365 tips for living with rheumatoid arthritis
On Gas and Ulnar Drift, Christine asked me whether I had a trick to remove the gas cap.
I do.
I keep a wrench in the car, which allows me to have a tool-assisted grip.
It’s not perfect; you still have to torque your wrist, but at least it gives your fingers a break. That’s an improvement over feeling like it’s breaking your fingers!
Since I’m not always able to drive to Richmond to fill up at their wonderful full-serve gas stations, and I’m not willing to be extorted at the full service bay, I usually fill up my gas tank myself.
In Canada, unlike in the United States, we need to apply continuous pressure on the trigger of the gas nozzle to maintain the flow of gas. The amount of pressure required to squeeze the trigger is not only hard to do, but tends to accentuate ulnar drift—the swelling in the MCP joints (big knuckles of the hand) causes the fingers to drift towards the baby finger.
I’ve found that when I turn my back to the car, and face the pump, it is easier on my hand. Then when I squeeze the lever, it appears to counter-act the tendency to push my fingers into an ulnar drift.
If you do try this, please let me know if it makes fueling up a little easier for you.
I’ve worn glasses for the last fifteen years, and I have to laugh, because each time I renew my prescription, I’m told about how much more dirt-and dust-resistant the latest lens protection offers. I honestly have not noticed an improvement. Dirty glasses are dirty glasses.
Maybe because I can’t apply the right amount of pressure, or maybe it’s the material, but I find that I don’t have much success cleaning my glasses with that little rectangle of fabric you’re provided with whenever you get a new pair of glasses.
I’ve recently switched to these alcohol wipes (pictured). I have them tucked into my purse, the pockets of my jacket, and the glove box of my car. I dislike the extra waste that they incur, but I’ve found a way to come to terms with that.
Those alcohol-soaked squares end up doing double-duty. Whenever I use one to clean my glasses, I then, clean a mirror, a piece of electronic equipment, or if I’m in the car, the dashboard.
This is a particularly useful way to get some touch-up cleaning done. Marathon cleaning sessions can set you back. Breaking up bigger jobs into smaller ones is a great way to conserve your energy.
Additionally, you’ll feel better about crossing some of those small jobs of your list. And when you feel better, you change the biochemical cascade that occurs when you’re soaking in negative thoughts and emotions. Small things do amount to big thin
Your votes are making a difference! Like a tortoise with rheumatoid arthritis, I am making my way to Page 1. Thank you for moving A Rheumful of Tips into the 11th position of Healthline.com’s Best Health Blog of 2012 contest. It’s a lot to ask, so I appreciate your voting as frequently as you do. The contest ends on Feb. 15th.
Image courtesy of William Byrd.
It’s time. Your vehicle is sp-sp-sputtering along, or you would simply like a newer model, or one that is better-suited to your level of mobility.
Consider creating a Wish List for all the features that you would like in your new or newish vehicle.
When it was time to make that big purchase, my New Vehicle Checklist was with me as I made the rounds of the dealerships.
It served two purposes:
I do suggest that you do your homework. Whenever I saw a vehicle that I liked, I would ask the driver some specific questions about how they liked it. Most people were more than happy to answer my questions.
As a result, the vehicle I purchased, which is not a Porsche, but which I euphemistically call my Porsche, pretty much exceeds all my expectations. 
That’s a deal that you can drive home, shopping, to the park, or wherever you wish to go.
I have discussed many of the features in my New Vehicle Checklist in separate blog posts. You’ll find them under the category of “In the Car”.
