Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Women Only Message Board House cleaning

I was wondering if anyone has trouble with house cleaning? I know vacuuming is extremely difficult but I even find that constantly bending to dust something down low or ex. wiping down outside of cupboards especially the lower cupboards is soooo hard. It seems I can only work for a half hour and then have to rest for another half hour to continue. I am not sure if this is from AS or because I also have scoleosis.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

I also have (mild) scoliosis, but I have zero doubts that my difficulties with cleaning are a direct result of my spondylitis. It's typically my hips, SI joints, and spine that make any task requiring bending over pure torture. Mopping is the absolute worst, since it also puts strain on my hands. If I mop our kitchen, I'm out of commision for the rest of the day. I seriously need to teach my husband how to mop.

I know for a fact my AS has hampered my ability to clean! No way can I vacuum, (right shoulder replaced) but any job requiring bending for as little as a few seconds at a time gets my back to throbbing. I wanted to really clean my bathroom, I mean pulling everything out from behind toilet and under the vanity and mopping etc... It took me 2 freaking days just to get that job done. I was dripping sweat at the effort and was down for the next three with increased pain.

That was the last straw for me!!! My husband does yard work and laundry (laundry because our washer/dryer are located in our basement and I can't do stairs and laundry) that's it around the house. He has been working a lot of overtime so I really can't complain. But he's one that doesn't like someone else in our house to clean. I had a recommendation for someone who does a wonderful job at a very reasonable price and I jumped on it. She's comes one day a week for the last two and is scheduled next week also. Once we've got the house in good order she will come every other week. This lady pulled sofas away from walls and vacuum and dusted even the backs of my furniture. House looks and smells so good! Hubby doesn't like it but I just said its gonna be that way unless he wants to take it all on. Not another word was spoken from him. LOL

Yes, some tasks requiring a stooped posture cause me pain. I have been upfront with my partner and just as him to do things that hurt me. I also ask him if there is anything I can do for him - other chores, prepare a meal on his day, errands, etc.

Don't know if you have kids, but if so, use them to their best advantage!!

Thanks everyone. I was hoping now that I am in Simponi things would change for house cleaning. I did have a cleaner but I have a hard time with having anyone in my home on my bad days and that happened a few times so my husband said he would help and he has helped alot. I find the worst is when I get company for any length of time because things pile up. If I can stay ontop of my housecleaning I am fine but boy do I every get anxiety when my life gets interupted. I know I need to not put soooo much pressure on myself and the things I can't change. I feel like a failure when things get out of my comfort zone.

Giving up control is a very very hard thing but sometimes it is more than half the battle

My kids have chores. They are generally the things I can't do well. My son (9 yrs) vacuums and sweeps. My daughter (6yrs) does the dusting. As time goes by they will be able to help out more. It does them good to learn these things. So many young adults don't know how to do stuff like this when they get out on their own. We plan to make sure the kids know how to cook, clean, take care of finances, etc... It's good for them and good for me.

Blessings,
Nisey

I am blessed with 2 teenagers. I also hurt so much if I have to do anything where I have to bend over. One of my girls, Summer. keeps the kitchen clean, she empties the dishwasher, sweeps and mops the floor, sets and clears the table and helps with meal preparation. I have to nag if I want anything else, like getting down the spider webs or cleaning cabinets or windows. Ashlee does the vacuuming and keep the guest bathroom clean. She also takes care of our 3 cats, feeding them and keeping their litter box clean. I have to nag her about spiderwebs also. The girls seem to treat all spiders at pets.

My husband can cook and do laundry if I am really down, but he does all the outdoor work, he fixes out truck and car and he is always fixing or building something around the house. Since he is 83, I am surprised he can do so much. He still gets up on a 10 foot ladder to paint.

I try to do as much as I can on my good days, but I just can't keep up with it all. My garden is full of weeds and I just pull what I can to get to the tomatoes. My biggest problem is that my husband just doesn't understand why I can't keep up with him. He hurts, but keeps going on anyway.

Yep, I'm in the same boat. Can't clean anywhere near what I used to. There are some things I simply can't do, like vacuuming, mopping, getting on the knees to wipe down baseboards. It's just useless. So, I don't know what the solution is, but I'm lucky to have a 25 year old son who actually cleans for me. If he ever moves away I guess I'll be hiring somebody to do it for me!

I am on the same ship with the rest of you. I do not have kids though. I have had to get creative with some of my cleaning, and with other pieces I have just had to learn to let go. I was raised mopping floor happened on hands and knees, because mops just spread your last round of dirt back onto your floor. I found the reveal mop from rubbermaid, I put my solution into a snap on bottle, put a clean pad on the bottom, and mop. I have hardwood floors, so I have a lightweight dust mop, and I also have a little stick vac to help with stuff the mop misses. I also bought a restaurant dustpan at home depot so I can sweep up my dirt piles with out bending. I have almost no motion at the waist, so if it's on the floor I have to squat or sit. i also picked up a window washers kit that has a light weight pole that extends to 9-12 ft. I can dust my walls and ceilings and I don't have to hold it up, I can upend it, and leave the end on the floorand slide it around on my bad days. The tricky thing for me is changing the sheets on the bed, loading/unloading the dishwasher, and laundry (ours is in the basement, and I have trouble getting stuff in and out of the machine) My husband does that, and typically if I keep on him he will help me knock out the things i need help with.

If I had the money and didn't have the kids and clutter, I would get a roomba and a mint to help keep the floors clean.

I would kill for a roomba.

On my good days, I do the house cleaning. Both my parents work and they work long hours. My mom will help on my bad days. My 24-year old brother works strange hours and sleeps during the day. He thinks that since he works, and I do not, that I should do his laundry and clean after him. No matter what I tell him about ways he can help by taking his dirty laundry down or taking his dirty dishes out of his room, I almost always end up cleaning up after him Uugghhhh! I do most of the laundry, vaccuum, and do some of the cooking.

I have a good strategy of doing the laundry every other day and vaccuuming every two weeks. On the days I vaccuum, I also use a Swiffer to mop the tile floors in the kitchen, entry, and bathrooms. Since I do not have to bend over too much, the Swiffer has been a life saver. On the days I do all of the laundry, Swiffering, and vaccuuming, I usually am very tired after I finish the house cleaning. I either go swimming (if it is not raining outside) or get cleaned up and change into my PJs and watch a DVD or read.


I wonder how this will work out when I get hired for a full time job and I will not be able to do the most of the house cleaning as often. I may have to do the house cleaning over weekends or some evenings instead.

Diagnosed with AS in September 2010
On Remicade once every eight weeks
Methotrexate: 6 pills once a week
Folic acid and B-12 everyday

You are right JenInCincy I need to give up control and accept I have As. Lately I have been dwelling on the negative (everything I can't do and think I need to do) therefore I am soooo unhappy. Any ideas how I can snap out of this?

I find at times I struggle with cleaning....I tend to try and push myself and then regret it later. I own a daycare and well have 3 year old twins so cleaning is a must...I know down the line I will have to hire help...my husband works 6-7 days a week 12 hour days...I already feel bad for leaning on him for extra stuff when he already works so hard...good thing he thinks I am cute

Hi Tammy - There is lots of self-help advice out there - here's one example: http://www.debramoorhead.com/blog/index.php/how-to-conquer-persistent-negative-thoughts/ If her ideas don't solve the problem (which would not shock me!) then probably professional help is needed to get over the hump. Persistent negative thoughts are a problem that can be addressed with counseling and/or medication. My partner takes a drug called risperidone to help manage his persistent negative thoughts which are a product of his bipolar disorder. It has helped him a lot. I'm not saying you have bipolar - just that I have firsthand knowledge of someone with this problem who did well under a psychiatrist's care. I would imagine that some cognitive/behavioral therapy re: accepting the new reality of living with AS would also be a huge benefit, too.

Good luck! Let us know how you are doing!!

I try to do a little each day. I will spend one day on laundry. the next on dusting, the next on the bathrooms, the next on vaccumming and mopping up the spots. One day is devoted to kitchen, refrigerator etc. I can't do it all in one day. The house is never fully clean at one time but it works for me. My dr told me I should get a housekeeper but the one I hired was not quiet up to my standards. I went back over the house after she left and still found dirt and dust. I am not going to pay someone to half clean the house.

I am so glad to find this thread! I am not diagnosed but have been having symptoms for years. This morning I made the bed and washed down the bathroom sinks. It kills me to bend over slightly, so things like sweeping, dishes, making beds, etc can be torture. I also have trouble using my arms, especially in an "up" position like when folding laundry or fixing my hair. Does anyone have trouble like that, too?

It is so nice to not feel alone!

Two years ago, my husband bought me the best little gift. It is a stick vacuum called the Eureka Quickup. My husband does the vacuuming, but in between all those little things on the floor drive me crazy and make me feel helpless when I can't do anything about it. But with the stick vac I can pick them up easily. This one works well on carpeting and floors. I mention the brand because I have had others in the past that didn't work for me at all.

Sunflower, I have what for now they are calling chronic teninitis in my wrists and something wrong at the elbows, too. I have trouble with fixing my hair, too. So you are not alone there, either. Holding the telephone has been a thing of the past for me, too. I use a headset. I have to be really careful with keyboards and pointing devices, too. I use a touchpad instead of a mouse. Holding a book for long is not great, either. I'm sure there are more things, but it is hard for me to remember all of my limitations!

Brenda, I am with you on the stick vac. I have all hardwood floors, and I used to just dust mop. the problem was that I then had this pile of dirt I was unable to sweep up. So I got a stick vac that is convertable. It can be a little stick vac, or a hand vac, and has a crevice tool, all parts are easily interchanged, and it weighs less than 8 pounds. As for holding a book, have you looked at a NOOK or Kindle? These e-readers have covers that can double as a stand, and dont require the hand stregth and such that many books do. As for hair, I went short, with the instruction to my stylist being I need to be able to wash brush and walk away. She provided me with a short doo that works well.

Oooo! Ours converts to a hand vac, but doesn't have a crevice tool. That sounds nice.

I have thought about the Kindle. It is harder for some of us 'older' book lovers. I love the actual books, and much of what I read is non-fiction and I like to hilight. It is not the same when you hilight electronically. I'm getting by right now because I don't have quite as much interest in reading as I used to, but I will eventually convert to the Kindle. It is much easier to hold, and has some other benefits as well.

My hair actually looks better short, but I have really fine hair that just has to be blow-dried or it doesn't look like anything. And it flips up on one side and down on the other. And won't hold a perm. I would like to just shave it off and have a crew cut, but I'm not that brave! I may have to teach my husband how to style my hair. If it would stay clean for a week I could go and have it done once a week, but it often needs washed around day 4 or 5.

Thanks for making me think about the Kindle again and that I could actually teach my husband how to style my hair. I'm sure he would love to do that.

Need a buddy to have a buzz cut together?

My hair is so goshdarn long and it keeps getting in my mouth... Ick! I can't even have a perm either. Too fine.

H.

Brenda, my problem with a Kindle is I worry about breaking it. I have very clumsy fingers and drop things all the time. I would hate to invest in the Kindle and lots of books and lose it all because my fingers are stiff.

I just got a new perm and haircut. My hair resists perms, but I have a super hairdresser. She keeps watch over me the whole time I am processing and puts a plastic bag over my hair to warm it up. Some days, she has even put me under the dryer after putting on the plastic bag. I haven't had a bad perm since I started going to her. I get what is called a "wash & wear" hairdo. After washing my hair, I just pick it out and let it dry. With my hurting shoulders, there is no way that I could ever use a hair dryer or a curling iron.

I also have trouble cleaning. After my second child, I really needed to get someone to help me. I work full-time and then started a part-time job in addition to my full-time one. My cleaning service comes once per month-- I do the upkeep in-between-- but they do the deep cleaning-- the hardwood floors (washing/waxing), the tile scrubbing in the showers, and so on. I still have the upkeep, but it's not too bad for me and my kids are finally old enough to do more and I have had to lower my standards some and be at peace with it. :O)

I constantly tell my husband and son that if something is on the floor, they better pick it up because I'm no longer bending over for anything. I even bought one of those extension poles with a claw mechanism on the end to try to pick up things. It works well, but it would be better if things didn't just get put on the floor all the time, right? Men! So what I often do is say I'm going to vacuum (vacuuming doesn't bother me so much if I don't have to bend) and if there's anything in the vacuum's path, it will never be seen again! My 7 year old all of a sudden becomes really good at quickly cleaning up all his toys!

I am blessed, we have a housecleaner come once a week, and she cleans the floors and vacuums and bathrooms. My son loads and empties the dishwasher. My daughter used to do laundry but she's fired. My hubby does laundry and I fold. The dog goes and gets the paper for me. I cook.

Cathy, thats a wonderful way to split up the chores. I wish I could talk hubby into getting a housekeeper. Sigh...

Donna- actually we both are terribly messy people and hate to clean! We love it when Clara comes. We absolutely worship here. Every week it's an adventure to find things where she has put them. It may not make sense to us, but it makes sense to her. It actually becomes like a game!

Amy: I don't have an extender thingy. Where do you get those? When I walk around barefoot I can pick stuff up with my toes. It actually grosses out the kids.

Kindle: I got the Kindle at Staples. There is a case/holder there I got with it .It's black, maybe leather, and also has a light thingy in it that extends out. It's a case with two sides, and you can flip around to read, and then close it up. It has like a rubber band or hair elastic type thing on it to keep it closed for your purse. I haven't broken it yet. You can also get an extended warranty at Staples that will cover breakage if you're worried about that. It was like $130 for the devie and $49 for the insurance so I didn't get it.

Brenda,
I have very fine hair with very similar quirks. I have learned a quick and easy trick the is very helpful esp. with a short easy cut. I buy those velcro rollers, and get out of the shower take a little volumizing mousse and hit my roots, then roll my hair over (it isn't long enough to wrap around) from there its easy for the hubs to turn the blow dryer on me, or get one of those dryer caps that you don't have to hold up. you can get them at the beauty supply stores fairly cheap. This seems to give me the lift as well as wrangle all of my hair in the same general direction.

I am actually growing my hair out right now, I am going to try to raise some money for cancer by shaving my head for St Baldricks. I am hoping to be able to put donation jars in all of our restaurants and raise around 10k.

Hi everyone, it's been a couple weeks since I have been on the message boards. I see everyone here has very much the same problems with cleaning as I do.

I have been pretty good about not getting down on myself when I can't get the cleaning done. BUT and that is a big BUT today I got a call from my mom and she is coming in from Sunday until Thursday and I am looking forward to her visit but I am panicking about how am I going to get my house clean before she comes because my husband is going to be away for the weekend shutting down our Summer Resort Beach Store, and I won't have help. Also, I should try and finish a baby quilt for my daughter because her due date is October 3rd and I am just putting the three layers together and still have to machine quilt and do the binding. I can only work on the quilt for half hour at a time.
Of course there is still meals, what to make and will I be okay to make half decent ones. I am sooooooo anxious right now I could run away.
Any understanding would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

I have a terrible time cleaning. I have a grabber to help pick up things off the floor. I use a broom & dust pan for a lot of clean-up. My kids don't seem to know where garbage cans are in my house. Grrrrr! My older 3 kids do a lot of cleaning. They're 13, 9, & 8. We've got an almost 4 year old too. We have very strict rules about cleanliness before playtime, tv, video games, etc. My kids' rooms have to be pretty much cleaned up before they're allowed to do fun things. The 2 midde kids alternate emptying the dishwasher & wiping up the bathroom each day. My oldest loads the dishes, cleans the sinks, counters, & table every night. They all help do laundry now. I can't do much. We have 2 hampers in the laundry room; darks & colors, lights & whites. My kids are pretty good about putting clothes in the right hampers. I start loads most of the time, then my hubby or 13 year old switch it to the dryer. Any of the 3 older kids or my hubby sort the dry clothes. We gotva 4 section laundry sorter that we keep in the hallway next to the laundry room. 1 section for each kid. The kids or hubby sort the clothes into the 4 hanging canvas hampers, then I fold hubby & my clothes, towels, sheets, etc. My kids are responsible for putting all their own clothes away now. I got sick & tired of folding all their clothes, then finding a mess of un-folded mess in their drawers. I still fold my youngest's clothes & he helps me put them away in his drawers. We also have a sock bin on the dryer. We just throw all the clean socks into it. The kids never match their socks & put them in their drawers, they just find a pair in thesock bin each day. Lol. I match mine, hubby's, & youngest's socks though.

I have to admit that the hard stuff like vacuuming, mopping, dusting, cleaning out cabinets, etc doesn't get done nearly as often as I'd like. I try to vacuum or have someone else do it twice a week in the shared areas of the house. My girls vacuum their room, hubby vacuums the boy's room & mine usually. My 13 year old cleans the kids' bathroom each weekend & I clean my sinks, counters, sweep, mop, my bathroom, & hubby cleans the toilet. I don't do my bathroom jobs every week, I do it when it needs it, or sometimes when I just can't stand the dirty sink & counters any more.

We don't like the idea of a a housekeeper. It feels too invasive. We had a teenage girl coming in 2 days/week for 2-3 hours in the afternoon to clean, help with kids, etc, but it didn't last long. It felt too weird. I'm just really glad that my kids are great helpers & pitch in to do their share.

Tammy, I wouldn't worry about cleaning up a lot if your mom is coming. She knows you have health problems and she shouldn't expect you to keep everything perfect. If you feel self conscious, just pick up the clutter on the tables and counter and dust quickly with a duster, or feather duster. Vacuum the traffic areas and do not bother doing a deep clean where you have to move furniture. Spray some cleaner into the shower/tub, and while it's working, clean the toilet and wiped down the sink and counter. Wipe down the shower, flush the toilet and sweep the floor. Do similar type of cleaning in the kitchen. It shouldn't take more then 1/2 hr in each room. If you get tired or start hurting, stop and rest. Who cares how it looks? She is coming to see you, not your house.

Thanks Donna:

I definately did what you said and all was good.
Mom left this morning and now I am totally exhausted and my house is a mess. She was here for 5 days and it looks like I haven't dusted or washed my floors for a month.
I just want to cry because first of all I am slow,and exhausted and then the pain sets in as soon as I do any kind of bending. That's hard not to do when cleaning.
I will figure it out, I just get sad and frustrated because I just want to be the way I was 30 years ago.
Thanks to all of you.

Just take you time putting things back together. Use long handled tools that will save your back. And like I said before, only work for a short period of time. Sin down and ice your back in between. Thats what I do.

Donna, I do all those things you suggest,I just get so overwhelmed and down about it. I know I am too take things in stride and be patient with myself,I just don't want to accept that this is the way life is. Everywhere I look there are normal people doing what they want and when they want. I also know I need to quit feeling sorry for myself because I am not happy and I want sooooo much to be happy. I just don't know how to get out of this mode. How did you come to terms with disease?

I didn't think I had any choice. At my age, I just try living one day at a time. When I am having a good day, I try to get as much done as I can because I know that when those not so good days come around, I won't get much done.

Hi everyone,
I seem to be in the same boat as everyone else.Bending down is almost immpossible these days.I've gotten used to using the vacuum extension to do the baseboards,cobwebs etc...Washing the floors is a daily battle as I watch my grandchildren and they are mess.I'm looking to find a mop that is lightweight that can be used daily.No swiffer,too expensive to use all the time.
the old mop and bucket has to go!!
My husband has been tapped to do the heavy cleaning,things that have any extensive bending or lifting.
My biggest complaint is our washing machine.I'm 5ft(actually 4 11 1/2)and reaching into the drum to lift out the clothes is
very painful and almost impossible.Before AS I had to stand on my tippy toes to reach to the bottom,now I can't do that.
The solution I suppose is a front loader,but money prohibits that.So I hope my hubby can get used to doing the wash,I'll handle the drying;)

GTHINAHB, my husband has taken over all laundry duties! It started with me being unable to carry laundry up and down stairs after knee surgery and has continued because I can't do the constant up and down to load and unload washer and also the dryer. The dryer is almost harder on me than the washer.

I sure hope your husband is open to doing this for you. It has been a huge help for me.

My husband and I each do our own laundry, though I inevitably end up folding it. I'm glad we have a single level house so there are no stairs involved in the task. Also, I'm not as bad off yet (or hopefully ever) as some of you ladies so it's still a feasible task. There have definitely been times in the worst flares where it's been a real challenge though. I really empathize with those of you whose damage has made that kind of challenge permanent.

OK I'm going to make everyone here really mad at me... but he needs the credit.

My husband does about 80% of the house work. He does the laundry (like others it's in the basement and I can't do the stairs and carry laundry) he does the cooking, the dishes, the kitchen, the vacuuming. I do help out when I can. As long as I only vacuum for about 10 minutes I'm ok, any longer and I'm in bad shape. We have a swiffer which works great and is very light. I do wish it was a bit taller though as I feel like I have to bend to use it. I do dishes when I'm feeling ok. Cook when I feel ok. But it's not often.

I do some gardening. Like the other day I planted the garlic and when i tried to stand up, well let's just say it's a good thing my husband wasn't home because he gets freaked out when things like that happen. I couldn't stand up straight. I was totally bent at the waist and it took about 2 minutes to stand straight enough to walk. It happens when I bend over to do any kind of work. I try not to let him see it much since he worries.

I do the bathroom though. It'll take me a day or two to do the sink and tub and toilet. But I make myself do it.




What's just as bad for me? Shopping! I can't stand to do it. I do have a handicap hang tag, but man it hurts to do that! The bending to low shelves, stretching to high ones, standing in line, walking around. Dodging the rude people who think you're too slow. It's exhausting!

GTHINAHB: I can sympathize with you and the grandchildren.
I would love to have mine over more but it is so exhausting after they leave that it takes me a couple days to recoupe.
We had our Canadian Thanksgiving and of course we hosted it because my oldest daughter with the four kids won't take the initiative and my other daughter was 1 week over due with her first. Which we were Blessed to have a new baby boy in our family the day before Thanks giving.
My two sons and my husband do the dishes after the big meal which is so nice. But once everyone goes there is vacuuming,washing floors cleaning bathrooms etc which is so exhausting after a big meal prep. I think if I have to do Christmas I might have to cook the Turkey the day before.
Has anyone done that before?

I have. Also when I've been in a pretty bad flare and know that I just can't do it, I've bought the whole meal from HoneyBaked Ham or another restaurant that sells meals like that. I do make my own dressing because my daughter would totally miss that. She wants no one elses.

Do whatever makes life a bit easier. As much as I love family gatherings, its not enjoyable if you're totally in pain.

I always try to do as much in advance as possible. We usually cook a ham for Christmas. I cook it a few days ahead of time slice it up and freeze. I make pies the day before, and try to have all the yams, vegies and everything else ready so that on Christmas day all I have to do is heat everything up. The nice this is that I have time to visit with our family and enjoy the day. It's so much nicer that way.

Well, I am definately making my meal ahead next time.
I was feeling guilty that it wouldn't be fresh but the way I see it, at least it is a great meal.

Serola belts are wonderful to use to lessen sacroilitis pain. I use one whenever I do house work and do light gardening. I have also been known to sleep with it on! You can purchase them through any physiotherapists or chiropractors or even order one online. If you like wearing longer tops then the belt can fit underneath them over your trousers so no one notices.

Still with the belt it's best to pace yourself and sets realistic goals for the cleaning.