My hands are so painful tonight and nothing seems to help. Any ideas or suggestions to ease pain- meds doing nothing. Anything will be gratefully received
Marie
A world of sore: My hands are so painful tonight and... - NRAS
A world of sore
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Eiram50
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Frozen peas then hot water bottle or heat pad. 15 min turnabout. x
I’ve tried the heat- not the peas. Thank you
Thank you. I’ve no Epsom salts but have had them in hot water earlier today- also hot water bottle, to no avail
Hi Marie...sorry you're suffering. Have you tried Ibuprofen gel?
Paul
I have Paul. I’ve taken so many pain killers too that I really shouldn’t feel anything at all!
Oh bless. I did consider the handwarmer pads I've used whilst fishing but you have to squidge them up to activate them...sadly ironic!
I will - desperate for even ten mins relief!
Hi Marie, I do hope you are feeling a little better by the time you get this. The pain must be awful. This might help. When I get gout which is horribly painful, I put my feet in icy water for short periods. I know it is cold over there but it is worth a try. The cold water takes some of the heat out of the inflamed tissue.
I have arthritis in my hands but not anywhere as bad as you have. All I can do is send you a heartfelt hug and prayers for a quick recovery.
Rosie xxx
Sorry for your pain. Have you tried compression gloves which might bring some relief?
Your poor hands look so sore and twisted, I’m so sorry! I had a hand physio appointment yesterday (referral from rheumatologist). I was given a thumb splint to use as my left hand is quite a problem (Osteo alongside the RA apparently). When I put the splint on the immediate relief from having my hand compressed was amazing. As a result of that I’m going to get myself some compression gloves, you can purchase from places like amazon. Might be worth a look for you. Hope you get some relief soon. X
I feel for you Marie. Mine don't look as far gone as yours, really only index & little finger are obvious outward signs but I find rubbing in Pernaton gel really helps short-term, which is fine because you can apply it as often as needed. It was Jo (Jora) who first mentioned it, pleased she did as I use it on my feet too! Worth checking if your local chemist sells it, mine does but only smaller tubes, I buy my 250ml tubes online. pernaton.co.uk/our-products...
Otherwise maybe Epsom salts in warm water, soothing. x
I’ll certainly try it all x
Ouch. Can't offer anything in addition to the hot and cold I'm afraid but really hoping you get some relief soon.
Have you tried cold water
When the RA in my hands was really bad I would use a parrafin wax bath. Seemed to give relief as the wax was used to coat the hands and retained heat. You peel the wax off when it solidifies and cools and you can then redissolve and use again. I used a large can for the wax in a double boiler arrangement as you have to be careful heating the wax. webmd.com/osteoarthritis/tc...
Paraffin wax was my saviour when my hands were in the same way. Such relief.
Icepacks every time. They are the only thing that makes a difference, heat makes it worse. I wrap a towel round the icepack then wrap it round my hands, keep it on for 10/15 mins then take it off for 15 - lets the blood rush back to my hands, then I repeat the process a few more times. It helps me. Good luck, hope you get some relief 
Yup, definitely! Only thing that helps me
I'm so sorry you're in such pain Marie. Your poor hands! Everyone else has already supplied any ideas I might have had except perhaps trying 111. They may have access to further help. I do hope you find some relief soon. Great big gentle hugs
J
Warm up some essential oils or even olive oil, in the microwave, then massage onto hands. Even better if you have someone else to do it.
Or I just have a bath.
I’ve never been in a bath for 3 years! After having both hips and both knees replaced, I am still unable too and as such, now have a wet room installed 😥
What's a bath??!! Seriously me too as I need the replacements! I'm having my bath taken out and a lovely walk in shower soon with a little flip down sauna type seat to I can linger if I want for a seated shower.
See my reply above!!!!
I have to sit on the edge. Swing my legs over. Wiggle my bottom to the back. Rest on my elbows and slide down the back inch by inch. It ain’t pretty and there is water everywhere but I don’t have a shower in my new cottage so have to do that. Getting out I have to roll onto my tummy, head immersed in water, push up onto one knee (other is titanium) and go up onto elbows again. Honestly if it sounds weird, it looks even stranger. Takes me a good 15 minutes but my god, to actually have a bath is amazing. X
Ooowa. Cant add anything except to say I reallt hope you find that something that has been suggested works soon for you.
So sorry for for your pain. I have an idea how you were feeling because the same happened to me last Monday night. I didn't go to sleep until 5.45 am after I had been crying all night. I
Iknew the pain was going to reach a crescendo on Sunday afternoon after I had been sweeping my drive. Someone has got to do it haven't they? The only thing that seems to help me is diclofenac tablets, which the doctors are loved to prescribe but he knows I will only take them when I am desperate.
I also have been taking a spoonful of cider vinegar in about an inch of water in the bottom of the glass and I sip it throughout the morning. I seem to be more or less pain free between the flare ups.
Hope that you will get some relief soon.
I find that the only thing to help me when my hands hurt to bad is therapy putty. It's microwaveable. I put it in my microwave for 2 minutes and put ittin my hands a squeeze it until it cools off. Sometimes I only have to do it once but there are occasions that I've had to microwave the puddy for another 2 minutes. It really helps me a lot. I bought my puddy off of eBay a year or so ago. My suggestions is to get two containers because one wasn't enough for me. I combined the two containers into one. Try that I think that might work or even help a little for you. Good luck. J. D. Quinn
You are so welcome Eiram50. Not sure what form of arthritis yours is , but mine is osteoarthritis that I was told over 3 years ago after mine started 2 years prior to that. It can be I know. Ice been there on more than one occasion. I've had days mine has hurt so bad it'sbrought tears to my eyes. I never that it would get that bad. But Try The puddy I think you'llfind that it helps relieve some of the pain for awhile. Have they told you if yours is RA or OA? Mine is now in my spine and other parts as well.
Hi JD
I have ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis, diagnosed in August 2015. Since then I’ve had both hips replaced ( together at the same time), both knees replaced ( together at the same time), surgery on feet and I’m waiting to have elbows replaced. It’s been a tough ride.
However, I mostly manage. I’m a social worker and still full time although recently, I find myself more abs more considering dropping my hours- there has to be more to life than just work and pain?!
I will look into the putty, it’s not something I’d known about.
Thank you
Marie
Gosh looks like mine were. Hugs to you. I've not read below yet as have some display issues on the mobile trying to read things on HU at the mo.
I would say a wheat/grain type micro heatpad you can wrap around your hands or tuck under. Also, definitely try to get wax hand baths at your hospital physio department or invest in a small wax hand bath for at home. The wax draws out the inflammation and it is visibly less red and sore and the fingers aren't as swollen. Sadly they only last for a couple of days so you need to be doing it regularly. Swishing your hands about in warm soapy water or Epsom Salts soak will help too. I am not sure about magnesium spray for them will work as I haven't tried that myself but thinking of it for my knee. I'm using CBD oil cream for my knee which has helped a lot. Maybe have a look at that. Perhaps someone else can advise about Magnesium oil spray. Not quite as easy to put on your fingers the things you might use on feet or knees as you cook/eat and need them not to be transferring the properties of whatever is in them to you internally. Unless you apply and creams etc overnight. Hope you can soon get relief.
There in Tuesday so will have a chat x
Thank you x
I tried frozen veg which seemed to hurt more so went back to hot water bottle- didn’t help too much but heat does seem to offer me comfort, at least . I did have compression gloves so turned the house upside down early hours this morning but couldn’t find them!
Today I’ve continued to soak them in extremely hot water and mobilise them and they feel slightly better until I take them out and then five mins later, screaming again- could honestly chop them off!
😢😢
Oh I’ll def give that a try as when I had the compression gloves, they were tight but really helped- thank you.
My spine is fused at the bottom and top and I’ve been having spasms since wed last week but honestly, the hands are a thousand times more Troublesome!
when i have a flare up the doctor gives me a bigger dose of prednisone till it goes away. I don't have to go see her I just have to call her over the phone. It seems like you should be seeing a doctor already that should be able to do that. If you are I would call again and talk to someone some people don't think. They did that at my dentist once years ago when I had a toothache and the dentist finally saw me cause I kept bugging them. He was not too happy that they did not give me something for the pain till I got in there.
Hi Melissa and thank you for your response. Unfortunately , there’s not much more I can take. Currently, I’m on enbrel ( weekly ), methotrexate , leflunomide, arcoxia, tramadol/ dehydracodeine, oxycodone as needed too. I’ve been now prescribed some topical inflammatory, so I’ll see if this helps.
Marie
are one of those the iv you can get monthly I have a friend that has been doing it for 10 years or so now and it helped cause nothing else would my doctor is thinking of doing that for me
I buy icebreaker cream from nuskin you can get it online it has been a blessing to me.
i make sure my arms and hands are as straight as possible when i go to sleep. I hold them out and up like im going to be tied up. lol. otherwise in the night i curl them in against me which makes it so much worse.
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