I would just like to ask other cuties how they manage all the delicate tasks when sewing with arthritic hands. Do you have any tips. Thanks gayle

Most of the time it's just a case of grin and bear it.

1 comment

by gayle950 27 Apr 2010

I agree with you

I started falling apart at somewhat of a young age (39) and over the years learned a lot. What I use for my hands and a wrist that was broken and healed wrong is heated wax. It was what was used when I was in therapy for my wrist to loosen the muscles and make it movable and now with the spa paraffin wax heaters it makes it so easy and it helps with dry skin as well.I have been diagnose with something called 'trigger finger' where the muscles of finger will eventually pull the finger inward and the heat from the wax and forcing the finger outward helps more then you might think (doesn't hurt). For the arthritis in the hands, you make the wax about low to medium heat and dip your hands about 5-8 times. Wait for the wax to harden and peel off and put wax back to re-use. The heat is retained for quite some time.If you don't want to change the paraffin every so often they have plastic gloves you can use.But the oils in the paraffin soften the skin better then anything else I know of. Don't know if this will help anyone but thought I would share it.

1 comment

by gayle950 20 Apr 2010

thank you for the tips. I am sure they will be a great help, I am sure that this will help a lot of cuties with arthritis.

Grab the magnet off the fridge and rub the wrists with some kind of heat rub place the magnetic side of the rubbery magnet to the heat rubed area and wrap with a light bandage to hold in place or through the night rub hands with heat rub place magnet in palm or on back of hand and put on a glove relief will be felt within 15 min's.

1 comment

by gayle950 20 Apr 2010

I will try this. Sounds great.

I agree with the exercise. To stay still means stiffening up and having nothing to distract me from my pain (spine). If you crochet there are crochet hooks with thick shafts that easier to handle. I can crochet for much longer with the thicker shaft. I can only crochet for a few minutes with the normal hook. Don't give up what you love to do. Check with occupational therapists to see if they can come up with ideas to help. Good luck

1 comment

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

more great ideas , thanks

Many years ago, I had a bad car accident, my car was hit in the middle, spun around one and a half times, ended up the other side of the road and split in half behind the front seat.
Only injury I suffered was whiplash and severe spraining to both my hands, from hanging onto the steering wheel so tightly. (yes I was not meant to go then either.)

Anyway, my hands have ached ever since and are riddled with Arthritis, but I have always done the following, as preventative measures because I don't want to have to give up doing the things I love most.

I use my hands as much as I can, imaginary piano key exercises, squeezing soft rubber balls using individual fingers to press into the ball as well as the whole hand. I also use one of those spring loaded special hand exercisers.

These things have helped me tremendously, especially when I broke my right hand in three places, including the Scaphoid bone (leads to the thumb). I do suffer bad pain frequently, especially my thumb joints, but I swear that doing these exercises has helped tremendously and will prolong the length of time I will be able to still knit and crochet and do all those things I love to do. I think it would already be much worse if I didn't do them.

I also take 1 x 1500 mg Glucosamine tablet every day and if the pain gets really bad I will take a prescribed anti-inflammatory and 3 Panadol, but I don't like taking medication unless it is absolutely the last resort.

Sorry I can't offer you a miracle cure, but exercise IS the key to giving you a better quality of life as it can slow down the progression and better muscles help support the skeletal structure so there is less strain and less pain.

Hugs an roses, Meganne

3 comments

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

Sorry to hear about your accident. Exercise seems to be the key. As I cannot sit and do nothing the soft rubber ball seems like a great idea as well as the piano exercises. These will be great to do while watching TV. I am always doing something with my hands. I can't sit still. Thanks

by meganne 17 Apr 2010

Oh Gayle, I had many accidents when I was young and stupid, I was a bit of a rev-head and loved speed and anything that got the adrenalin pumping.

To say my poor body has suffered from the abuse I did to it would be the greatest understatement!!!

But I have truly lived and have a lot of wonderful memories to keep me going while I now age gracefully and quietly. NOT! hahahahaha!!!

Hugs and blessings, Meg

PS, remember writing on a keyboard if you use all your fingers and sort of make it a musical, relaxed, bouncing, fun thing, can also be a good exercise.

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

thanks

gayle, I hear your pain - I just found out that I have carpal tunnel in both my hands - they don't hurt much - right now - but I fear they will - I use the hot/cold treatment from time to time - when my hands do hurt me - I also have a long needle tweezer that I like to pull the thread with - instead of trying to hold on to it with my fingers - that seems to help some and I also have a very small screwdriver - that helps when I need to twist things or remove a screw on my machine or replace a needle. I also have a large magnifying glass that comes in very handy, too. I like to place my hoops/frames on a non-skid surface - to help when I am trying to put fabric or WSS in the hoops/frames. I will be praying for you and happy stitching!

1 comment

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

Sorry to hear about your carpal tunnel. I hope you don't suffer too much with it. The tweezer sounds like a good idea. It is so annoying not to be able to pick up a thread and pull it through the eye of the needle.

It is harder in winter, I sleep whith silk gloves (undergloves for skiing) and so, it is better in the morning, and I use paracetamol too, somtimes I wait with unfinish work and do somthing else as writing to you and hope geting better in a few. And never stop doiing things or it is worse. Excuse my english. Alice from France

1 comment

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

The winter sure brings out all the aches and pains. We only have a couple of months of really cold weather.

I have arthritic hands and have had joint replacement in one thumb (my left, and I am right handed) When I am doing embroidery sometimes my hands hurt alot when I am pulling the fabric tight in the hoop. Doing hand sewing with the needle is also painful. 2 ibroprofin is helpful, and other than that I just keep moving and doing the best I can. I have good days and bad days. I'll pray you have mostly good days!

2 comments

by nhsmith55 16 Apr 2010

OH... and I have a small pair of pliers nearby for turning those tiny screws and getting a hold of hand sewing needles.

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

a pair of pliers is a good idea. I will get one.

I really don't have any good ans. but I am a nurse
and have arthritis and the only thing I can tell you is keep using them as much as you can, so you canuse them. Heat sometimes helps,either soaking them or a heating pad. I hope this helps. Arlene

1 comment

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

I am always doing things with my hands. I also love to garden. I can't sit and do nothing.

I am always at my best first thing in the morning. Find the time of day that you feel at your best and make the most of it.

1 comment

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

Yes, the mornings are the best for me too.

Gayle I have a lot of problems with arthritic hands. I often soak mine in water as hot as I can stand if I am going to do any hand sewing, lots of times they start hurting in the middle of a project & I'll have to soak again. I use them as much as I can . They say to keep on using because if I don't they'll get where I cannot. There are some creams they SAY THAT HELP but I do not want to soil the fabric.For me heat & exercise helps the most. I also use an aspirin or 2 from time to time but not real often. *

1 comment

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

Exercise seems to be the answer. Thanks for the information

I'm lucky that I don't have that problem much yet. I only have one finger that bothers me just a little. My problem is eye sight, I have trifocals and sometimes I use a large lighted magnifying glass.
I hope someone else has some ideas for you.

1 comment

by gayle950 17 Apr 2010

my eyes are starting to be a problem too.