Your fashion tips

'Consider taking the buttons off jackets and coats. Sew them on the front for show but replace them with poppers or Velcro underneath. If you can't sew, dry cleaners who offer an alteration and repair service should be able to do this for you.'

Mary's tip

'I have a bat-winged top which I save for when my hands are painful and I don't want to slip anything tight over them. It's super trendy and no one needs to know that it's my 'joint-friendly' top'

Helen's tip

'I found a product called a 'stylee' through the internet. I also saw a demonstration on a tv shopping channel.

Basically it is two combs connected by strips of elasticated fabric, and it is really quick, easy and very effective at tying back long hair. I usually find that combs and things fall out, but this does not slip out at all and can be worn all day. There are lots of colours and styles to choose from, to coordinate with uniforms for work, school etc. They are a bit pricey, but I personally think they are worth it.'

Alison's tip

'A great website is www.simplybe.co.uk which has shoes in really wide fittings. I think they may do mens shoes also. www.naturallyclose.co.uk do front fastening bras which look really good.'

Janis' tip

I found ordinary trousers ripplingly painful for my osteoarthritis because of the waistbands. I was forced to wear trousers with drawstrings (a bit like pyjama bottoms, without the gaping hole) which were too casual for formal work wear and made me look rather scruffy at work

I have discovered trousers with elasticated waistbands which look traditional, but stretch somewhat (to aid those who are somewhat careless with their calorific intake). There is enough "give" to relieve pressure on the spine and allows me to look less scruffy and incur far less pain.

Martin's tip

I could never put foundation on as I couldn't reach, I cant touch my face. So I bought a long handled blusher brush and a pot of foundation powder from Avon for a fiver. It works a treat.

I always look for long brushes for lipstick and eyeshadows. I like the Avon bendy mascara as well - they look lovely when I put it all on. I always have some wet wipes nearby though as I do miss or drop the mascara, and don't want to end up looking like Alice Cooper! I use a wooden spoon or spatula to wrap the wet one round. It's easier to just get it to wipe where you want.

Beverley's tip

Shoes! Going from someone who lived in heels, my RA has meant my feet are now very wide and the balls of my feet very painful to walk on. Flat trainer style shoes just don't make you feel the same way and I don't want to wear sensible shoes all the time.
I have discovered an excellent range in Evans which specialise in wider fitting shoes at resonable prices AND the heeled shoes have padded insoles!!! Hurrah!

Liz's tip

I find it difficult to fasten jeans, even with adaptions and buttons and zips are awkward. Straightening hair hurts my hands too.
Aids seem to be just for people who have bending problems not problems with fingers.
I use ring adjusters to help when my fingers aren't swollen. I go for big buttons or none at all.
I cover make up brushs with thicker tubes from DIY shops to make them easier to hold. Gloves that are arm warmers are good as i can't get my hands in to normals gloves. They still keep my hands and arms warm but my fingers are not in the glove.
I use button hooks and ribbons on zips. Concealer helps when I'm looking very tired.

Gemma's tip

Long-handled hairbrushes and combs help me greatly as my rheumatoid arthritis means I have difficulties managing the back of my hair. I can only raise my arms to a certain height and have had to adapt my hairstyle to allow for this. Do shop around as prices vary.

Beth Smith 

My shape of my fingers changes, so I generally avoid rings on my fingers. Then I decided to get married. 

My wedding ring is slightly larger than it needs to be for my when I am having a very good days. My eternity ring and engagement rings are perfectly sized and on a good day these keep my wedding ring in place. I only where the wedding ring when my fingers are swollen.

On really bad days, I do not wear the wedding band and I wear a cheap white gold band which is two sizes larger but otherwise matches.