At Work And On The Move With Arthritis

Despite having arthritis, many people still manage to carry on working, or to engage in hobbies. As for the able bodied, there are ways to make life more bearable for the arthritis sufferer, and to enable him or her to have some pain relief at least. Although I can no longer do bricklaying, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I manage to do some writing, usually two hours in the morning, and two in the afternoon. It helps to keep the mind occupied, and focused. Of course, others are different—maybe their fingers or wrists will not allow for writing, but they could be engaged in all sorts of other things, such as teaching, lecturing, working in call centres, even running a company.

A lot of folk will probably have to change jobs once arthritis has set in. If you’ve been employed in a place with a concrete floor, for example, which was very stressful for your feet, you might consider trying to find employment in a place of work with a carpeted floor, which could prove to be very beneficial.

If you have an inside job that requires sitting at a desk for most of the time, then the most essential thing to have right from the outset is a comfortable chair. If the boss can’t, or won’t, stretch to getting you one, then you can always take your own back support cushion or foam seat pad from home. A bit of a nuisance, but well worth it. A footstool is a must for many, as it enables the knees to be higher than the hips, thus helping to avoid excessive back pain. Nowadays, of course, in most offices, chairs are available that can be adjusted to any height or position that you feel comfortable with. You have your recliners and ergonomic ones, but they tend to come at a stiff price.

When sitting at a desk for long periods, bad posture is to be avoided at all costs. If you’re working with a computer, you should easily be able to reach the keyboard and mouse whilst bending your elbows at 90 degrees, with your shoulders relaxed. If you have to stretch, problems can develop. Remember that long periods of time spent at the computer can eventually lead to pain in the lumbar area of the back. Your neck and shoulders can also be affected if you carry on using poor seating, and having to stretch for items on your desk. Try to have things as close as possible. It’s not ideal to sit for long periods of time, either, and you could always take a couple of minutes to stretch the arms and legs, plus flexing the neck and back.

There are countless folk with arthritis, of course, who do not work in an office environment. Maybe you’re one of those who handle materials such as wood, metals, plastics etc. for a living, or just as a pastime. Nowadays, there are power tools available for a wide array of tasks, but to use them properly, make sure that your workbench, table etc. is adjusted to the correct height. You could also try to obtain lightweight tools, as there’s a good selection around.

If you do not work from home, then you obviously need some mode of transport to get you there and back. I had to give up driving some time ago, and use the bus, which fortunately stops a few yards away from my house. The company I use have buses which lower themselves (I haven’t a clue about the technical details) so that the bottom step is level with the station platform, which is a great help for the knees. In fact, they have lately introduced new low level buses with no steps, which is an even greater boon for the arthritis sufferer.

For those who use the car, things have improved over the past few years. The door handles are easier to work—none of that stuff where you just about broke a bone in your thumb, trying to press that button. The windows can be opened or shut with slight pressure on a button, instead of turning a handle clockwise and vice-versa—it invariably got stuck, with the window half open or half shut, I could never be sure which. Ignition is a doddle as well, compared to the starting handle in my father’s day. You have power steering and power brakes, and as most of the gadgets in cars are user friendly in this modern age, the main problem for someone with arthritis would seem to be the seating facilities. Whether you are the driver or a passenger, you might find it helpful to have your own back support or cushion, especially for longer journeys. On a long journey on a motorway or highway, it’s always a good idea to stop every hour or so, in order to go out and have a stretch.

When choosing a car, most people prefer a larger model, as it gives more legroom, and also one with four doors, for ease of getting in and out. Again, cost can be a major fact—something that we cannot change, I’m afraid. Of course, after Mr Darling, our esteemed Chancellor of the Exchequer, has spent more time on the rain and windswept west coast of Lewis, he might start feeling the odd twinge of arthritis himself, and thereby slash the tax on bigger cars, as I certainly don't envisage him hurtling round his ranch in a mini. We can but dream, and at least dreams are free, for now at least.