How to get relax?

[naturelover]

See, I am much worried about the pain being caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am living with people very close related with RA. At times, I cannot bear myself to see the pain they are experiencing. It is very severe and excruciating. For more than half an hour to one hour, they can't do anything. After medication and relaxing in the bed, they start to move again as if nothing is happened. But, you have see them when it is paining. Terrible. So, I would like to know how other people affected with RA are relaxing.

[leighdu]

See, I am much worried about the pain being caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am living with people very close related with RA. At times, I cannot bear myself to see the pain they are experiencing. It is very severe and excruciating. For more than half an hour to one hour, they can't do anything. After medication and relaxing in the bed, they start to move again as if nothing is happened. But, you have see them when it is paining. Terrible. So, I would like to know how other people affected with RA are relaxing.

I know exactly what you mean. I have been that person that couldn't even move and have also been the one that has helped family members in the same situation. Unfortunately not much can be done when your loved ones are in pain except to help them in any way you can with housework, running errands for them , cooking for them etc. And above all is to just let them know that you UNDERSTAND. Nothing is worse than people that get fed up and think there is some magical cure and we will just snap out of it.

[Terrie]

Yes, I also know the experience of the pain that your Relatives are describing. I have had severe RA for many years, so the drugs don't work well for me anymore. You've not mentioned the medications that your Relatives are using.

I experiment often with the drugs for my diseases. For me, I found it Best to use the higher dose pain killers and anti-inflamatories several hours before I go to bed so that the pain is not so Bad when I awaken. Then I take the other scheduled dose(s) after I awaken for the rest of the day.

[Terrie]

When I was on Disability, a Physiotherapist and an Occupationaltherapist came to my home to help/advise me with exercises and to make/purchase instruments that would help me in my daily Life. And of course, we can also call the Arthritis Society for advice.

I use a warm bath with Epson salts sometimes. I also nuke the bean bags and put them on sore joints. My knees are particularly Bad so I bought a high, fluffy and soft pillow to elevate my legs at nights. I find that it helps some.

I used to warm normal wax in a pan and after it cooled somewhat, I would cover my hands as suggested which helped some. It felt Good, until one day I caused a fire due to negligence of the wax, so I quit that. :)

[crimson]

Dealing with that is really very hard but you have to be understanding, What I do with my wife is that whatever she asked I do it at once, I'm just like his errand boy but I do whatever I can just to help ease her pain.

[naturelover]

crimson wrote:

Dealing with that is really very hard but you have to be understanding, What I do with my wife is that whatever she asked I do it at once, I'm just like his errand boy but I do whatever I can just to help ease her pain.

I am a copycat here. I whole heartedly do her everything, while at home. I am asking to do some regular exercise to relax her body and asking to go for yoga and meditation classes. We never thought about just six to months before.

[crimson]

What can I say to my sisters to get them to take on more of support of my mother. I am spending so much time each week helping out with shopping and helping her keep the house going. My sisters keep saying they want to help but never get involved. I am at wits end and dont know how I can balance my family and my mom much longer. How an I get my sisters involved?

Oh that is so sad to hear. Are your sisters working? if so maybe they are busy but that is not an excuse not to help your mother. I guess you and your sisters must really sit down and to talk about it and have schedules to take turn in helping your mother and if this doesn't work, we'll you have to really say something that will strike their conscience.

[leighdu]

What can I say to my sisters to get them to take on more of support of my mother. I am spending so much time each week helping out with shopping and helping her keep the house going. My sisters keep saying they want to help but never get involved. I am at wits end and dont know how I can balance my family and my mom much longer. How an I get my sisters involved?


If having a long talk with your sisters does not help, I would start sending them e-mails or letters with information about RA. Maybe they don't yet fully understand the impact that this disease has on people.

[naturelover]

Assesty09 wrote:


What can I say to my sisters to get them to take on more of support of my mother. I am spending so much time each week helping out with shopping and helping her keep the house going. My sisters keep saying they want to help but never get involved. I am at wits end and dont know how I can balance my family and my mom much longer. How an I get my sisters involved?

If the kind of attitude continues for a while, pl try to take them to a counsellor to make them understand the problem of RA and it's pain. I wish they are not kids playing around not care of their mom. I can say one thing, pity on them.

[kageyd]

I've heard so many stories over the years of one relative taking on almost the whole care of a sick one, while the other relatives just neglect. All the above are excellent ideas, but unfortunately they rarely work -- until the neglecting relatives come down with serious illnesses of their own, and then they understand. (I am blessed with one VERY caring spouse).

[prasanth5]

I remember when my mother suffered from RA, she used to say that the sitting posture was more comfortable to her rather than the standing posture. But then she used to take a small stint at the walking area in the house but did not walk for long durations.