helpers for arthritic hands

It has been over a month since my arthritis diagnoses and my hands/wrists are doing better. The swelling is gone and while I still have pain, most days it is a subtle background sort of thing that is easy to live with. Other than taking glacosamine, the improvement has come through lifestyle changes. I no longer spin, knit, or write with a paper and pencil. I carry things differently and do everything just a little slower. I have also pressed into service a couple gadgets that had been languishing in drawers and purchased a few more. As I go through the day I am always on the lookout for something that hurts my hands and then a way to make it easier.

A Rabbit Corkscrew. This was a gift that was seldom used because I love my regular corkscrew. I bought my everyday corkscrew while on vacation many years ago and using it makes me happy. It does not make my wrist happy. If you do not already own a manual Rabbit, I would go for the battery powered model.

A Jar Pop. This little piece of plastic breaks the vacuum seal from jars and makes it easy to open. Of course having someone else open the jar is even easier.

Another treasure most people own. The nut or crab cracker. Perfect for opening bottles with small plastic tops like soy sauce, maple syrup, and oils.

A battery powered pepper mill. This was my first post diagnoses purchase and the one I use every single day.

A fat pencil grip. The one item that makes me feel old. While I don't have to write often, I do have to work math problems with Youngest Son, and write the occasional check. I totally would not want other people to see me use it.

Yankz. Each time I tied my shoes I thought "ouch". I did not know these things existed until Running Skirts (love them!) ran a promotion giving the laces away. Lace your shoes up just once and from there you are good to go.

The one big purchase? A Kindle Paperwhite. No more holding heavy hardbacks or firmly grasping paperbacks trying to keep them open. No more holding at all, I just prop the device on leg, or a pillow, or the arm of the couch. I read a study (that I now cannot find) that shows many people using ereaders to help with arthritis and vision issues. Before last month that never occurred to me.

Changing the little things adds up to a whole lot of relief. I am interested to hear your tips/tricks.

 

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Comments

[Gwyneth]

My Mother has osteoarthritis in her tailbone. She drinks a cup or two of Alfalfa tea every day in addition to the glacosamine she takes. She says it's helpful.

[Patty]

I had a stray box of jello in the cupboard that is now on permanat duty for Kindle support. It's perfect to lay on the table and props the Kindle at a perfect angle to read while I'm eating lunch or drinking a cup of coffee or tea.