Did you know that small everyday tasks that we take for granted, such as fastening a zip, or opening a bottle, can be a huge burden for someone living with arthritis? The level of struggle and difficulty varies day-to-day, and it can have a significant impact on their quality of life.
A new social media campaign called Little Wins is encouraging people living with arthritis to share the everyday tips that enable them to get on with enjoying life.
Little Wins is a patient-led Facebook campaign that aims to equip people with practical tips, or “life hacks”, to overcome the daily challenges posed by arthritis, and encourage them to share their own “little wins” with each other. The campaign provides a platform for people with arthritis to come together, forming a community that empowers and supports one another to take back control of their lives. Here are some of our top tips, feel free to share your own below or visit Little Wins on Facebook.
Get the most out of your toothpaste
Use a paper clip to pinch the end of your toothpaste tube to squeeze it up the tube. By wrapping the clip around the toothpaste you no longer need to put pressure on your fingers.
Epsom salts to unwind and relax
Swollen or tender joints can be partly relieved by adding Epsom Salts to a hot bath, take the time to warm up your joints.
Open cans easily with a teaspoon
It can be tough on the fingers to open cans. Using a teaspoon to peel off the cap can make things much easier.
Open stiff jars with ease
Instead of struggling to open tight jars, wrap rubber bands around the lid to make opening jars much easier and reduce the pressure on your wrists.
Open condiments with ease
Packets of sauces like ketchup and mayonnaise can be awkward to open and painful on your fingers. Use some small scissors to easily open the packets.
Link your keys together
Attach your keys to a keychain or bracelet rather than having them loose, you can then pull on the chain or bracelet to retrieve the keys rather than digging around in pockets or bags.
Make shopping less painful
Plastic shopping bags can be painful to hold and add pressure to fingers and wrists or elbows, particularly when they are heavy. Instead, use fabric shopping bags and carry them on your forearm to ease the load.
Getting to grips with your exercise
Wear gloves if you go out running or walking. Gloves with a grip are extra helpful if you need to hold onto something!
More about arthritis
Arthritis is a group of several musculoskeletal diseases that cause pain and swelling in the joints.2 It is a common condition, affecting people regardless of age or gender.2 There are around 200 different musculoskeletal conditions which fall into five main groups:2
- inflammatory arthritis
- degenerative or mechanical arthritis
- soft tissue musculoskeletal pain
- connective tissue disease (CTD)
- back pain.
It is estimated that about 10 million people in the UK are living with arthritis. Symptoms can vary depending on the type, ranging from stiff, swollen, painful joints to less obvious symptoms such as tiredness, weight loss and skin rashes.
Arthritis affects men and women of all ages, however factors such as family history, physically demanding lifestyles and short-term triggers such as infections can all increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Sources:
www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.aspx
www.arthritisresearchuk.org/~/media/Files/Arthritis-information/Conditions/2020-what-is-arthritis-15-1.ashx
About the Author / Gareth Hargreaves
Gareth looks after all editorial content on 50connect. He is the Swiss Army knife of content ideas and production.
