Tools to help painful hands

[Sharonbernt]

Hi all I was wondering if anyone has advise on helpful tools to use for painful hands I have gadgets to open jars, bottles etc and a special pen to write with I am trying to limit the stress on my fingers as they are so painful. Also ironing clothes has become almost impossible.

[sylvi]

WEll i can give you an answer to your ironing woes,get a ironing press,brilliant things.xxxx

[JacquiThomas999 in reply to sylvi]

I have a generator iron, for when I do iron. But if it isn't for best, it doesn't get done. I only iron fabric for sewing, when I have a cheap iron and baby board.

[Matilda_1922]

Hi

I was referred for hand therapy to help with painful hands. Maybe you can ask for this too.

I noticed you have a special pen to help with writing. Can you tell me how you came across this pen.

I write all day at work and find most pens are not very useful. I usually wrap sellotape around the pen to help with grip.

Wish you well

[Sharonbernt in reply to Matilda_1922]

I went on amazon it us called a fish pen I think they use it in schools for people who struggle a biro fits into it I fing it great as my trip isn't brill hope this helps

[ruth_p]

On fake Britain last week they had an automatic can opener. That looked really good. I just don't iron, mainly that's laziness not hand pain. 😊

[Gigi71]

I use a key turner for my sons house, just can't open his door without it. I often go round and feed his cat for him, and cuddle her of course. X

[nomoreheels]

Are any of these any good? completecareshop.co.uk/search/

[nomoreheels]

I have OA in my hands & found pulling out plugs from the sockets a problem but plug pulls have sorted that. I've lots of Oxo Good Grips stuff, easy open/close cannisters, utensils, salt & pepper mills, measuring jugs which can be read from above. Since I got stuck in the loo because I couldn't turn the knob all our door handles have been replaced to the lever type, all the taps as well. I've used this site quite a lot, they seem to be very competitive price-wise completecareshop.co.uk

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to nomoreheels]

Pulling out plugs was the first thing I had difficulty with, that and pushing the flus on our toilet, it is set vertically into the panel behind the loo and I couldn't get the strength to give it a good push, I use my knuckle now.

Anyway I got a pack of plug pulls from Amazon, fitted them on all my appliances and I haven't looked back. Cheap and wonderful 😊

[Sharonbernt in reply to nomoreheels]

I found remote control plugs are brill no more pulling out plugs you just use the remote to turn them off bliss

[Leonwp]

I found as my wrists got more painful and weaker i was putting more strain on my fingers, wearing wrist braces seemed to help both wrists and take some strain away from fingers. I suppose the old song applies "the finger bones connected to the...... hand bone, the hand bones connected to the...... wrist bone" (ok whose clapping along?) the wrist bones connected to the.........etc.

[Jeanslmn]

I found the kettle difficult to lift spilled boiling water all over work top a few times took this as a warning so bought a tipped kettle from "betterlife "a part of lloyds chemist best thing I've ever bought no worries if scalding looks like somthing out if space my grandchildren think it's real cool lol

[AgedCrone in reply to Jeanslmn]

Have you thought of buying the domestic little water heater from Coopers( although a lot of companies seem to sell it on Amazon now)?

It's brilliant.....you just fill it ....I use a ligh plastic jug.....it takes 2 litres, & you have boiling water at the touch of a switch....no lifting or waiting for the kettle to boil.

As I am now a lazy old lady I have two...one in the kitchen one in the bedroom for my morning tea!

I also use Melamine crockery ( when I'm alone) as I can't lift a china plate......well I can, but 80% of the time I drop it!!!

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

I love the morning tea idea.

[Allije in reply to Jeanslmn]

I found the kettle particularly difficult and a tipper didn't do it for me. I have been using a little travel kettle which is obviously very light. I fill it with a plastic jug so I don't have to lift it to the taps.

I have a real sized kettle for when I have visitors and of course they are there to help.

[Scottishlad]

It helps if you can rethink the clothes you wear.

Start buying clothes that need minimal ironing especially for everyday wear. Look at companies specialising in travel wear. I wear a lot of Rohan shirts and trousers which I never iron. My wife wears lots of tops with Lycra in the mix and if the are reasonably fitted there is no benefit in ironing them. In the summer I wear sports t-shirts in man made fibres which again need no or little ironing.

[AgedCrone in reply to Scottishlad]

The only things I now iron are pillowcases! I can't get my head around sleeping on un ironed pillows!

But as you say these days most things don't need to be ironed...unless you forget you put the washing machine on & leave the clothes in overnight....oops!!

[Scottishlad in reply to AgedCrone]

I wish we could have found poly-cotton downie covers we liked, it would have been so much easier!! I do most of the ironing as my wife has shoulder problems.

The fitted sheets are usually okay once you get them on bed and after you have spent a night in the bed who would know.

[AgedCrone in reply to Scottishlad]

Hi, Scottishlad....

Look in the Kaleidescope catalogue ...I got some 100% cotton very reasonably priced duvets covers.....as long as you get them out of the WM as soon as they stop spinning & hang them over a clothes horse they don't need ironing .....in fact if you put the pillow cases under the mattress you can get away without ironing them too!

Fitted sheets I never iron...just turn the electric blanket on (when they are DRY of course)& they look ironed!

My neighbours are used to me inviting them in for coffee.....then asking them to pull the fitted sheet over the corners of the bed....my fingers just can't pull hard enough these days!

I wonder if people suffering from other ailments have as much fun as we do finding ways to manage ???

[GranAmie]

i oftn use my grandkids slot onto pen or pencil guide. They use it to hold correctly; i use it for better grip. If you can't gt a jar open save the lid from the empty one then stab the new jat to release the pressure and your frustration! and it will open easily. Replace stabbed lid with washed old one [ unless you like soft pickled onions. ] cheap electric tape better than sellotape for wrapping pens etc. Compression gloves eg isotoner make a great difference for me xx

[eastbournelady]

my answer is ...my husband!!!!

[sandraw21]

Next time you see your consultant ask to be referred to the Occupational Therapist. They can go through everything with you and offer advice and possibly aids to help with absolutely everything, from bathroom to the kitchen and garden

[mary4444]

u sound in a bad way did they not give u any of them elastic gloves to wear when u r doing things around the house u cant wear them all the time but they do help support the hands i wear one for my left hand because thats the worse and yes its a terrible pain feels like its broken ask rhumy or physio when u next there are u on pain killers wish i could think of the name of them gloves i bet one of the girls on here will know name i wish u luck xx