Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful condition that can take a huge toll on the daily lives of people. So, if you are living with this condition, then pain has become a constant companion in your life by now. There are several devices available in the market for rheumatoid arthritis to help your joints and bones. These devices are devised to reduce your pain. But it can become difficult to be around these devices all the time. And sometimes, these devices can also be out of your budget. So, what to do in such situations?
What is life without a few hacks, right?
Some hacks can simplify your life and make it more bearable. Similarly, there are a few hacks that can help you to do some of your chores without experiencing excruciating pain. You can use things you already have to help you do some other activities in these hacks. Here is a list of seven useful hacks to help you live better with rheumatoid arthritis.
1. Use A Damp Cloth To Keep A Bowl In Its Place
Clutching on to a bowl to keep it steadily placed while mixing all the contents of the bowl can be painful and difficult for your joints. You can place a sponge or even a damp cloth underneath the bowl. This will keep the bowl placed at one place without much of your effort. Your hands will be grateful for this.
2. Wear An Apron While Fixing Things
Daily chores can never be avoided for long and your hands are bound to get tired because of that. Wear an apron while doing your chores as well as while fixing things around the house. And you can use the apron pocket to keep things like scrubs, sponges, tiny hammer and nails when you start feeling the fatigue in your fingers. You can give your hands rest when they start giving up out of pain.
3. Keep A Pair Of Cuticle Scissors Handy
Opening sealed packets like ketchup and condiment packets can be a real struggle for people with rheumatoid arthritis. That is why you should keep a cuticle scissor handy with you all the time. You can keep it in your purse or somewhere you can easily access. This will save you a lot of pain and hassle. And buy a scissor with large, padded grip for more comfort.
4. Use Headbands To Open The Refrigerator Door
Rheumatoid arthritis can make your joints weak and painful. That is why it is better for you to use your forearm strength to open and close doors than your fingers. You can attach headbands on the Velcro of your refrigerator and oven doors. Hence, you can easily open them by sliding your hand into the band and using your forearm strength.
5. Stick Your Toothbrush Into A Tennis Ball
Holding things like toothbrushes which require narrow grips can be difficult. You can have a specially made grip for your toothbrush. But if you don’t or can’t, then take a tennis ball, make a hole and stick the rear end of your toothbrush into it. This will allow you to have a wider grip on your brush.
6. Use Dryer Sheets To Open Jars
Opening lids of jars is one of the biggest challenges that people with rheumatoid arthritis face in their daily lives. It can be quite a task for people with painful joints to open tight lids. You can use a dryer sheet to prohibit your fingers from sliding. Also, it would enhance your grip on the lid and thereby making it easier to open. Another alternative is to put rubber bands on the jars as they increase traction. You can use large bands for pickle jars and small rubber bands for nail polish bottles.
7. Use A Pot Holder While Ironing
Lifting and holding heavy iron can really put a lot of pressure on your joints. And it can really make the whole process of ironing very difficult. That is why you can keep a pot holder on your ironing board so that you can slide the iron onto it until you are ready to slide it back onto the cloth again.
These are a few hacks that can hopefully allow your pain-ridden joints to function without going through a lot of pain. So, give them a try today.
