Living With Arthritis

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• QWhat kind of shoes are easiest for someone with arthritis?

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  A Shelley Peterman Schwarz , Neurology, answered

  

  Here are some tips for selecting shoes if you have arthritis.
  

  • Wear shoes with proper support. If you take care of your feet, your whole body will thank you for it. Footwear with proper support not only cushions every step, but it promotes proper posture and thus relieves pain. Look for shoes with durable, supportive foot beds that pamper your feet and stand the test of time. Visit a shoe store with expert fitters who will measure your feet and recommend the best choices for you. You may pay a little more, but it is worth it.
  • Buy shoes that are comfortable and fit properly.
  • File down or round off the front tip of your shoe, if you trip on the end of your shoe when you walk.

  
  

  

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• QWhat computer settings and software can help me if I have arthritis?

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  A Shelley Peterman Schwarz , Neurology, answered

  

  Use the accessibility features on your computer. If sore joints in your fingers and hands or tremors make it difficult to type, the accessibility features built into your computer can make life easier. Check your computer help files for information on accessibility options and learn how to adjust the speed of mouse clicks, key strokes and the pointer; increase the size of the font or the color contrast of the display; and activate warning sounds to make your computer easier to use. For people with the use of only one hand, sticky keys allow you to press one key after the other (Ctrl/Alt/Delete) to respond as if you pressed them at the same time.
  
  You can also program your computer to avoid repetitive stress injuries. Working on a computer can be very hard on the joints, especially the neck, shoulders and hands. Program your computer to remind you to take breaks regularly. Software programs are available that will remind you to take a break and provide you with helpful exercises to avoid joint injury.
  
  You can improve your posture by using a large font (18- to 24-point) when creating or reading a document on the computer. This will help you sit up straighter, reducing pain and helping you read your document more easily.
  
  If your joints are really sore and writing and typing have become a chore, or you simply want to reduce the wear and tear of typing, voice-recognition software can open new doors of communication. Once you train the program to recognize your speech, you can speak into a microphone and the computer will type your words with up to 99% accuracy -- faster than you could type them. You can also send e-mail, instant messages and surf the web just by speaking into a microphone.

  

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• QHow can I make sewing less painful if I have arthritis?

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  A Shelley Peterman Schwarz , Neurology, answered

  

  If you love to sew but find standard methods and tools too hard to use, don’t give up on your favorite pastime -- just change your tools and techniques.
  

  • Place your portable sewing machine on an adjustable ironing board. This will allow you to adjust the height of the machine for maximum comfort. An adjustable ironing board can be a wonderful work surface for many projects.
  • Avoid bending to pick up pins. A magnetized screwdriver, reacher or yardstick with a magnet glued to the bottom will pick up steel straight pins and other metal objects without bending.
  • Sewing and mending are easier if you use lightweight electric scissors and either straight pins with large balls on top or glass-headed quilting pins.
  • Use a hanging magnifying glass. To help you see what you are working on, without getting a crick in your neck, try wearing a magnifying glass specially designed to hang around your neck. Find these unique products at sewing or craft stores.
  • Use a potato to thread needles. To make it easier to thread a needle, stick the needle into an apple or a potato and place it on a shelf or counter that’s at eye level. Then, you can easily see to thread the eye. Or, you might purchase self-threading needles. Rethread needles as soon as the thread is used up so your needles are always ready to use. Self-threading needles are available at fabric stores.

  

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• QWhat types of exercise are good for people with arthritis?

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  A Dr. Mihaela B. Taylor, MD , Rheumatology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  A moderate exercise program that includes low-impact aerobics and strength training can help people with arthritis. You should ask your doctor what type of exercise would be best in your case.


   
  Some options include:

  • walking briskly while swinging your arms
  • jogging in place
  • yoga
  • tai chi
  • cycling
  • swimming or water aerobics
  • isometric exercises (pushing or pulling against static resistance)

  Warm-up and cool-down periods are important parts of any exercise routine, especially if you have arthritis because they can help prevent soreness or injury. Warm-up exercises generally should be practiced for 5 to 10 minutes at the beginning of an exercise session. To cool down, walk slowly until your heart rate is 10 to 15 beats above your normal resting rate. You can also stretch while cooling down, but not while warming up because it can injure cold muscles.

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• QHow can walking help me manage my arthritis?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Walking regularly can reduce pain and joint swelling that accompanies arthritis. Keeping your weight at a healthy level reduces stress on joints, resulting in less pain.  But regular exercise such as walking can strengthen the muscles around your joints, and help you maintain bone strength.
  
  

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• QHow can I make baking easier if I have arthritis?

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  A Shelley Peterman Schwarz , Neurology, answered

  

  These ideas will make baking easier for those who have arthritis.
  

  • Store flour, sugar, and coffee in lightweight containers with handles and easy-to-remove lids. Keep them on the counter to avoid having to reach for and lift heavy containers, and keep a measuring cup inside, where it is handy and easy to use.
  • Freeze extra cookies. Each time you bake cookies, freeze a few so you’ll always have an assortment to serve whenever company arrives.
  • Mix cookie dough with just one beater on your mixer; doing so keeps the dough from climbing up the beaters. If traditional cookie cutters are hard to use, try using a metal, glass, or hard-plastic tumbler instead; dip the tumbler in flour before each use so the dough won’t stick.
  • Cover your hand with a clear plastic sandwich bag before you grease baking pans, make meat loaf or roll cookie dough. You might also use inexpensive, disposable gloves available at drug or hardware stores (be sure they are unpowdered) or use the empty butter wrapper to keep your hands from getting greasy while greasing the pan.

  

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• QHow can I be comfortable on car trips if I have arthritis?

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  A Shelley Peterman Schwarz , Neurology, answered

  

  Here are some tips for traveling by car if you have arthritis.
  

  • Stay warm when traveling with electric car blanket. For extra warmth when traveling on a cold winter’s day, plug a specially designed electric car blanket into your vehicle’s power port or cigarette lighter. Look in automotive or discount department stores for a high-quality fleece blanket, large enough for two people, and a power cord long enough to reach the back seat.
  • Try a sheepskin seat belt cover. If you find wearing a seat belt uncomfortable due to sensitive skin or body pain, a genuine sheepskin cover will cushion the pressure of the belt against your neck and chest and make driving or riding more comfortable. Available in automotive sections.
  • Support your legs and back on long trips. To reduce leg and back pain on long-distance drives or commutes, Drivease, a simple but effective ergonomic device, can really add to your comfort. Position the firm, flexible support under your right leg to aid circulation and support the sciatic nerve and lower back, helping you to maintain a comfortable driving posture.

  
  

  

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• QWhat fruits and vegetables should I eat if I have arthritis?

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  A Dr. Leopold D. Galland, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Eat at least 8 servings of fruits and vegetables every day if you have arthritis. Choose those with bright or deep colors like cherries and berries and sweet potatoes that contain natural anti-inflammatory nutrition. Don't believe the old saw that citrus fruits and "nightshade" vegetables like tomatoes and peppers cause arthritis. Oranges and tomatoes have been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory effects in some people.
  
  Most of the patients with arthritis I've seen do better eating lots of vegetables and fruits. Tomatoes, incidentally, seem to have more of anti-inflammatory effect when they're cooked or juiced, but most other vegetables and fruits are better if they're fresh.
• QWhat type of strength training should I do if I have arthritis?

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  A Dr. Grant Cooper, MD , Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, answered

  

  In order to treat and prevent arthritis, you should exercise a combination of type I and II skeletal muscles, with a slight emphasis on the type I slow-twitch fibers. Aim to complete 8-12 repetitions for each set. You should perform 3-5 sets per muscle exercise, and do 1-3 exercises per muscle group. You should increase the weight once you can perform 12 repetitions for 3 sets with only mild fatigue.

  

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• QHow can I manage faucets if I have arthritis?

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  A Shelley Peterman Schwarz , Neurology, answered

  

  Here are some tips to make faucets and sinks easier to manage if you have arthritis.
  

  • Install wrist blades on water faucets. If you have separate controls for hot and cold water, consider installing wrist blades. Wrist blades are wide, wing-type handles that are operated by pushing with the forearm, wrist or heel of the hand. They are available at most plumbing supply stores and hardware stores.
  • Consider replacing bathroom faucets with kitchen faucets. Turning water on and off is easier if you have a single lever arm to control the temperature and water pressure. Kitchen models generally have longer levers than bathroom models and are easier to use.
  • Install a touchless faucet. This is a wonderful aid for someone who finds it difficult to grasp or turn knobs or who perhaps forgets to turn off the water. A touchless faucet has an electric eye that senses the person’s hands in front of it and turns the water on and off automatically. The faucet can be preset to a specific temperature to avoid scalding. Touchless faucets are available from plumbing contractors or home supply stores and may require professional installation.
  • Use a washcloth to help turn faucets on and off. If your hands are weak and you have trouble turning water faucets on and off, try using a washcloth to turn the knobs. You’d be amazed at how much easier the faucets are to operate.

  

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