Do you also know the feeling of waking up with sore, swollen and painful joints?
If so, unfortunately, you are one of many Danes. According to facts from the Danish Arthritis Association, approximately 700,000 people are affected, which means that 1 in 8 Danes will be affected by arthritis at some point in their lives.
Many people suffer from stiff, painful joints, and it is often associated with chronic pain and reduced quality of life. Arthritis comes in many different types and with different symptoms, but the common denominator is that it is a chronic condition with no cure, but rather treatment options to alleviate and prevent worsening.
Arthritis covers a total of 200 different diagnoses, but common to all of them are pain in joints, back and muscles. The most common are osteoarthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, spinal disorders and rheumatoid arthritis. Many believe that only older people get arthritis, but younger people and children can also get arthritis.
Arthritis is treated very differently, depending on the type you have. If you are in doubt and possibly have arthritis, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible for an examination, as early initiation of treatment can prevent advanced stiff joints and reduced mobility in your musculoskeletal system. A skilled general practitioner will quickly be able to refer you to a Rheumatologist, who is an expert in all types of arthritis.
As a nurse, I can highly recommend that you read more about arthritis, pain and treatment types at the Danish Arthritis Association if you are in doubt or want specific knowledge within arthritis and the latest research: www.gigtforeningen.dk.
At Seniorpleje, we meet many clients who struggle daily with chronic pain. These pains are often experienced in connection with movement: Pain when we walk, stand and move.
In addition, a large number of people experience significant pain and reduced function when using their hands, arms and fingers in connection with daily chores:
- Personal hygiene
- Sleep
- Cooking
- Dressing
- Sports and hobbies
Below, I will give you some suggestions for relevant aids that may be able to help YOU to a more meaningful everyday life with less pain.
Dressing:
It is important to be able to easily and simply put on our clothes, as well as put on shoes and socks without causing further pain. At Seniorpleje, we have a large selection of ponchos, warm lambskin boots, non-slip socks without seams, sock aids, and the coolest ergonomic zip-up shoes.
- See the entire selection here: Clothing and zip-up shoes
Cooking:
Stiff and gnarled fingers, wrists and hands can be a major challenge. Especially in connection with cooking and eating situations.
At Seniorpleje, we have an exclusive selection of, among other things, ergonomic kitchen knives, cutting gloves, electric tilt kettles, multi-openers and ergonomic cutlery. In addition, we have a special EASY UP that acts as "Your extra hand".
These aids can give you greater safety and prevent accidents in the kitchen. If you are in doubt about which ones are best suited for you, we have two nurses ready to help you.
See our large selection of ergonomic kitchen utensils here: Kitchen and eating situations
Sports, activity and hobbies:
When you are affected by arthritis, it most often affects your mobility, which will also lead to reduced flexibility and movement. Sports and ordinary physical activities can become painful and, in the worst case, impossible.
In these cases, it can be a good idea to think a little alternatively in terms of getting started. Good knee braces, warming bandages, wrist support, support bandages, lumbar warmers and fingerless gloves with copper threads are some of the many options that could help you. Most importantly, however, is that you keep yourself and your joints active! We are happy to provide health professional advice so that you find the right products that uniquely suit YOUR needs.
See our many different support bandages and braces here!
Personal hygiene:
When your fingers are bothering you and you struggle with fine motor skills, small simple aids can often make a big difference. Small things like an angle-adjustable ergonomic nail clipper, a long-handled shoehorn, sock aid, a zipper and button puller, long-handled bath brush, "hair washer" with a long handle, and a good gripping tool.
Explore our large selection here: Personal hygiene and bathroom
Sleep and pain relief during rest:
Sleep and rest are important for all of us, so that our body, mind and brain can recharge and gain new energy. However, this can be a major challenge for many arthritis patients.
When struggling with stiff, sore and swollen joints, it can lead to debilitating chronic pain and a reduced quality of life. When you then cannot find a comfortable sitting position or sleep through the night, it creates a vicious cycle.
To ensure relief and pain reduction when sitting down, we recommend one of our unique seat cushions in either gel (honeycomb cushion), memory foam, or our good swivel cushions.
See all our wonderful seat cushions here: Seat cushions
To ensure you a more consistent and comfortable night's sleep, we can offer you several options.
If you are bothered by pain due to stiff and deformed joints, a wonderful wool mattress topper can be fantastic, as it is both temperature-regulating and pressure-relieving at the same time. If you have stronger pain, our alternating pressure mattress can work wonders. This unique mattress topper ensures that you never experience pressure in the same place throughout the night, even if you lie in the same position. The pressure constantly changes and distributes itself with the help of the small air bubbles in the mattress. It is definitely worth trying!
See all our exciting products for a good night's sleep here: Bedroom
In Denmark, we can offer good medical pain treatments, but in terms of offering the right aids for our arthritis patients, we are still far behind in Denmark.
Many of our clients call because, in addition to traditional medical treatment, they feel very alone and do not know what options they have regarding arthritis-friendly aids.
At Seniorpleje, we can offer personal and health professional advice, and we are experts in pain relief, prevention, and in finding the optimal aids for YOU.
We hope that you have gained some inspiration and that you have become a little wiser about how YOU can furnish your home to create a more meaningful everyday life... and hopefully a better quality of life.
Best wishes from Ditte & the Seniorpleje Team..
