People who have rheumatoid arthritis experience painful flare-ups whenever they try to get dressed, open doors, or use household items. According to Doctor Nortin Hadler, professor of medicine and microbiology/immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, people who experience painful flare-ups need to have autonomy, which means pacing and choosing daily activities. What comes next is using equipments that can help finish these tasks.
Here’s a list of household tools that can assist you during painful flare-ups:
Chill Pill
People with rheumatoid arthritis take plenty of pills daily. To avoid the hassle of having to pop out every single pill, use a pill organizer so they’re a lot easier to prepare. The pill organizer also allows you to take the medicine according to the schedule and it will lessen the confusion between pills and doses. Choose pill organizers that are easy to open, or those that have push buttons, says the Arthritis Foundation. The compartments must have rounded scoop bottoms to make it easier to get the pills.
Ink Scribbler
It’s difficult to write down notes or sign checks when your fingers have zero strength or are in so much pain. When this happens, it’s highly recommended that you use no-grip, ergonomic pens that make use of your hand’s weight to release ink into the paper sheets, making it easier to write. The pen is designed to ease the stress and lessen the risk of repetitive injury.
Open Sesame
Since people with rheumatoid arthritis have difficulty in gripping door knobs, replace them with thick, smooth handles that can be turned effortlessly. If you think doing this is expensive, you can purchase doorknob grippers. You can wrap these grippers around doorknobs to make them easier to hold and less slippery. It also has two tiny levers so you can use your elbow, fingers, or fist to open the door.
Slice ‘em and Dice ‘em
There are plenty of knives with blades and handles that were designed specifically for people with limited strength and mobility. These knives have soft, large handles that are easy to grip and can be held in various positions for maximum control. They also come with blades that are ultra-sharp, ultra-thin, and are made of stainless steel.
Diner Dash
It’s difficult and painful to have a decent meal when you have arthritic fingers. One solution to this is by using spoons, forks, and knives with easy-grip and non-slippery handles that are cushioned and made of rubber.
Bathroom Aid
It’s difficult to wipe yourself when your limbs are suffering from a painful flare-up. Good thing there are tools that you can use to reach certain parts of your body. With these tools you get to keep not just your independence, but also your privacy. There are compact versions that you can carry in your pocket or purse.
Use a Lift
Flare-ups cause so much pain on the knees that even the simple act of standing up and sitting down becomes a struggle. One solution for this is by raising your seat by a couple of inches. With this you don’t need to bend your knees so much, and it’s easier to stand up.
Get a Grip
It’s important to attach grip bars on the side of the bathtub so you can get in and out safely. There are also portable grip bars that you can bring whenever you travel. Since the grips are not permanent, you can attach them in various positions and angles.
Lift the Throne
Using the toilet is difficult during flare-ups because, as mentioned earlier, the simple act of standing up and sitting down causes so much pain on the knees. One way to solve this is by using raised toilet seats to lessen knee pain. Choose toilet seats that have arms, are easy to clean, and make sure that they are properly installed to prevent slippage.
Crowning Glory
Brushes and combs with long handles make help lessen the pain on hands, arms, and shoulders during flare-ups. The handles have an anti-slip design and both comb and brush are bent to follow the form of the head.
Extended Reach
There are plenty of tools that you can use to extend your reach. These tools come in various shapes, sizes, and their prices range from $10 to a whopping $100. The expensive ones come with extra features such as silicone grips and magnets that pick up coins, LED lights, and controls so you don’t need to use your fingers.
Cut with Ease
Toss those dull scissors out the window because these will only cause more pain especially during flare-ups. Go for shears that are not only sharp, but are also designed to make cutting pleasant and pain-free.
Nothing More Than Peel-ings
Peel those fruits and vegetables with comfort by using skinny, peelers that swivel. Go for peelers with big handles that you can grip comfortably, a pointed tip so you can easily dig out some potato eyes, and a brush to remove dirt from your food.
Trusty Can or Jar Opener
There are plenty of tools that you can use to open jars and cans. There are jar openers that can open jars both big and small, and there are can openers with huge handles and knobs that can be turned easily. There are also pliers that prevent the lid from falling after removal.