Hello all,
I’m just wondering how many of you use any type of aid to support day to day living. I could do with something to support my wrists- like to help strengthen them and also do any of you use anything in the car to help with making driving at times more comfortable?
Thanks xx
Yes there are lots of things. I got a lot of help from the occupational therapist in my rheumy team. I just called the helpline and asked to be referred.
From her I got wrist splints for when I for example chopping, and splints I can rest in too. Knives that you dont have to bend your wrist, rubber gadgets to help you open tins and jars, a metal jar opener .
I bought an electric can opener and a perching stool for the kitchen. I also bought padded cutlery which is a huge help.
There are in Halfords wheels that you clip to your steering wheel that you hold and help you steer more easily.
I also called my local council and they put in a step as my exits were too high and bars to hold onto going in and out.
Theres lots of help out there!
I have wrist splints too and compression gloves and various kitchen gadgets like allanah uses. Old fashioned nutcrackers are very useful for opening bleach and medicine bottles!!
My GP contacted the Occupational Therapist who brought me loads of useful things: A shower stool, perching stool, booster cushion for chair, chair risers, loo seat risers, commode, walking frame. Most of those I used when I was really struggling but are in the garage atm as I’m doing fairly well just now. I bought a stair lift which was essential for me for many months and now I just use it occasionally to make sure it still works as I may need it again in the future.
The hand therapist made me a cradle to rest my left hand in, which was great when my hands were really playing up.
My car is an automatic and almost effortless to drive so I’ve never had any problem thank goodness. In the early days I was using it as a mobility aid as I could hardly walk at all.
I changed to an automatic car which has been a huge help. I still find longer journeys put too much strain on my wrists and shoulders and have never really solved that problem. Short journeys and motorway driving is easier as less steering is involved. I do stop regularly and get out to stretch my legs and rest my arms, but nothing else of note.
Battery operated potato peeler from amazon AMAZING , I also use nutcrackers to open lids
i use a grabber for picking things up from the floor just wish i had one in every room 
I have a variety of splints from OT, use a grabbed and long handled shoe horn. The IT suggested really useful adaptions/tools such as plug tugs(go over plugs for make it easier to pull them out....Most useful), fatter pens and pencils, the "Oxo good grip" range of kitchen tools such as keepers and potato mashers. All of them have been great, I accumulated them gradually and rely on them for every day use. If you haven't seen an IT ask for a referral, they're knowledgeable and have lots of practical solutions.
How is driving uncomfortable? Is it your arms/wrists? Can you move the steering wheel nearer to you and change the height of it etc.? Otherwise maybe try out different cars. If you are a Motability lease hire customer, maybe consider a different type of car, SUV perhaps where you sit more upright (like at a dining table), or look on their website for adaptions that are available. Unfortunately Motability Roadshows were cancelled this year, but I have been to them in previous years and they have lots of companies who make adaptions, it's surprising what is available.
Toilet raiser excellent
Lots of things in the house from Dycem bottle & jar openers, to handles etc in the shower, in fact the shower room was designed to help me. Lots of Oxo Good Grips things, including my cutlery, canisters, most of the cooking utensils (slotted & normal spoons, fish slice, ladle etc), anything that makes things easier. Then things like Gtech vacuums, easy open kitchen doors/microwave door/fridge/dishwasher door, you get the idea. I have various heated blankets, foot muffs, neck & shoulder cape etc depending on where I need the heat really. Latest little buy is a rubber sleeve to go on nail varnish brushes, though if I can I buy Orly varnishes as they're all rubberised, makes it so much easier to grip the brush.
The biggest change was going from a manual to an automatic car. I'd more or less given up driving but the last straw was one Sunday morning we'd arranged to go to a garden centre, me driving because we'd been out the night before, but I couldn’t even get the car out if the drive as I couldn’t depress the clutch or even release the handbrake so gave up on that idea. I resisted until then as I liked driving a manual. Now I've no problems & have lots of other help such as leather, heated & electric seats (the leather makes it easier to swing my legs round to get out & in the car with both feet on the ground), automatic wipers, lights etc, but what I’d love next time is an electric rear view mirror, if there is such a thing!
Occupational therapy have provided things too, wrist splints, long shoe horn, walking stick, perching stool etc. Good to be referred to be assessed if you can or need them Hazel as they can be very helpful in giving tips & ideas as well.
Nutcrackers for bleach bottles, thanks for the tip. That has become an increasingly annoying problem for me. 👌
I bought some things myself such as a manger bath cushion, wrist splints, a gadget that goes into the lock catch in the car to make a handle to help getting out and a bottle/jar grip for opening.
When I spoke to Occ. He. I told the lady I was struggling to get out of bed and was relying on the bedroom furniture to assist so she arranged a bed rail to be fitted.
Due to Covid I have not actually met my RA team, only the Consultant, so the Occ. He. lady is going to pop in to see me at my next F2F appointment to see if I need anything else.
As previous responders have said an automatic car makes life easier - I've had one for years after having shoulder surgery.
You can get a knob that attaches to the steering wheel to hold and assist with steering if that is an issue for you. 🙂
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