RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: DEVELOP METHODS FOR PROBLEM SOLVING AND NEGOTIATING
Posted on Jan 20, 2011 under Arthritis | No CommentYou have identified a problem and established a reasonable goal. How do you proceed? How can you overcome barriers and reach your goal? You have several choices. You can:
• eliminate the problem
• circumvent it
• work with the obstacle
• modify the goal.
Each of these methods is effective in different situations. This is where imagination and creativity come into play.
Eliminating the Problem
After several weeks of having trouble rising from a chair because of arthritis in your knee, you discover that it is easier for you to get out of seats that are elevated. You then eliminate the problem by placing a firm, three-inch pillow in the seats of the chairs you will use. Your arthritis is still there, but the problem is solved.
A number of similar modifications can be made in your home and workplace environment to eliminate physical obstacles. In many ways, physical obstacles are the easiest to confront. But other kinds of problems can also be solved by eliminating the problem. Let your imagination expand the boundaries of your ideas.
Circumventing the Problem
Problem solving often involves working around a problem by, for example, changing habits and schedules. A common dilemma for people with RA is a workday that begins early, when morning stiffness restricts movement. One way around this problem would be to start the workday later if this can be arranged with your employer. Morning stiffness will not disappear, but no longer will it interfere with your work.
Working with the Obstacle
People often find that working with an obstacle that cannot be modified poses a serious challenge. Imagine, for example, that you are a trained data entry person and you have arthritis in your fingers. You must work at the computer, but prolonged typing causes your fingers to hurt and cramp up. You enjoy your job and don’t want to change it. To solve this problem you must first accept that the obstacle (arthritis in your finger joints) exists and then move on from there.
In this situation numerous options are available to someone who has developed coping strategies. One might be to take frequent breaks at regular intervals, before fatigue and pain develop. During breaks from the computer, you can perform other tasks that you have put aside for such times. You might want to keep a list of these tasks near the computer so you will always have other work to turn to, and you will not feel as if you are wasting time.
You can also call upon two interpersonal skills, communication and negotiation, and discuss with your supervisor your wish to assume other job responsibilities to replace some of the time you formerly spent at the computer. Expanding your job description to include other useful, but less physically demanding, responsibilities will balance your day. While you’re making changes, you may also want to diversify your skills- For example, you might want to enroll in some courses that would prepare you to take on new tasks.
Work toward becoming more organized and imaginative. You may find that your productivity (and value to your employer) actually increases when you stretch yourself and your horizons.
Modifying the Goal
This is frequently a useful avenue for solving problems. Modifying the goal might involve changing your timetable for completion or dividing a task into mini-goals. Once you have established that your goal is realistic, you’ll still need to reassess it and modify it along the way. It’s this fine-tuning that will allow you to succeed in your endeavor. Developing skills such as effective communication, organization, and scheduling is a crucial part of problem solving. Using these skills should not be considered overcompensation. Rather, using them will allow you to make the most of your potential. Armed with these skills, people with arthritis often become more productive in every aspect of their lives.
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