ra and osteoporosis

well my hospital appointment informed me I have osteoporosis in my hands ,I have not been able to make a fist for over six months now .start mtx now any one ever got there movement back

[nomoreheels]

Hiya June. I also have OA in my hands & have problems with movement, mostly grip. For example, my h refuses to let me cut with his kitchen knives, he says I twist the blade as I cut which I'd not noticed if I'm honest but guess that's because I don't have the power in my hands, arms & shoulders to use a knife correctly anymore. I have two more Heberden's nodes forming on my DIP joints which I keep catching. There are red & ouchy just now though I'll get used to those the longer I have them, I have before! A tiny bit of ibuprofen gel takes the edge off after I catch them but do be careful if you take an NSAID, my GP said to use sparingly but I know it's not recommended usually to use alongside NSAIDs. If you're having specific problems it might be worth asking if you could be referred to Occupational Health to see if they can help, exercises too may eases any stiffness.

MTX won't specifically target your OA but it should help any inflammation & of course your RD. x

[Hidden in reply to nomoreheels]

Hi hope you are doing OK yes it June bee got loged out and had to rereg through f b

[magglen]

i think you mean osteoarthritis not osteoporosis which is a thinning of the bones often due to long use of steroids. My consultant also told me that the deformation of my fingers was due to osteoarthritis and not the RD.

[Hidden in reply to magglen]

I asked the nurse to write it down she said it was gaps in the bones but I get fog brain l ask for a written report too

[oldtimer]

About ten years ago when I had a major flare i couldn't make a fist at all, now i can make a partial fist, although I'm clumsy (like wearing gloves when you aren't) and have considerable loss of power. So you can get some movement back with medication and exercises.

If you have a look on the internet for disability aids you will find lots of things to help compensate for the lack of grip. And the occupational therapists are brilliant with suggestions too. Things like a small straining scoop with a long handle so that I can get the vegetables out of the pan without the accompanying water and without having to lift the pan (even if it has got two handles it's too heavy), a tipping kettle where I take the water to fill the kettle in a small jug, not the kettle to the tap, etc.

[cathie]

I think gentle exercise can help what the physio I see calls functional exercise, like a bit of typing or whatever you do. Just gentle