Arthritic hand pain

[Mazza4]

I’m new here need advice on managing pain in both thumbs from tips right through to base at wrist; have previously had injections ; have tried anti inflam tablets which caused stomach upset , pain is there day and night am struggling with day to day basics : thanks

[katieoxo60]

Hello, now I can tell you some options but there is no cure as you know. Capsicum cream is a number one , pain killers take the edge off, I've just been given Voltarol helps but mighty expensive to buy yourself. Heat pads for hands, wax dips, warm salt water thermal gloves, cold compress, injections which you luckily have had, support splints which are quite inexpensive. Gadgets help to take the strain off the hands a few examples,I have a water heater rather than a kettle, but you can get kettle pourers , Key turners, put foam pipe cladding on handles so you don't have to grip so tight, Flip basin and bath taps, china cups are lighter, I have a knife that works like a saw action for cutting, potatoe peeler or buy ready prepared veg, try to buy the lightest weights in things. Exercises of the hand joints helps too. Large number digital phones are better for using with arthritic hands. You may have done some of these things already. I have multi joint osteo plus gout and cannot take antiinflammatories due to asthma and stomach risk, so appreciate what you are saying. A neighbour near by uses pain patches from the GP but the ones from the chemist work quite well too. Someone I know is trying one of the newer injections, but all these are dependent on doctor referal to hospital consultants, other things I have suggested you can try yourself.Even diet changes for some can help as some things can irritate the arthritis even osteo. Some diet supplements like Glucosamnine, cod liver oil and Tumeric I think. The list is massive, oh and low dose antidepressentscan reduce pain too.

Day to day basics do become difficult thats the reality of the disease, look on a disabled aids site on line and there are many gadgets to help. I don't peg clothes out only rarely. Have two vaccums one up one down both light weight. I avoid clothes with buttons, and most shoes are slip on or velcro fasten. Walk in shower ect ect. Hope this long post is of some help to you, get back to me if you have other questions I may be able to help, as I have had arthritis for arounds thirty years.

[Mazza4 in reply to katieoxo60]

Many thanks Katie; will definitely be trying out some of the things you suggested; it’s frustrating trying to get certain things done ; have dispensed shower gels and shampoos into pump top dispensers

[katieoxo60 in reply to Mazza4]

That's the idea, we could do with them like they have in public toilets for soap. Social services have taps that are push type and switch them selves off my mum had them to stop her flooding the kitchen.Have a seat in the shower, push button microwave, touch lamp in bedroom, telephone up and down. LED RAC car repair lantern much brighter in dark corners easy to carry and easy to change batteries, electric can opener,buy as many clothes as you can that don't need ironing. Try to avoid accidents that cause broken bones as that adds to the problem. You can even get a software program for the computer so you don't need to use a keyboard similar to SIRI on ipads. Less stress on the joints means less pain. I use scratch polish so I don't have to buff the furniture too. This is a very old fashioned remedy for night pain, a whiskey toddy before bed.

[Weeannie]

I have exactly the same thing. My GP gave me splints and they helped I also bought arthritis gloves on Amazon and they're great. I use voltarol gel on mine as the pills really upset my gut too xx

[Mazza4 in reply to Weeannie]

Have bought the Voltarol gel today ; will look online for arthritis gloves ; thanks xx

[popsmith1874]

Hi Mazza I echo everything that's been said by the other posters and find that the compression gloves are 1 of the best things I've bought and the electric tin opener, I get terrible trouble with my hands too and am forever dropping things, simple aids make a bid difference to us xxx

[Mazza4 in reply to popsmith1874]

Thanks; will look online for the gloves; at the hospital after last injections I was advised to keep hands moving doing daily things but through the night the pain is bad; x

[Mazza4]

Anyone recommend a light weight hair dryer to help with pain management in hands?

[Kneesandtoes]

I got rid of the pain at the base of my thumbs with exercise. I used a see-saw like contraption in my gym, but there are lots of things online.

[Mazza4 in reply to Kneesandtoes]

Thanks will look online x