Anyone with arthritis knows how difficult it can be to clean and do general household tasks. Even the most simplist of jobs can seem like a nightmare sometimes, Fatigue is one the most common mental symptoms associated with arthritis, so if anyone has any tips on making cleaning and general household tasks more easier for us people with arthritis then please do post them on here. Many thanks.
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
Although fatigue is often associated with emotional problems, as it's generally regarded as a symptom of depression by orthodox medicine.
I would say that it is actually a physiological problem and is very probably associated with the arthritis, but not a result of it. What I'm saying is there is likely to be a common cause.
If one is prone to inflammation, then it's unlikely to just affect the joints, the problem could be much more widespread.
And.
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
I'm jinked with osteoarthritis so I know how you feel. I can just about push the hoover around on a good day, but dusting which is relatively an easy to some, can be a trial. I have brought the throw away duster which traps the dust and doesn't spread it around like it used to when I 'flicked' the duster around. I also find that if you dampen a cloth before dusting,this helps. Washing floors is a bind as my arms are affected and I cannot mop for long. I have also tried cleaning the bath with a wet mop on a stick. Sounds silly but at least it cleans it a little.
There is only one way to do the cleaning and thats to be rich and get someone else to do it. 😀
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
It's easy for me, as a carer rather than a sufferer, to suggest things but when my wife was obliged to apply for disability benefit, it really was for the best. It's a traumatic decision but the money pays for a cleaner and other of lifes little pleasures that soften the blow of disability. There are some unwelcome questions on the form, the answers are not nice to face up to but if you choose to go down that route for goodness sake get proper help from DIAL or the CAB etc. You can misinterpret the questions and lose out big style. We were very grateful for DIAL.
You can get financial help (but it takes a while)and that's what we pay our taxes for. It's better than spending it on guns.
Best wishes
John
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
I just remembered to add that loads of our friends at the support groups have been diagnosed with a multitude of ailments over their lives but, after years of being told it was in their head, they were diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Also under the title of Chronic widespread pain syndrome. Just being told it's not all a figment of your imagination and you are not just making it up is like coming in from the cold.
Regards
John
🙂
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
John at Breakfree. I have been turned down for DLA as been told too honest with answers. Told to ask for redecision but again turned down. GPfully supports. When I first applied they sent for GP report and GP in practice whom I have never met replied I was OK, but hadn't seen me before and didn't really know me and didn't really put anything on form just Not known! Going to try again in 2 months and social worker from deaf team is going to help me.
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
"Too honest with answers" is probably "misunderstood question". I'm not putting you down when I say 'misunderstood'.
When it asks "How far can you walk without discomfort" and you write that you can walk a hundred yards (before being overcome with pain) is where you could honestly say that every step is painful so you "Cannot move a step without discomfort".
Get professional help with the wording, please !! It's not good luck I need to wish you, it's Good Advice.
John:)
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
You should also write the 'worst possible scenariao' information. As you probably have good days and bad days, always relate the information that you put down to the days when you feel at your worst.
Lesley
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
Would you believe I acctually used to work as team administrator for cleaning disabilities team in social services (15) and helped people fill in their forms and for friends to, all received DLA. My husband has Alzheimers and again with a little help from Alzheimers Society has got it to. Just let myself down.
Trouble is I think when you do things for yourself you dont see it in the same light if you know what I mean. My knees are very painful and I can walk about 20 yards or so before they are painful but at the time of filling in the formI could walk about 50-60 yards. Anyway, lots of problems have worstened and I now have the help of someone in the deaf team - physical disabilities have no social workers available and I couldn't get one for at least 4 months as I'm not classed as urgent.
I was very lucky with equipment though as OT Dept had a cancellation of appointment in my area and within about 2/3 weeks I had a lot of equipment supplied.
My motto now is 'get what you can if you need it'.
RE: Cleaning and household chores for people with arthritis
One of the big things with any form of arthritis and doing chores is to accept you simply can not do what you could prior to the Arthrits and seek help.
I have to depend on my family to take care of larger tasks such as vacuuming and transfering laundry and I opt for the smaller ones such as dusting, folding laundry and the like.
If you don't have anyone who can help you in the home maybe ask a family member or friend since most folks can't really afford a maid to assist them. You could offer maybe to do something nice for them in return like cook dinner if you can.