Waking
This is a good rule of thumb for people with arthritis. “First, roll onto one side. As you let your feet over the edge, push up with your torso,” advises Winter. “The weight of the legs can help the upper body come to a sitting position.” With both feet on the floor, wait for any dizziness to pass. Contract your abdominal muscles to help yourself stand up. You may want to install grab bars near your bed to make this process easier.
Driving
The key to getting in and out of the car with arthritis symptoms is, again, to move slowly. When getting in, open the door and sit on the seat with both feet on the ground outside the car. Then pivot your body to place one foot and then the other on the floor of the car. Use the car frame for support as needed. When getting out, reverse the process and make sure to use your abdominal muscles to help lift yourself out of the car after both feet are flat on the ground outside the car. If someone is helping you, make sure they don’t pull your arm to get you out of the car.
Dressing
When you have the joint pain of arthritis, there may be days when putting on your favorite outfit is too much effort. Make sure you have comfortable clothes that slip on instead of requiring that you pull them over your head. Put larger pulls on zippers to make them easier to grasp. On days when your arthritis is particularly difficult, choose raglan style sleeves over tailored sleeves and clothing without buttons.
So what should be your first step to improving life with arthritis? Schedule a consultation with a physical therapist to help you solve some of the problems you encounter every day — you can get personalized advice on how to move through each day without increasing joint pain.
Arthritis pain is manageable. Talk to your doctor/physical therapist, and take it one day at a time!