If you suffer from a condition that affects mobility, just getting around your own home can be incredibly difficult. As getting up and down the stairs becomes harder, some people consider relocating in order to have greater ease in moving around their home. However, home lifts and disabled access lifts can make things easier for people suffering from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which can cause joint pain and swelling due to inflammation around the joints. While genetics can play some role in the number of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, it is not the only factor. The precise cause of this condition is not yet known, but it occurs more frequently in people who smoke, eat a lot of red meat and drink a lot of coffee.
This condition causes inflammation in the joints as well as the breakdown of the cartilage around the joints which can have a huge impact on the mobility of the sufferer.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT MOBILITY?
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can include joint pain and swelling, stiffness, tiredness, anaemia and even flu-like symptoms.
As cartilage is worn down, it can become particularly uncomfortable and painful when moving the joint. As it progresses, walking can become more painful in some sufferers. While many people will only experience a mild form of the condition, some will experience the disease more severely and will have their mobility seriously impaired.
LIVING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Rheumatoid arthritis can be very disruptive to daily life as mobility is affected, however, there are some things that medical professionals advise so sufferers can keep it under control.
A diet low in saturated fats but high in unsaturated fats and vitamin C is often recommended, as well as light exercise.
Many sufferers will eventually need to make adjustments within the home in order to continue to move freely around the house. This is where we, at Axess2, come in. Wheelchair access lifts can make a huge difference to those with mobility issues. Getting up and down the stairs can be particularly problematic for people with rheumatoid arthritis, so a home lift can give back an element of freedom and mobility. It can also be incredibly helpful to have step lifts for free movement between raised levels in the home or even steps into the house or garden.
If you would like to find out more about how a lift can help to give mobility back to you or your loved one, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our expert team. You can call us on 01200 405005 or enter your details into our online contact form and we will be more than happy to help.
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