Bathing, dressing and cooking can be a challenge when you have ankylosing spondylitis. The good news is that there are many different tools you can use to make life easier. Here, four ankylosing spondylitis advocates share their favorite tools and tricks.
for everyday life
cane. “It’s a simple three-foot stick at the bottom. I’ve found that when I get up to a table to get something off the shelf, it’s painful to look for somewhere to lean on my crutch. I just leave it on and it stands on its own. I also use it to walk outside when it’s weather icy. It’s much easier to step off slippery pavement with this stick than it is to step off a regular cane.”
– Jason Sacco, podcast host, Port Huron, Michigan
wrist bracelet. “I have bouts of severe pain in my wrist which makes it difficult to do activities like work. I use wrist braces to relieve joint pain. It allows me to do things I’ve been having trouble with, like writing.”
– Steve DiPardo, writer, Toronto, Ontario
Dedicated leg brace. “I need a brace for my left leg. For years, I’ve been using an over-the-counter brace, but about two years ago, I decided to get a brace made specifically for my leg. It was like trading a Chevette for a Corvette. The quality was so much better. And the better All, that most of the $1,200 cost was covered by insurance.”
– Jason Sacco
Heated car seats. “After a hard day when I had pain in my hip and back, I really appreciate the warm driver’s seat. It helps relieve joint pain and keeps my joints flexible. You also don’t have to buy a car with heated seats. You can install heated seat covers.”
– Jason Sacco
In the bedroom
Cushion with armrests. “My bed is mainly my desk. Since I am always tired, I use my laptop there. I use a backrest pillow with the arms. It also helps prevent back pain from unsupported sitting.”
– Steve de Bardot
Sock slider. “I have a foot drop on my left side, which means I can’t lift it up to put my socks on. I use a sock slider every morning. Basically, you put the sock on the slider kit, and stick your foot in. It works with most types of socks too. I live alone. If I didn’t have the slider, I just walked around without socks. I also use elastic shoelaces, which turn any pair of tennis shoes into slip-on sneakers. They have dress shoes too.”
– Jason Sacco
Home heating pads. “I have a homemade bag of millet that can be microwaved the length of my spine. I use it to lie down or wrap around my shoulder and reduce pain and tension. It’s bigger than most heating pads in stores, and I don’t have to worry about sleeping in it and it will burn me.”
– Marhia Keelsch, a psychologist in Hayward, California
In the kitchen
grip aids. “I use the clutch lever with a 3 foot extension. That way, if I drop anything, even if it’s as small as a pill, I can use it to pick it up.”
– Jason Sacco
Quilted non-slip mat. “Fortunately, I still have good movement in my wrists and hands, so I can still cook in the kitchen. However, I am less stable on my feet, which is why the non-slip quilted rug is so great. It helps me stay stable while I walk around” .
— David Hlavak, copywriter, Minneapolis, Minnesota
in the bathroom
loofah stick “I use it to rub my back, feet, and legs. All the areas I can’t bend over to reach.”
– Jason Sacco
shower chair. “If I stand for a while, I am exhausted. That way, I can sit up and wash my body and shampoo my hair without too much pressure on my legs.”
– Steve de Bardot
Hand held shower head. “It’s a simple hack, but totally worth it. I use it when I shower and put water on sore areas like my hip joints. I follow it up as soon as I get out of the shower with some gentle stretching.”
– David Hlavak
For exercise and self-care
Hot tub/pool. “Earlier this year, I bought a swimming spa so I could do hydrotherapy at home. I got a breathing tube to reduce neck and shoulder strain that made it difficult to do aquatic exercises.”
– Marhia Kelsh
Ordinary old chair. “I love yoga, but since I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, I’ve found that fatigue gets in the way. Then I discovered a yoga chair. I can do poses like the cat-cow lengthening with a few modifications.”
– Steve de Bardot
Pressure point massager. “These devices, which are about half the size of a walking stick, are about $30 and allow you to apply pressure on pressure points in the spine, shoulders and back. I use it on my shoulder and rib cage near my back, where I have the worst pain and inflammation. It helps tremendously, Especially when I combine it with an over-the-counter topical thermal scrub.”
– David Hlavak
Back stretcher. “My 18-year-old daughter, who was recently diagnosed with AS, discovered this tool on TikTok. It provides a flexible, convex surface to tighten the back muscles. I use it as soon as I get out of the shower each morning.”
– David Hlavak
Discussion about this post