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TINA JAYA: Handwriting can be
difficult because as changes
happen in the rheumatoid hand,
the fingers tend to move away
from the thumb.
It is just
painful for the fingers
and the thumb
to meet as in a pencil grip.
So an adaptation for that
would be holding how wider grip
pen.
Dressing can be really
challenging, especially when it
comes to fastening.
Adaptations start
with encouraging the patient
to sit down and make sure they
are stable and they feel
comfortable.
Sitting up and planning
for the task.
And if they're having trouble
with buttoning and fastening
but they can still do it,
a good strategy is to button
as much of the shirt
as you need to, then put
the shirt on like a T-shirt.
Holding a mug or a glass--
it's better to hold
with both hands.
That way, you distribute
the stress that you may get
from the weight of the cup
or the mug that you're holding.
With brushing your teeth,
the great thing is there are
many types of grips you can
find.
So it's worthwhile getting
something that's wider.
And if you prefer,
even something that's electric.
Some things you can do
for driving is building up
the steering wheel handle, even
just using a wash cloth
or something that's
nice and soft.
It'll make the grip wider.
So there are options
for strategies for managing
and living
easier despite the diagnosis
of rheumatoid arthritis.
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