Simple tricks for rheumatism

Everyday tips of the German Rheumatism League in rheumatism in the hands

02/06/2013

Rheumatism patients can make their everyday life easier with a few simple tricks. Here is the brochure „Joint protection in everyday life“ the German Rheumatism League manual, „how self-reliance can be maintained in the demands of everyday life.“ Rheumatoid patients not only experience how they can help relieve and mobilize their joints, but also get tips for the typical problems of everyday rheumatism in the hands.

According to the German Rheumatism League suffer around „20 million Germans suffer from a chronic rheumatic disease such as osteoarthritis, inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis, spinal disorders, fibromyalgia or osteoporosis.“ The affected are often massively affected by the diseases in their everyday lives. When rheumatism is in the hands „Crooked fingers, severe deformations on the hands, limited fine motor skills and little grip“ typical consequences, reports the Rheumatism League. Due to the movement impairments, even simple „Handling such as withdrawing the debit card from the ATM slot or getting a coin out of the shopping cart can be a big problem“, so the message of the self-help organization. In the brochure sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs „Joint protection in everyday life“ Among other things, numerous possibilities are presented that could help the rheumatic patients with everyday illness-related obstacles.

Aids protect the joints and make access easier
Patients with rheumatism often have considerable difficulty grasping small objects. For example, they can only serve their zippers poorly. According to the German Rheumatism League, this helps „Attaching key rings, small chains or a crochet hook“ on the zipper. They can be easily attached to the existing ripper and simplify the rheumatism patients the operation considerably, reports the self-help organization. Even when gripping pens, toothbrushes and cutlery arise for rheumatism patients often difficulties that can be remedied by a handle thickening. So be too thin handles for example „a piece of garden hose, insulating hose, bicycle handle from the hardware store or a protective handle from the electrical supplies“ pulled, whereby the rheumatism patients can grasp the objects much better, reports the German Rheumatism League. When opening jars, a vacuum remover could help those affected and for bottles with screw caps, a converted nutcracker is well suited. All in all, there are a multitude of simple aids that can bring about a significant improvement in the daily lives of patients, explained Susanne Bitzer, ergotherapist and author of the brochure „Joint protection in everyday life“. (Fp)

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