Easier Living With Arthritis

If your arthritis has become severe to the point of debilitation, you may need some assistive devices to make it throughout the day. While early arthritis does not usually create this sort of limitation, as it progresses, you may not have full mobility without them. Read about some of the options available to you.

Canes are there to help you if you have difficulty in one of your legs. Just because you have to use a cane does not mean you have aged beyond repair; after all, Gregory House (the main character on House, M.D.) rocked a cane when he was dealing with the muscle degeneration in his leg and was able to lead a mostly normal life. A cane is there to help you -- and there are many different style options.

Walkers and rolling walkers are available for those who have limitations in both legs or whose joints are so affected that upright walking is not possible, even with a cane. If you are using one of these, you are not likely to be driving, but if you live in an assisted living facility, you can still lead a normal life as far as shopping for light items -- so there's no reason to hide out on your couch.

If your debilitation has progressed past the full use of your legs, then the next step is going to be a wheelchair. You can still use a wheelchair and get yourself around independently; some wheelchair users drive themselves and then simply unload their wheelchairs and get in, while others require a driver to help them get where they need to go. There are even wheelchairs available that can climb the stairs for you. With devices like these available, there is no reason not to be as self-sufficient as you can.

If you need a wheelchair, then you also need a ramp or two to help you get in and out of your house. You can have these added to a porch or patio, to get you down to your driveway, and there are government programs that will help with the funding of these ramps. Just because your mobility is lessened does not mean that it has to be completely taken away.

If pushing the wheels on your wheelchair is too much for your arthritic condition, then you can also get a mobility scooter. Federal programs are available to help you pay for these in the United States, and they can contribute to your mobility. You can store these in a car, or on a rack on the back, and then drive yourself where you need to go before moving around to the back and getting on the scooter.

This article covers just a handful of the many devices that have been invented to help those who suffer from arthritis to have an easier way of life. There is no reason for you to think that your life is over just because you have arthritis. Take advantage of the opportunities around you to reclaim your life.