THRIVING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

A manual offers heaps of hints for managing rheumatoid arthritis at work, home, and on the road.

At the age of 40, Ward Day was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that afflicts the joints and causes pain, swelling, fever, fatigue, and immobility while also exacerbating other chronic health conditions and even affecting memory. Such a diagnosis meant radical alterations to her everyday life, but at the urging of her doctor, she chose to embrace this new future with a “glass half-full” outlook. This guide relates the myriad tools, techniques, and brands the author discovered while living with the functional limitations of RA—from little things like OXO Good Grips handles and compression socks to big things like understanding hindrances and avoiding the pitfalls of trying to multitask. Many of these suggestions are for the home, ranging from kitchen tools and room redesigns to tips both big and small for managing meals, doing the laundry, and even opening those pesky pickle jars. A diagnosis also doesn’t mean an end to leisure, be that travel or an active sex life, with recommendations for both hingeing on scheduling, communicating, and timing. The importance of a support system is stressed, from family and friends to individuals with the disease, as is the necessity of keeping a positive attitude and always making time to rest. The most pervasive tool for dealing with RA is proper planning and preparation, and Ward Day’s personal experiences and discoveries supply the newly diagnosed with precious information that can help them get ahead of many of the challenges they will face. Caregivers, family members, and people with RA may find new perspectives or overlooked solutions in this upbeat text. RA is a volatile disease that respects no economic boundaries, so certain recommendations, such as remodeling a kitchen or buying new cookware, will be outside of some sufferers’ means. But effective energy management techniques, useful garments, or just the suggestion of eating a few meals on paper plates can still deliver relief. The manual includes an extensive collection of links to both online resources and where to find many of the devices and tools it recommends.

A cheerful, helpful, and informative guide to living a full life with rheumatoid arthritis.