Sex
Stiff joints? You can still let loose in the bedroom. Your approach to sex should involve support, support, support — and a little bit of creativity. Pillows, wedges, and rolled towels that support curved areas will improve your sexual experience, as will trying out new positions to find what’s comfortable. The most important point, says Winter, is not to always conform to the standard missionary position (one partner on top and the other underneath). Spooning, for instance, might be a more viable alternative, she suggests.
Cooking
The secret to navigating the kitchen when you have joint pain is having everything that you use most commonly in your “strike zone.” That means you may have to reorganize cooking essentials so that most items are between shoulder and thigh height. It’s also a good idea to have a counter at thigh height, which will make stirring and rolling dough easier, says Winter. Finally, plan your strategy before you start cooking so that you won’t have to carry heavy items, such as a pot full of pasta, across the kitchen by yourself.
Reaching
If at all possible, try to avoid reaching above your head. You may need some help to reorganize closets and high cabinets, putting what you need most often within easy reach to minimize joint pain. If you must get something off a high shelf — and your arthritis is not hampering you — use a sturdy stepping stool. Still, says Winter, the best thing you can do is to keep only occasional-use items on high shelves, and ask friends or family to get them down for you when you need them.