Arthritis Sufferers Can Improve Quality of Life with Daily Living Aids

by Dianna Malkowski, Physician Assistant & Nutritionist 

Dianna Malkowski

May is Arthritis Awareness Month, and 2012 marks 60 years of education and life-improving programs from the Arthritis Foundation. Daily living aids combined with prescribed treatment can improve the quality of life for individuals with arthritis.

Common symptoms of arthritis pain include joint stiffness, pain or swelling; limited mobility in areas like shoulders, knees or hands; numbness in fingers, legs or toes; and throbbing in the hips. Before visiting a doctor about arthritis, it’s helpful to have a written record of what type of pain you’re suffering from, times of day it’s worse, if the pain is shooting or constant, and whether you’ve tried any treatments and had success.

As a national retailer of incontinence supplies and other home healthcare products for seniors and caregivers, The CareGiver Partnership recommends those with arthritis consider the following for relief:

Moist heat therapy

•  Therapy braces for ankles, elbows, knees, wrist and back, which can reduce swelling and relieve pain using hot and cold therapy.
• Arthritis pads that provide intense moist heat without adding water. Look for products with switches for auto-off and that offer timed therapy in stages.
• Moist heat packs that offer short treatments of high-temperature moist heat alternating with cool-down, which can temporarily relieve arthritis pain by increasing circulation. Look for products with an automatic switch that shuts off if the user’s finger relaxes, such as while falling asleep.
• Reaching tools that help relieve muscle strain caused by reaching and stretching.
• Mobility handles for safety and improved balance and comfort.

In addition, your doctor may prescribe any combination of rest, heat therapy, physical therapy, prescription medications, supplements or weight loss.

To learn more about these daily living aids for those with arthritis, see our arthritis relief page.

Dianna Malkowski is a Board Certified Physician Assistant and Mayo Clinic trained nutritionist specializing in diabetes, cancer, wound healing, therapeutic diets and nutrition support. She serves on the board of professional advisers for The CareGiver Partnership and enjoys working with patients and caregivers alike. Ask Dianna a question.

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.

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