i suffer with Osteo arthritis, neck, shoulders, knees, lower spine and left hip. now i am getting really bad pains in my hands. any help

[biffysmum]

[alfiep]

Hi,

I can sympathise with you, I suffer with the same problems as yourself.It sounds like you are having a flare up.I occasionally get 'sausage fingers' and they can get extremely painful , but this usually settles down again.What treatment are you on ? Are you on any anti TNF treatment ? You would be giving yourself an injection once or twice a week if you are.If you are not, it maybe worth asking your rheumatologist if this would be a suitable treatment for you.I would suggest you ask him about treatment with Etanercept injections, these can have a very positive effect on the inflammation which is the cause of most of your pain

[beauty96]

I do have these pains and also RA as well as neuropathic pains. I teach Tai chi and find it the best thing since sliced bread.....if you can keep exercising slowly as Tai chi does then you wil find the body seems to stop the OA etc doing its worst. It has been proven scientifically. I cannot have any painkillers cos of allergies and tai chi plus massages using oils works. If you like this idea then do go to as many calses as you can find and decide who is the best teacher for you. I am in Skegness Lincs

[johnsmith]

I would suggest trying the Alexander Technique with a teacher who has been teaching the technique for at least ten years.

Despite what I have said above to skeggy above T'ai Chi when practiced with Mindfulness is a very good for help with pain. You will have to look for a teacher who understands body movement and can teach T'ai Chi pushing hands, rather than someone who waves their arms about.

[Hidden]

Hello

They are now wanting me on -TNF , although the GP is resisting that and so am I, this medication is good although the carsnegenic changes can be a risk in older patients. One of the main problems with these drugs is that they are sometimes given with injections of methotrexate, and they both have some very nasty contra indications. So you really need to think it out if you are older and if your immune system is bad.

There are two relaxation techniques that you can try the Maxwell and also the Alexander techiques, both are taught by the Pain Clinic.

For hands try and get a hold of commpression gloves, that you wear at night.

Try a Tens you will get lessons at a Pain Control clinic have a chat with the doctor. and get on a course.

Pain control meds can be mixed if you know what you are doing, Opiates can be mixed with paracetamol on a daily dose, that will help a bit if mixed with the TENS and relaxation techniques.

A warm bath or shower is good , use the shower head at full wack on the pained joints , you will need to circulate the head in a circular movement.

If you can get in the bath with a spar all the better you will find that is great.

If you are pushed the public baths are good the water will support the joints and you will be able to carefully exersiize you inflamed joints.

All the very best, you may be able to be able to suggest various things to your GP.

[Hidden]

Hi Biffsmum, I suffer from the exact same conditions and yes believe me I know what it is like and all the differing advice, and I'm sure all have their place , but just recenly I've had to cut down to a minimum the Pregabalin and like r-bell' said , getting under a shower really helps in distraction and running the shower jet onto the top of the spine really helps me ,don't know if you have tried it, but believe me the act in itself focuses the mind away from where the pain does it's worst .

I don't know if you believe in distraction, all that I can say is it helps me to not reflect on the pain if I'm doing something , Oh and don't stay in one position too long, best wishes

[biffysmum]

Thanks all u guys some interesting information that i can take up with my dr. I am still working and although the job is easy i get exhausted easily. My pains are worse first thing in the morning and late in the evening. I havent used a tens machine for years maybe time to try one again and the compress gloves. Thank you all