FM Occupational Therapy Ideas

FM Occupational Therapy is basically finding ways to 'work around' your
illness or incapacity, so you have more independence and can feel less
crippled. So I rhought I'd try to list a few I do on a regular basis,
and then maybe some other people can come up with ideas of their own or
suggest ways to make mine better.

1. - Reaching things on high cupboards or in high places is BAD, cuz
you can put too much strain on your Trapezius muscles. The first thing
I'd recommend is a lightweight footstool you can stand on to get things
that are too high to reach comfortably.

2. - It's sometimes very helpful to sleep with a pillow between your
knees, cuz it evens out your hips more. If you think of it, your hips
are forced to kinda curl together if you sleep on your side. People
have even recommended building a block to put between your legs (wrap
it with foam and material, so it's comfortable).

3. - Opening jars - get a jar opener!! Or whack the jar lid on the
counter a few times, then hold the lid with a teatowel and try opening
it. Often the whacking loosens the seal.

4. - Washing the tub. I used to sit in the bathtub and wash around me,
then get out and rinse, then get back in and rinse myself in the
shower. LOL But the washing chemicals irritated my skin, so I had to
come up with a new idea. DARN!! That worked really well. LOL Now I
have a squeegee on a paint pole that can be extended. I can use it
short to wash the tub (it has a scrubber on one side and sponge on the
other) and lengthen it to wash the tub surround.

5. - Weeding the garden. This one came about accidentally, sorta, cuz
the rows were too damp for me to sit down on. I cut a piece of
cardboard to fit between the rows, long enough so I could stretch my
legs out. Then I brought a cushion out with me, to sit or kneel on.
Works GREAT!! I'd also recommend a long hoe, so you don't have to get
down at all for the most part, except to thin rows or get weeds that
are growing very close to plants.

And don't be afraid to get your *** dirty. LOL (I mean the *** of
your pants, y'know. ;o) I've picked a pair of sweats and designated
them my gardening pants and I change into them if I'm going out there.
I used to be able to just bend over and do all the work, but now I have
to get 'down and dirty' - bending over makes me dizzy. So now I just
plop myself down in the most comfortable position I can find, without
worrying if I might get dirty. ;o)

Thass all from me for now. I'll probably think of others. Anyone else
have any ideas to share?

Thanks in Advance and TGC,

Jane

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