Guest guest Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Here are some " coping techniques " I have discovered. Please share yours, too. In addition to the pliers in the car to turn the key in the ignition of my car, in my kitchen I have a pair of channel-lock type pliers that open up almost two inches to open those plastic bottle caps that you have to break the plastic ring to open, and a pair of needle nose pliers to grasp and pull those ubiquitous " pull tab to open " and the plastic plugs in some cartens. I started buying my milk in half gallons instead of gallons, because I can't handle an eight pound gallon of milk comfortably. I traded in my top loading washing machine on a front loading maytag that spins much harder and the clothes are much dryer after spinning so they are lighter weight and easier for me to lift out and put in the dryer. (Also it is easier to pull them out when there is no agitator in the way.) I am using my chicken fryer skillet for most cooking because it has two handles, a long one on one side and a smaller grip on the opposite side so I can lift it with two hands without using a pot holder. I found a little plastic key chain that has a bottle opener on one side and a slot to slip under a pull-tab on the other so that I can open cans with pull tabs. I cut off the tops of a pair of tube socks to wear under my wrist braces so they don't chafe. I changed from a mouse to a touch pad for my computer, because the mouse was aggravating my wrist. I got a wireless router so that I can sit in my recliner chair with my laptop to work on the computer because sitting at the desk for any length of time bothered my knees and right shoulder. Now I surf in comfort! I bought a pair of tennies with velcro closures instead of shoe laces. I bought a big package of ball point pens at costco that have a soft rubber grip than is easy for me to hold and doesn't hurt my fingers. I bought a pair of EXTRA LARGE rubber gloves that will fit over my wrist braces so I can wear the braces to wash dishes if my wrists are very sore. (Or anything else that might soil the braces.) I bought a little kitchen gadget that hooks over the top of a vacuum sealed jar and when you push down, it pries the lid up slightly and breaks the vacuum so the jar is easy to open. When I am in Flagstaff in our travel trailer, where the weather is getting around freezing at night, I keep a heating pad beside my bed and when I wake up in the morning, I turn it on High and wrap it around my hands and wrists for about ten minutes before I start the exercises to make my hands function. It really cuts down on the length of time it takes to get my hands flexible on a cold morning. I am short legged for my height, and my knees hurt if I sit without my feet well supported. I found a little footstool at Big Lots for eight dollers that is about six inches high. It is just perfect at my computer desk, or even the kitchen table. I brought in the little plastic rolling seat that I used for gardening. I sit on it to dig around in my lower kitchen cupboards since I can't squat down any more. I keep a small pair of scissors by my chair to open plastic wrappers and bags with. I can't just grab them and tear them anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2004 Report Share Posted September 18, 2004 Hi Sharon, You provided a great list of tricks! Here are a few that I've come up with / learned: I still use a mouse, but have found one that fits my hand better than the cheap ones that come with the computers (go to Office Depot or another store like that - they usually have a bunch of them out that you can try). My mouse pad has a cushion at the front that supports the wrist. I also use one of the weird looking keyboards (split in the middle and slanted at each side) - it's more comfortable for my hands when typing then the normal straight ones. While I love the convenience of a laptop, I hate the keyboard style... For pens and pencils I use the 'Dr. Grip' (by Pilot) or PHD (by Stanford) which are thicker and easier to hold. I've started wearing the 'Handeze' gloves (by Dome Products) when my hands really hurt. You can find the fingerless ones in some stores, and order the 3/4 finger ones from their web site. They provide warmth, support and a little bit of compression and feel really good. I looked for a long time for a compression bandage that I could wear on a finger or thumb when a knuckle hurt (they don't make Ace bandages that small). Last fall I found some 'Basketball Finger Sleeves' that are meant for ball players when they jam a knuckle. The ones I have are made by Nike, and come in 3 or 4 sizes. It provides some support which really feels good at times! I also buy milk in half gallons, but started doing it because my 10 year old son can pour his own that way . I'm a firm believer in 'child labor' and he also empties the dishwasher, helps with vacuuming and puts away his clean clothes (we're still working on how to fold them properly). I don't worry too much about how clean (or not) the house is, and we all pitch in with the work. Have a good weekend everyone! Beth > Here are some " coping techniques " I have discovered. Please share yours, too. > > In addition to the pliers in the car to turn the key in the ignition of my car, in my kitchen I have a pair of channel-lock type pliers that open up almost two inches to open those plastic bottle caps that you have to break the plastic ring to open, and a pair of needle nose pliers to grasp and pull those ubiquitous " pull tab to open " and the plastic plugs in some cartens. > > I started buying my milk in half gallons instead of gallons, because I can't handle an eight pound gallon of milk comfortably. > > I traded in my top loading washing machine on a front loading maytag that spins much harder and the clothes are much dryer after spinning so they are lighter weight and easier for me to lift out and put in the dryer. (Also it is easier to pull them out when there is no agitator in the way.) > > I am using my chicken fryer skillet for most cooking because it has two handles, a long one on one side and a smaller grip on the opposite side so I can lift it with two hands without using a pot holder. > > I found a little plastic key chain that has a bottle opener on one side and a slot to slip under a pull-tab on the other so that I can open cans with pull tabs. > > I cut off the tops of a pair of tube socks to wear under my wrist braces so they don't chafe. > > I changed from a mouse to a touch pad for my computer, because the mouse was aggravating my wrist. > > I got a wireless router so that I can sit in my recliner chair with my laptop to work on the computer because sitting at the desk for any length of time bothered my knees and right shoulder. Now I surf in comfort! > > I bought a pair of tennies with velcro closures instead of shoe laces. > > I bought a big package of ball point pens at costco that have a soft rubber grip than is easy for me to hold and doesn't hurt my fingers. > > I bought a pair of EXTRA LARGE rubber gloves that will fit over my wrist braces so I can wear the braces to wash dishes if my wrists are very sore. (Or anything else that might soil the braces.) > > I bought a little kitchen gadget that hooks over the top of a vacuum sealed jar and when you push down, it pries the lid up slightly and breaks the vacuum so the jar is easy to open. > > When I am in Flagstaff in our travel trailer, where the weather is getting around freezing at night, I keep a heating pad beside my bed and when I wake up in the morning, I turn it on High and wrap it around my hands and wrists for about ten minutes before I start the exercises to make my hands function. It really cuts down on the length of time it takes to get my hands flexible on a cold morning. > > I am short legged for my height, and my knees hurt if I sit without my feet well supported. I found a little footstool at Big Lots for eight dollers that is about six inches high. It is just perfect at my computer desk, or even the kitchen table. > > I brought in the little plastic rolling seat that I used for gardening. I sit on it to dig around in my lower kitchen cupboards since I can't squat down any more. > > I keep a small pair of scissors by my chair to open plastic wrappers and bags with. I can't just grab them and tear them anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 > I looked for a long time for a compression bandage that I could wear > on a finger or thumb when a knuckle hurt (they don't make Ace > bandages that small). My index and middle finger on my right hand have been swollen up like little sausages for several days, so I cut about eight inches off a two inch wide ace bandage, then split it in half lengthwise with a pair of scissors. This gave me two ine inch wide, eight inch long " mini bandages " . I wrapped my two fingers with them and fastened the wraps with scotch tape before I went to bed last night. Hurray! I have fingers instead of sausages. Thanks for the idea, Beth. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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