Community Share: Our Favorite Devices for Coping With RA
There are many different types of devices, both medical and non-medical, that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) find helpful in coping with this complex condition. We recently asked our forums and Facebook community, "What devices, tools, or cool gadgets do you use to help manage your RA symptoms?"
We received hundreds of responses from people in the RA community. This article gathers just a fraction of those responses. To read more, click the button at the bottom of this article!
Devices and tools for RA pain relief
Several community members mentioned items like compression gloves and socks, heating pads, and massage devices. A wide variety of options for soothing RA pain were shared.
"I have an infrared sauna blanket, a foot spa, a heated knee massager, a compression ice sleeve, and compression gloves if my hands are achy."
"A hand massager, TENS unit, heating pad, and ice packs."
"An electric blanket for bad pain days."
"Heated steering wheel, heated and cooled seats in the car. Hot tub, ice rollers, foam rollers, braces."
"Rice-filled heat packs that I can zap in the microwave and apply to whatever hurts. The moist heat helps more than an electric heating pad."
"KT [kinesiology] tape, cupping therapy, heat/ice packs."
"Theragun — helps loosen muscles I clench from being in pain all the time."
"Can't use steroids, so I use heating pads, wrist and ankle braces, and special socks and copper-infused gloves."
"I have 2 infrared light therapy gloves. In the winter when my hands hurt and are stiff or feel cold I use them. The heat and light relax them. They always feel better after."
"My husband gifted me an 'emperor-sized' heating pad for Christmas. Can you say, best gift ever?! It covers me neck to hips. This versus having 2 or 3 heating pads going at once or moving one to a different area every 5 minutes."
Helpful tools for the kitchen
A few of the most common household devices and tools mentioned were electric or battery-operated can openers, jar openers, and food preparation devices. Community members shared many favorite tools for making life inside and outside the kitchen easier.
"I use woven shelf and drawer liners to open 90 percent of the jars, bottles, doorknobs, and most everything that needs opening. I cut it in circles, strips, or squares as needed."
"I broke down and got an electric can opener. Heaven!"
"I have an electric can opener and a 'grabber' device. The grabber is to reach things up higher than I can reach. My balance isn't great, so if I can avoid climbing on something, I do."
"Laundry basket with wheels."
"A veggie chopper, jar opener, and a pregnancy pillow."
"I have a mini chopper. It's electric and chops onions, celery, etc. I also have a jar opener that is mounted under the cabinet, an electric whisk, and my latest and I think most exciting is the electric potato peeler I just got. My hands are weak and in constant pain. Without these great gadgets, I wouldn't be able to cook nearly as healthy."
Making life easier in the bathroom
Many household tools can make bathroom and shower use easier.
"Raised toilet seat!"
"I have a bidet to help clean 'down there' when my hands/shoulders aren’t cooperating. One hundred percent recommend."
"We bought a teak shower stool that has been a game changer for bad hip/feet/knee days (also works great for leg shaving!)"
"I recently had a really bad flare. Getting up off the loo was extremely difficult. I had to get a high-rise loo seat."
"I've switched from bath to shower with a shower stool."
Mobility and assistive devices
A few community members shared how helpful their mobility devices are in daily life with RA.
"I am mostly grateful for my mobility scooter! I don’t know what I would do without it. My apartment is too small to use in the house, but without my scooter, I wouldn’t be able to go outside."
"I have one of the tall walkers, but it still puts more pressure on my upper joints than what I like. I'll probably get an electric wheelchair just so I can actually get out of the house."
"A nylon seat helper for the car. It looks like a big sleeve. When you sit on the edge of the seat, you can easily slide onto the seat, and it doesn't bunch up like a plastic bag. It acts like a roller."
Media and entertainment
Some community members mentioned tools that make their favorite media more accessible.
"I have a triangular pillow for my Kindle at night when I can’t sleep (painsomnia) and it holds it up so I don’t put extra pressure on my hands and wrists."
"I love to read, and sometimes my hands don’t handle the books well anymore. I use a BookBone to keep my book in place as I read."
What tools and devices have helped you?
Which of the above tools have you tried? What was your experience? Do you have a favorite device, tool, or gadget that no one else has mentioned? Share with us in the comments below, or join the discussion in our forums!
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