Have a great idea to help simplify your life? Share it here!
Maybe you’ve found a nifty new product or developed an ingenious technique that has helped you immensely with everyday tasks. Arthritis Today wants to know. Share your ideas with fellow readers in the space below so they can try them too.
Also, be sure to keep reading to see what great solutions other people have found. Perhaps you'll find a tip to make your life easier today!
Mary Durand 12 Nov 2009, 13:16 |
| I just wanted to describe my wonderful success with Remicade. I was diagnosed with RA in January 2009, and my disease was rapidly affecting more and more joints. After trying several treatments, my doctor decided to go ahead and start me on Remicade as I could hardly walk or pick up anything (I am 56 years old and was very active a year ago). The day after my first IV infusion, I jumped out of bed pretty much without pain. Except when I overdo it, I am still painfree after 3 treatments with Remicade. I am basically in remission and so thankful that I have my life back. |
Michael 13 Oct 2009, 23:21 |
After finding it hard to exercise and stay motivated, I knew there had to be a better way so I invented Jym which helps perform low impact isometric exercise and provide motivation as it is digital and you can keep track of your progress. I would love to hear how people in the arthritis community have gone with my product and benefitted. You can visit my international site www.jym.me for more information. |
Susan 13 Oct 2009, 14:06 |
| If in the market for a car, try out volvo or another higher end vehicle.
The seats are so much better and a lot more adjustable and tiltable. Really
helps if your RA attacks your hips like mine does. Also a very good investment is a quality bed. I love my latex mattress! Cannot sleep on any thing else except an air mattress. |
Carol 20 Aug 2009, 17:53 |
| Several months ago a friend told me about a product called Physician's Pain
Relief Cream. My 80-year old mother suffered horribly from arthritis pain
for over 30 years. My friend was so sure it would help her, he gave me a
tube to try. The results have been marvelous. Due to arthritis, my Mom has had hip and knee replacement surgery, but her neck and shoulders hurt so bad she could hardly get dressed. Continued use of this cream has allowed her not only to rest better at night, but she is also able to better care for herself. Bottomline, it has given her back a quality of life arthritis had stolen. Mom's ankles were so swollen and painful she had to give up doing her own shopping and struggled to take care of her housework. Since using Physician's Pain Relief cream she has been able to do most of her shopping, go to the post office, and church, as well as take care of her housework. It has made an amazing difference in her ability to regain her independence. I have recommended this product to so many people after seeing what it did for my Mom. All have had similar or better results. My daughter even used it after a 4-hour dance audition that left her so sore her walking was labored. It worked just as well for her muscle soreness and stiffness. I am a believer! It really is a great product and I wanted to get the word out there so it can possibly help you too. You can order online at www.realpainrelief.com or call their toll free number 1-866-510-7774. |
elaine 25 Jul 2009, 07:09 |
| I recently read that collagen (from chicken) can relieve pain and
inflammation of RA as well as methotrexate. Has anyone heard this? Tried this? |
Dave 20 Jul 2009, 19:16 |
| My mother-in-law first started having trouble with her hips when she was 37. Soon after that she fell and got tiny fractures throughout her left hand which arthritis later set into. She was quickly losing the use of her hands, getting shooting pains up her arm. She was unable to open doors, jars, or even turn a key to unlock her car or house. She had played piano all her life but found that she couldn’t do that anymore either. Her doctor told her to take chondroitin, which after 6 months helped with the pain, but had no effect on the stiffness and excruciating pain she felt when somebody grabbed or shook hands with her. After 2 weeks of drinking Seven+ the stiffness and pain in her hands was better, and after one month she was able to do her own canning again, twisting on the jar lids and lifting the bottles out of the pot, and she has no trouble with her hips at all. The longer she takes Seven+ the better she feels. She is even able to do what she loves most – play the piano. She also found that she has more energy and needs less sleep, and she isn't as hungry as I was before. To try this juice go to www.exfuze.com/DaveHawkins or www.hawkins7plus.com |
Doug 01 Jul 2009, 19:49 |
| Over the past several years, I noticed that it was becoming more uncomfortable to hold the steering wheel while driving. In an effort to eliminate some of the pain and make driving more comfortable, I designed "The Palm Rest" for driving (www.thepalmrest.com). I use it all the time and it works perfectly. I encourage you to give it a try. |
Carol Braly 21 Jun 2009, 16:11 |
| My husband and I both take Omega 3-6-9 supplement, but were leery of mercury issues as well as 'fishy burps'. Then someone mentioned plant-based Omega, so I chased it down. Easily available at most health stores, priced right (12.50 for 250 softgels, 1000 mg ea) and no mercury or fishy burps. Sources are flaxseed, canola, black currant, evening primrose and pumkin seed oils. Since starting 1,000 mg 2X day my triglycerides are down 100 pts!! |
Andrea 16 Jun 2009, 03:36 |
| I found that trying to reach for cooking utensils deep in drawers, or under counters, etc. was often a challenge. I went to the store and bought a rather inexpensive rail that mounts on the wall below your top cabinets and holds hooks. Now all my frequently used utensils are hanging right at hand. There is also a battery operated jar opener put out by ONE TOUCH that is a Godsend, and also kept nearby. |
Christina 02 Jun 2009, 20:23 |
| I love to bake, but arthritis in my hands makes some procedures painful. However, I have rediscovered the potato masher. Using it on pre-softened bread was much less painful than tearing the bread apart for bread pudding. Also, using the masher on bananas for banana bread was far easier than using a fork. Good luck! |
Cathy 12 May 2009, 10:55 |
| After researching several products and medications I finally found
something that relieves pain and helped my Dad get back to normal activity.
My Dad has suffered for years with osteoarthritis in his knees. The pain
was so bad that he avoided stairs and if he had to go down a flight of
steps he would do so backwards because it was so painful. His mobility was
very limited; he couldn't squat or bend down and sat most of the time
because it was too painful to walk. My Dad is now painfree because of a new
rehabilitative knee orthosis/brace by a new company in Michigan called In
the Groove. The orthosis/brace realigns the upper and lower leg so the patella can track correctly, relieves pain and helps to retrain and strengthen the muscles of the knee joint. It is light weight and comfortable to wear. My Dad wears it during normal activities and can now go up and downstairs, squat and is now walking for exercise. If you would like more information on this orthosis/brace and to find out if it will work for you go to the website: www.inthegroovebrace.com. The website for In the Groove knee orthosis/brace has helpful knee tips and information on knee injury. I hope this information helps others suffering from knee pain. |
tracy 08 May 2009, 13:32 |
| I filled a pair of tube socks 2/3 full of inexpensive white rice, and tied them off at the top. I throw them in the freezer and use them when I feel a need for an ice compress for pain. They are not messy, don't melt, and are flexible enough to wrap around some of my sore joints. I can also take them and throw them in the microwave for a minute or so and go back and forth between heat and cold. |
Christina 05 May 2009, 18:07 |
| I have Fibromyalgia, due to a fall I took over 2 yrs ago. I have been on depression meds including Klonipin for seizures that I now have from my fall. I will share some good news!Recently, I met a Homeopathic (natural)Doc(ok, they don't call them doc's)...anyhow, she had Fibro and was on her death bed and got rid of it! It wasn't overnight, but it was like 3-4 months. One thing that really helped me was a detox and essential oils. I'm only saying this works for me, but I use Almond Oil/Grape Seed Oil as my base and put drops of Marjoram Oil and Peppermint Oil with it and it really helps relax and take pain away without meds! Also, the NOW detox with no gluten was my first and the first few days was very hard but then I felt great! Also, take gluten out of your diet(which isn't easy), but I am feeling so much better. Read up on Gluten(something in white flour, rye, bran, oats, etc.). Contact your local Natural Health Organic store who can put you in touch with someone who can help you with the oils, detox, all natural products. It really works for me!!! Christina |
Lee Bourque 05 May 2009, 11:19 |
| How can I email? Sincerely, Lee Bourque |
Lisa Copen 11 Apr 2009, 23:23 |
| I've had RA 15 years, since age 24, and have been off of Humera for 8 months now due to a serious infection (flesh eating bacteria) last fall. My hands are SO sore, and quite deformed. Surgery on both is pending as soon as infection risk decreases. Despite tons of other meds and 20mg prednisone/day driving has become more difficult. I have a Taurus and turns were becoming 10 point turns! I bought a basic steering wheel cover at Target for $10 that is like a fake suede with a kind of memory foam. I LOVE IT. I barely have to grasp the wheel for turns, my hands just kind of cling to it, plus I don't have to squeeze as hard to feel like I have control of the wheel. I don't know why I didn't do it sooner. Best $10 I've ever spent. |
JimLiv 30 Mar 2009, 22:42 |
| I found a GREAT diet that really helps me manage my RA. It's called "The Diet to Stop Arthritis" by Dr Norman Childers, see his website. Also called the No Nightshades Diet. Don't eat the vegetables that are a member of the Nightshades family. These vegetables contain a toxin from the wild Deadly Nightshade plant, this toxin is only an irritant to those people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This is a diet that is difficult to get really serious about. This means don't eat tomatoes, potatos, sll peppers, or eggplant, or smoke tobacco. I am now arthritis medication free. After taking 'Methotrexate' for almost 5 years, I had to have a cancerus kidney removed. Good luck to you & may God Bless you. |
Mary Jane 30 Mar 2009, 11:14 |
| I was diagosed with R/A about 4 years ago and was in a lot of pain - by
leading a clean diet (no white and no meat) and taking Zyflamed, Alero Vero
juice, tumeric on my vegetables, eating lots of fruit, 2500 omega 3,
vitamin c, vitamin k - I am in complete remission, R/A is tough, toughest
thing I had to face, but there is a lot you can do for yourself by diet and
natural supplements. |
rosie 26 Mar 2009, 21:38 |
| I use those round rubber jar grippers to open just about everything - from jars to the hose faucet to the gas cap. |
Nicole Ball 21 Mar 2009, 21:09 |
| I've been drinking 4oz a day of this juice call Monavie for about 3 months now and it has helped with my RA. I've been on three med's to control the RA and now I'm off of one, hopefully soon I will be off the rest! It seems to help me so I thought I would share, whatever works, ya know? |
Kathy 05 Mar 2009, 11:04 |
| I love having a stool in my kitchen. It's high enough for me to casually prop myself up on when preparing dinner or doing dishes. I have felt pads on the feet so it slides easily but not too easily from the sink to the stove to the counter. |
Springer 05 Mar 2009, 10:40 |
| Having a "lazy-Susan" style shelf installed in a low corner cabinet has proven to be a real convenience in our kitchen. We bought a two-level model from Home Depot and it didn't cost that much. Besides the fact that it holds tons of stuff, it eliminates having to reach for heavy, infrequently-used items like fancy glass water pitchers, mixers and food processors from way back in a cabinet. They come in different sizes and are not that hard to install. (Plus, kids love to spin it around and see how fast it can go.) |
Rich 20 Feb 2009, 11:52 |
| My best idea came from the pages of your magazine. On bad days, arthritis can make even brushing my teeth painful. So I put a toothbrush into a tennis ball (I just poked a hole into the ball with a pair of scissors.) Now my grip is easier and it's definitely a conversation starter when guests use my bathroom and see my gadget on the sink! |
