Comments on: Rheumatoid Arthritis Disability Makes Things Difficult

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:28:04 +0000

Great additions to the list, Phyllis!

By: Phyllis Crubaugh

Phyllis Crubaugh — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:50:27 +0000

Well, even though it doesn’t affect a large number of people- I can’t milk my goats any more. Farm chores are nearly impossible to accomplish. Bucking hay, grooming a horse, milking, lifting feed bags, catching a pig or chicken. This is the first year that I haven’t had a Turkey from our own farm on the table for Thanksgiving in years. I couldn’t pluck the bird! I had to sell all of my Turkeys.

I can still churn butter since I attached a thick cloth to the handle of the churn to grab onto. I can no longer knead the dough to make homemade bread for the butter to melt onto though. Bummer.

Also- tweezers are impossible to use any more. I have hairs sticking out all over my face and developing a Uni-Brow.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:21:42 +0000

I have a hair dryer suggestion. For several months, I couldn’t get my arms up to even reach my hair (shoulders) at all… Then my shoulders were slightly better so I struggled with my hair dryer a couple times a month. Then a light bulb moment – to find a lighter dryer – I actually founde one 1/3 the weight of my previous one! Cannot believe I used the heavy one when I pick that thing up! I wore out the lite one and even bought another one last month. Still don’t do my hair very often since it’s still hard – my hands are more affected now & it hurts the fingers & wrists as well… and there are times my shoulders will not go up there for a while… But the light dryer makes it possible at least some of the time. Also I recenltly got a curling iron to go back to the high school method in case that is easier on certain days – It’s all hard I know but I hope u can at least find some lighter appliances to help a little.
My dryer: Helen of Troy Professional Lite. I got it at Sally store, but I think it can be bought online too. Here’s one I easily found on Google search that has a different name, but looks just like mine: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002D4GHQ2/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0018QTQOG&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RV1G4QHNHNYNFD2P0GR

By: CaraBray

CaraBray — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:11:02 +0000

Using hair care and styling products – blow dryers are HEAVY! Hairspray can be hard to push, and gel hard to squeeze.

Brushing teeth and squeezing out toothpaste can be painful.

Putting on and tying shoes

Stirring batter for pancakes or stirring instant mashed potatoes

By: Katelyn

Katelyn — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:03:57 +0000

Typing on the computer can be a real challenge. Or signing your name on a receipt and holding a cup for more than a few minutes.

By: tina

tina — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:23:22 +0000

I hate to show my pain when im out, so refuse to take my stick. i try not to limp too much, cant take being stared at so one of the things i find really hard to take is the gfact when i sit down at a table for a meal in a restaurant with my husband he has to push my chair in for me and pull it out for me to stand…i hate it!!!
I forget i cant do things until i try, most of the things mentioned have given me problems at one time or another.
I would love to tie my hair up in a pony tail, cant use dental floss,toilet hygeine is a biggy too.
I now have to use an automatic car and there are days i cant drive at all.
xx tina

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:48:05 +0000

what a great picture Laura!

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:28:26 +0000

Hello, I think there are some things that RA makes difficult to make too. I am 29 years old, I was diagnosed with RA when I was 21. I am a civil engineer, and I wanted to be one since I was like 5. I was in my third year of college (here in Costa Rica college careers last 5 years) when all the pain started, suddenly some things that I used to do, like studying late hours at nigh were impossible, I needed like 8 hours of sleep at least so I can function the next day. My arms and whist were in pain all the time, especially when I was making a test. But my pain and stiffness never stopped me. I got my degree, I never told a professor: “I can’t take that test, or I can’t do the homework…” because I thought they will never believe me, but the pain was there, and it was real. Last year I climbed the highest mountain in Costa Rica, Cerro Chirripó, it’s not the Everest , but it was my Everest, and when it is only like 100 m height left to climb, you have to do it like you are climbing a three, with your hands in the rocks, so carefully that you wouldn’t fall. And when I reach to the top, I was crying tears of joy, the pain was still there, but I didn’t care… it was so beautiful….. I got used to make some of the things that I do in a daily basis a little bit slower than usual, because of the stiffness and pain, and I was ok with it. But this weekend my boyfriend brought me a Harry Potter Lego (I love Lego, since I was 5, around the same time I discover that I want to make houses) and it was de castle. I was so excited that I opened right away and in many years, I think, it was the first time that my pain really pissed me off, because I wanted so bad to remember when I was a kid, sitting in the floor making houses with my lego, but the parts were so small that my hands really hurt… So in conclusion, I want to add to the list, that Rheumatoid Arthritis makes difficult to enjoy Harry Potter Lego.

By: Annie W

Annie W — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 12:33:30 +0000

I keep 2 small needle nose pliers in my kitchen. They are a life saver for opening little pull tabs. I find I use them for many other things since my fingers can’t grip anything. I also bought some of the bubbly non stick shelf covering and cut it into larger sizes to hold things, such as a jar or bottle while trying to open it. Works good for the lids too. Since my husband is a service disabled veteran and our daughter has gone off to college, I find it really hard, because now I am the one doing everything. Shoveling snow last winter just about killed me, and of course we had more snow than ever! Glad I found your site. Thanks

By: Annie W

Annie W — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:58:10 +0000

I agree with everything everyone said. My biggest are:
-removing eggs from the egg carton
-holding a glass or anything for that matter, that doesn’t have a handle.
-tucking in sheets really hurts