms worse.  

Listen to your body
An important principle is to think about protecting your joints as you go about daily activities in order to prevent injuries, so always pace yourself and plan to have a rest if you need it.  Your arthritis may make your particularly vulnerable, so is it important to listen to your body, slow down when necessary and explore alternatives.

Don't ignore pain or signs of inflammation - the earlier the diagnosis can be made, the less chance there is of joint damage.

Use the strongest joints possible
For example, squat to pick up a heavy object on the floor or lean into a heavy door rather than just using your hand to open it.

Distribute the pressure
For example, carry heavy loads in both arms close to your body and use both hands to lift such objects.

Try and stay active
Hobbies like gardening can be very therapeutic for sore hands and frustrated minds!  Good forms of exercise are walking, swimming and stretching as they promote joint health by placing gentle pressure on muscles and surrounding joints.

Exercise is an important tool as it can protect joints by strengthening the surrounding muscles.  Don't forget exercise can reduce fatigue and help you feel better in general, so try and manage a little and often.

Straighten your back and relax your shoulders
Poor posture can distribute your weight unevenly, with the possibility of joint and ligament strain.

Be wary of activities that keep you in the same position for a long time.  Whatever you are doing, try and be conscious of your body and how it feels, check for stiffness and keep moving.

Use devices to make things easier
For example, a cane can help you move more steadily and increase your confidence; a shopping trolley can make shopping less of a strain on the hands than carrying a basket.

Don't be afraid to take advantage of all possible help - for example, assistance with packing groceries.  Plan your activities, be flexible, and take assistance when you need it.

Devices for daily living

There are many devices now available to help you do almost anything from dialling the phone to pulling weeds to opening a jar of marmalade.  In this section, you will find some general suggestions for different aspects of your daily life but these are by no means exhaustive. 

The message here is that there are tools and strategies to help you cope with your daily routine.  Talk to your doctor or occupational therapist for help to make any particular task that you are finding difficult more manageable.

There are ways to acquire:

• the purchase you need when you don't have the strength
• the reach you need when your range of motion has reduced
• the angle you need when you don't have the flexibility
• the support you need when you don't have the balance

You can use them to modify essential activities that can put extra stress on arthritis-affected joints.  Some examples are given below:

Practical tips for personal hygiene

Use pump dispensers for soap, shampoo, toothpaste etc.  This will minimise the stress on your hands when using toiletries and make tackling the bathroom much easier.

Wash with a flannel mitt or long-handled brushes to eliminate grasping.

Build up the handles on devices that you need, like a toothbrush for example, to make things easier to hold.  You can use things like bubble wrap to achieve this or look for appliances such as electric toothbrushes and razors with easy-to-hold handles and easy-to-switch-on-and-off buttons.

Use safety devices - for example, in the bath a rubber suction mat, or grab bars round the toilet will make it much easier for you to move around without the fear of falling.

Organise the bathroom so you don't have to reach for things - store the towels within easy reach of the shower/bath and keep frequently used items in an easy-to-reach place etc.  You will be surprised how effective a reorganisation can be in making your life easier.

Practical tips for getting dressed

Plan ahead; put clothes out the night before to minimise stress in the morning.

Make dressing easier - dress in easy-to-get-in-and-out-of clothes that pull on rather than fasten.  If your clothes have buttons and zips use button hooks and zipper pulls to give you added leverage and lessen the strain.  Sock and stocking aids can also help.  Alternatively, items that fasten in front are much easier to negotiate than ones that fasten on the back. 

Practical tips for the kitchen

Plan your shopping - use convenience foods such as ready-prepared vegetables at least some of the time to minimise preparation chores.

Plan your workplace - many devices can make cooking arthritis-friendly.  For example, self-cleaning ovens, countertop dishwashers and electric can openers are particular appliances that help to restore your time in the kitchen to a source of satisfaction rather than one of pain and frustration.  There is a tool available for every job, so make use of them!

When cooking make more than you need, so that you can freeze it and have it for another time.

Be flexible about food choice  - have convenience back-ups for occasions when you can't face cooking.

Use assistance - help in the kitchen is essential at the best of times, whether it is in the form of people or appliances. 

12/03/2009