Living with Arthritis: Tools and Tips for Everyday Tasks

When you’re living with arthritis or other conditions that make movement difficult, managing daily activities can be challenging. A critical part of managing your condition is following your doctors’ recommendations for exercise, physical therapy, medications, assistive devices and healthy living.

But if you are one of the 58 million people in the U.S. who have arthritis, you know that following a doctor’s orders only goes so far to alleviate your pain and frustration as you do everyday tasks.

Depending on which joints, bones or other body parts are affected, everyday activities like opening a door, buttoning your clothes, sitting in a chair, or even signing your name can be taxing to do. In those cases, ingenuity, determination and assistive devices can help.

Self-Care for Living with Arthritis

Attitude (yours!) is an important component of arthritis self-care. Focusing on your pain and what you can’t do can intensify the pain. Meanwhile, research has shown that realistic optimism can help relieve pain. Although optimism won’t take away all your pain, it can help you find ways to make living easier.

I’ve been living with arthritis in multiple joints for quite a few years. I’ve also had accidents and conditions that affected my ability to do everyday tasks for months at a time. But I don’t like things to hold me back. So, besides adhering to doctors’ instructions, I’m always looking for tools and strategies to help me lead a normal life.

I’ve found that sometimes, just doing things differently can ease or avoid pain. Other times, I get things done by using readily available products and assistive devices.

Assistive Devices and Tools to Get Things Done

Here are some of the workarounds and tools I’ve found that make living with arthritis easier. Hopefully, some of these tips will help ease daily living tasks for you or a loved one.

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Ditch the Plastic Laundry Basket

Hard plastic laundry baskets are awkward to pick up and carry. They’re bulky and the placement of the handles requires you to grab them with two hands. Grab a full laundry basket the wrong way, and you could hurt your back, too.

Carrying clothes to and from your laundry area is much easier and safer if you replace the laundry basket with a large, soft-sided tote that has handles you can grip with one hand (like you’d grip a gym bag or purse). Besides being easy to carry with one hand, using a tote leaves your other hand free to grasp a railing if you have to carry the laundry up or down stairs. The one I use is old. It was a gift from a friend. But when I have to replace it, I’ll get something like this collapsible laundry tote, which is available on Amazon and from other retailers.

Use a Reacher/Grabber for High Shelves

Climbing up on chairs, counters or step stools to get items off of high shelves is difficult and dangerous with sore knees or achy joints. Make reaching things on tall shelves easier with reacher/ grabber devices or long-handled barbeque tongs. Here are devices I’ve used to reach high shelves and which work best for me.  

Use a Grabber to Unload the Washer or Dryer

Bending over and reaching to pull clothes from the back of a washing machine or dryer can be hard on your back. In fact, it might cause you to throw your back out. Avoid the pain by using a sturdy grabber like this to reach into the back of the machine to pull out the clothes.

Use a Swiffer® to Clean Tubs and Showers

Don’t bend over, stretch, or climb on anything to clean your shower walls or tub. Save your back and avoid falls by using a Swiffer or similar dry/wet mop to do the job. Cover the mop head with a microfiber cloth instead of the brand’s wet or dry cloths. Then, spray the walls with your favorite bathroom cleanser. Then wipe the mop back and forth across the area to be cleaned.

The microfiber cloth stays on the mop head better than the brand’s disposable wet/dry cleaning cloths do. The microfiber cloth does a better job of scrubbing, too. An added benefit: you can wash and reuse microfiber cloths. I found the microfiber cloths I use at a local supermarket. They are available at many retailers, as well.

Related Reading: Home Modifications for Aging in Place

Easier Ways to Open Cans, Jars and Bottles

Twisting or popping open bottles, jars and other containers is frustrating for people when you’re living with arthritis in your hands. But there are some tools that make opening those containers easier. 

• Silicone jar opener pads. These are rubbery pads or other devices that let you get a better grip on jar lids, to make them easier to open.  I use Silicone jar openers every day that I found in the supermarket. They have similar ones on Amazon.

• Plier-type jar openers. About 8 months ago, I bought a jar and bottle opener set like this. I found the plier device worked well to open jars if I used the included silicone pad to hold the bottom of the bottle with one hand while I used the other hand to unscrew the top with the plier device. The devices for popping off bottle caps and lifting tops with pull-tabs work reasonably well. But judging by the reviews, this newer version of the jar and bottle opener set works better than the one I bought. They’ve also added a wine corkscrew in the package at the same price.

• Openers for pull tabs on cans.  If you don’t want a set of tools (like the one above) you can buy individual devices to open cans with pull tabs.  They are also helpful for opening the pull tabs on other containers like the plastic ring inside of cartons of chicken broth or milk. If you don’t want to buy a device specifically made for opening pull tabs, you can use the pointy end of an old-fashioned (church key style) can and bottle opener. You can also use that old fashioned opener to “pop”  the seal (let air into) on a vacuum-sealed jar, making it easier to twist open.

• Wrap a rubber band around the top of bottles. You can open some smaller bottles more easily (pill-bottles, or soda bottles, for instance) by looping a rubber band around the top a couple of times. The rubber band makes it easier to get a tight-enough grasp to twist the bottle open.

• Flip caps on prescription medicine upside down. Prescription medications often come in bottles with “child-proof” tops that have a little tab you have to push down on before you can twist off the cap. If the prescription top looks like this one, the top is reversible. Turn the cap upside down and screw it into the top to avoid using the tab opening.

Soothe Aches and Pains with Microwaveable Heating Pads

Have an achy back or neck? A heating pad can do wonders to reduce stiffness, relax tense muscles, and ease the pain. Fortunately, there are microwavable heating pads that let you enjoy the comfort of a heating pad without dealing with electric cords. 

I have two devices I like to use. They are filled with natural materials.  One is a soft, rectangular pad that I heat up and wedge between my back and a chair when my back hurts. (I use it a lot in the mornings while I’m sipping my coffee and reading the local newspaper.) The other is a neck wrap. It drapes around my neck and shoulders providing a bit of weight along with the heat to relieve stiff muscles and ease pain.   

Install Doorknob Grippers

Opening a doorknob can be painful if your fingers or wrists are swollen or injured. Fortunately, solving the problem is easy with – in my opinion – one of the best “arthtitis tools” available. An inexpensive, vinyl doorknob grip like this one makes the doorknob act like a lever. Instead of twisting the knob to open the door, you push down on it.  See how it works in this short video I put together.

Clothing Tips for Arthritis Sufferers

Don’t Unbutton Shirts

Buttoning clothes is difficult when your fingers are painful and swollen from arthritis. The same is true (as I learned the hard way) if you have a broken wrist or arm. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution if you can lift your arms over your head. Instead of unbuttoning shirts and tops all the way, unbutton them just enough to slip over your head. Throw the shirts in the washing machine buttoned. Iron them (if necessary) buttoned, and then just pop them on over your head.

Wear Shirts and Tops That Don’t Have Buttons, Snaps, Or Zipper Closures

Wear slip-on tops and shirts. Cotton and stretch-knit T-shirts, V-neck shirts, and Henley-style shirts are good substitutes for button-down shirts. They are popular styles and can be easily slipped over your head.

Wear Pull-On Pants

You can find pull-on pants with elastic waistbands or drawstring closures in a wide range of materials and styles for both men in women. Besides sweatpants and other workout clothes, there are pull-on jeans, khakis, and styles that look dressier. If you wear them with an untucked shirt, the elastic waistband stays hidden.

Don’t Unhook Your Bra

Ladies, you know how tricky it can be to hook your bra behind your back when your fingers or wrists hurt. aren’t working well. If your shoulders are flexible enough, don’t unhook the bra when you take it off. Just slip the bra off over your head. Wash it that way, too. (Washing it hooked also helps prevent the hooks from snagging other stuff in the wash.) Alternately, get some slip-on sports bras.

Sink Your Foot into Hands-Free Slip-on Shoes

Shoes and sneakers that you can put on without having to bend over or reach down to tie are a real benefit if you’ve had joint replacement surgery or have conditions that make it difficult to bend over or tie shoes. I’ve found that Sketchers® brand and similar sneaker-like step-in shoes are comfortable and provide more support than most slippers. Plus, they’re just as practical for wearing outside as they are for hanging around the house. They’re available for women and men.Look for them on Amazon, DSW, or locally.

Get Sneakers or Footwear with Velcro® Closures

These are another option if you have trouble tying your shoes or buckling straps. I purchased sneakers with Velcro closings before hands-free slip-on sneakers were available. I also have a couple of pairs of sandals with Velcro closures. You have to use your hand to https://amzn.to/4hi3iZXpull the Velcro tight, but I’ve found that doing so is easier than managing shoelaces or buckles. You can find Velcro-closure sneakers and shoes for both women and men on Amazon and other online and local shoe sellers.

Braces and Supports to Relieve Pain

Look in any drug store or big box store like Walmart and you’ll find aisles full of braces and supports for just about every part of your body. These can helpful, but if your pain is severe or ongoing, be sure to visit a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Wrist Supports and Braces

There are dozens of types of wrist braces and supports for arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other conditions. Readily available on Amazon and through local retailers, these can be helpful.  But, as mentioned above, if pain is severe or ongoing, your first step should be to consult with a doctor. Besides diagnosing your condition, if you need a brace, they may be able to order you one that’s covered by your insurance.

Try Orthotics for Ankle and Foot Pain

Orthotics are inserts you put in your shoes to help with foot or ankle pain due to arthritis or other causes. They relieve pain by providing cushioning and support and help align your foot properly. For mild pain, you can find a wide variety of over-the-counter orthotics at your local drugstore or big box chain store. 

If your pain is severe or causes you to limp, be sure to see a doctor for diagnosis and recommendations or treatment.

The two types of orthotics that have helped me the most Dr. Scholl’s Custom Fit orthotics, and Walkomfy brand orthotics. Look for Dr. Scholl’s kiosks in drug stores that have a platform you stand on to determine the right one of their orthotics for your feet.

Compression Sleeves and Wraps for Foot and Ankle Pain

Bracing or wrapping joints can help relieve joint pain by providing support, stability, and compression. You can find braces and compression wraps for ankles, knees, and wrists in the pharmacy section in big box stores or in any drug store.  If you see an orthopedist or podiatrist to diagnose your pain, they will let you what type of compression sleeve or brace will be best. They may be able to prescribe one that is covered by your health insurance.

Lighten the Load to Ease Arthritis Pain

Arthritis and other problems can make it difficult and painful to lift common household items. Instead of straining your joints and limbs, switch to smaller or lighter products or implements. Some suggestions:

Purchase Laundry Soap Pods Instead of Containers

It’s much easier to drop a laundry pod into the washing machine than it is to lift the heavy container and pour the right amount of liquid into the machine. 

Buy Smaller -Sized Grocery Items

Instead of buying the large-size containers of things like milk, catsup and mayonnaise, look for smaller, lighter-weight sizes that are easier to handle.  

Use Light-Weight Pots and Pans

I sometimes wonder if today’s cookware is designed by 20-year-old weightlifters. Most of it is too heavy for me to lift. So, I use the small  pots and frying pans whenever possible. I’ve replaced bigger heavy pots and pans with cheap, lighter weight products I’ve found at the supermarket and at discount retailers.

Be Willing to Adapt 

Although there is no cure for arthritis, you can make life easier and happier if you’re open to making changes in the way you do things and you maintain a positive attitude. Don’t think of yourself as “suffering” from arthritis. Instead, consider it a condition you have, and will deal with as best you can. The strategies and tools described above are only some of the things you can do to be more self-sufficient and possibly reduce pain, too. You’ll discover more if you maintain an upbeat attitude and keep looking for tools and workarounds to get things done.

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Image Sources

Top photo: Istockphoto

Clothes in drier, mopping wall, doorknob grip, slip-on shoes, blouse, pill bottle: Janet Attard

Remaining image are company product images