From the article: 10 Ways to Manage Osteoarthritis Pain
To effectively manage osteoarthritis and minimize disruption of usual activities, you may have had to make adjustments. You may have made lifestyle changes - for example, you may have lost weight, started exercising, cut down on stress, concentrated on getting more sleep. You may have made adjustments at your workplace so you could continue to work -- or bought adaptive equipment to help protect your joints. Perhaps you found a support group that gives you an important outlet.
What changes/adjustments have you made to help you manage osteoarthritis? Which adjustments were most effective and which were ineffective?
Share Your StoryStill trying to adjust to osteoarthritis
- I have had osteoarthritis for almost 20 years. It has become worse over the past 5 years. I cannot work because of the pain in my low back. Daily chores are done in smaller and smaller increments now. I have a bar stool in the kitchen so I can cook at the stove or use when I am working at the island so I don't have to stand. I use a walker that has wheels and a seat around the house and when I am shopping. I found the electric carts useless. To reach items high on a shelf you have to get off the cart and try to reach the product. I would love to hear any of any other ideas on how to live with this stuff.
- —missy0218
OA changed my life
- I work in sales which requires a full day of standing. After my OA diagnosis (and the embarrassing admission that I need a cane), I had to ask my supervisors if I could use a chair on the job. There was much debate among the corporates, but they finally consented to letting me use a little folding stool at my kiosk. I also bought cushion mats for when I have to stand to wash dishes, and I'll break that task into manageable 10-min segments. I now wear control garments b/c they don't make braces for the groin area, and Spanx does the trick. I take meds to help me sleep -- I've found getting enough sleep makes a huge difference in my pain levels the next day. I now walk with a cane. I've had to give up running -- which was a major stress reliever in my life. I swim at the gym a few times the week, but it's not the same. I am more easily fatigued now, so I rest often and after a day at work, I put my feet up for the evening when I used to do chores and crafts.
- —Hennacat
