Alternative treatment modalities?

[mmhall34]

Hi everyone, I was recently diagnosed with RA (June 2021) and my rheumatologist has started me on methotrexate. The finger stiffness has been pretty bad. I found a couple of hand massagers online that I have found pretty helpful for alleviating pains I was wondering what other alternative treatment modalities have been helpful for people with RA. Thanks so much.

[Mmrr]

I find heat and ice to be the best remedies and usually have ice packs in the freezer ready to use.Occasionally if my feet are achy I use an Epsom salt soak for them.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Mmrr]

Epsom salts foot bath is good for me too.

[mmhall34 in reply to Mmrr]

Thank you! I had a pedicure tub from the pandemic since wasn’t able to get out for them and used it the other day with lavender Epsom salts. It was a great relief. The hot water with the salts was therapeutic and soothing. Heat and ice packs seem very handy to have on board also. Thank you.

[oldtimer]

I prefer to think about the many things I find helpful as Supplementary not Alternative! Anything that takes the pressure of using my joints helps: from electric jar openers to food processors, from splints to comfortable shoes. The most helpful person in my journey has been the occupational therapist.

[mmhall34 in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you! And yes supplementary is much more fitting. I got some knee braces which help a little when my knees swell and for now some shoe inserts from the drug store. I haven’t met with an occupational therapist yet but was thinking orthotics might be in my near future.

[allanah in reply to mmhall34]

My ot and physio were fab I put them forward to NRAS as nras champions, and they won, they were over the moon

[Pippy25 in reply to oldtimer]

Same for me.

[allanah]

Hand wax machines

[KittyJ in reply to allanah]

Do you have one Alannah? I’ve often thought about getting one but don’t know if you can put your hands/wrists in them without bending them? Anyone who’s got one know please?

[allanah in reply to KittyJ]

It's not the wax for taking off hair.!! It's medical wax. I got my machine on Amazon and still get wax sticks there. My physio got me onto them ! very soothing plus you get smooth hands! , then use the wax ball as a physio push ball.

[KittyJ in reply to allanah]

I said nothing about hair 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m concerned about spending a lot of money and not being able to get my hands in as they hardly bend.

[AgedCrone in reply to KittyJ]

😹

[allanah in reply to AgedCrone]

What ? It's a good treatment used by physios.

[allanah in reply to KittyJ]

I was joking about " getting waxed!eg like bikini wax! " And yes you can put your hands in the baths in any position. Talk to your physio

[AgedCrone in reply to allanah]

I don’t have/need a physio…..my reply to KittyJ was facetious…..which I think she will have understood!

[allanah in reply to AgedCrone]

Shame I didnt then. I was trying to give mmhall my experience as they asked.

[KittyJ in reply to allanah]

I don’t have a physio but thanks for your help.

[allanah in reply to KittyJ]

I'm very glad I have these excellent professionals

[Neonkittie17 in reply to allanah]

Wax baths at hospital physio were the best things ever for my swollen fingers and hands. Took all the redness and swelling down, and I used to go three times a week as it is local.

[allanah in reply to Neonkittie17]

For me too

[Neonkittie17 in reply to allanah]

Laying on the treatment bed in my own cubicle with the curtain drawn and the lights off and with my hands all wrapped up in plastic and blankets, listening to soothing music and ice packs on my knees was a real treat .. for 20 minutes and it might sound odd to some but it was wonderful! I never missed a session, three times a week for two months.

[smilelines in reply to Neonkittie17]

Sound fabulous!!!!!!

[Neonkittie17 in reply to smilelines]

It was wonderful and kept me going on some very difficult times of early RA. It really works for most people too or a hospital rheumatologist wouldn’t be doing it.

[mmhall34 in reply to allanah]

Thank you! I will look into the hand wax and I imagine extra smooth hands are an added bonus

[allanah in reply to mmhall34]

Like nursem hand cream too. It's fabulous. It was on dragons den 2 nurses invented it and it unbelievable

[smilelines in reply to allanah]

I will check out this cream.

[Mmrr in reply to KittyJ]

I've not got a hand wax bath, but have had one in a beauty salon. I really didn't like it and found that it heated my already hot and painful hands up.

[allanah in reply to Mmrr]

I like the physio hot wax it helped me a lot, hope these bits of advice help @ mmhall34

😀

[Neonkittie17 in reply to allanah]

It was the only thing that took the horrible pain from my fingers and reduced the swelling. x

[Pippy25 in reply to Mmrr]

I think it's like most things with RD, what works for one doesn't always for others. The OT I had was good and used to say to me if you can try source, loan or try something out before investing in it with regards to more expensive items as the last thing you want is to invest in a gadget, gizmo or equipment if it doesn't help.

[allanah in reply to Pippy25]

I tried at physio before I bought

[Hidden in reply to KittyJ]

They are big enough to place your hand in.I brought a Champneys one on ebay, lady had it as a gift and didn't want it.

Brilliant thing, very light to lift and super easy to use.

[Bethany02]

Try some self massage with some frankincense essential oil diluted with almond or joboba oil also ask the rhematoid physio for hand exercises and buy some small rubber balls. Above all else stop when your sore and be good to yourself. A wee nice something makes you smile and gives you good hormones

[Hidden]

I have extensive hand/finger RA and OA. I brought a paraffin wax bath for hands ( and tiny feet) very good.

[Lolabridge]

My hand therapist suggested I get a Theramit for when my hands are painful. It's a mitten filled with wheat that you heat in the microwave and wear on your hand. I find the heat really helps and it's very comforting.

Amazon sell it for £16.99 and here's the link:

amazon.co.uk/Theramit-Ladie...

Someone on this forum also suggested a Paingone Pen which uses TENS and can be used on any part of the body. I use it when my wrists and thumb joints are painful - ideal for fingers.

I got mine from Tower Health where it's on offer at the moment but Amazon also sell them.

tower-health.co.uk/pain-gon...

I hope you find something that works for you.

[Sheila_G]

Hi. I have had many injections in many joints over the years, which on the whole worked well but I was referred to OT for wax baths for my hands which were so relaxing and calming. You could ask your Rheumatologist for a referral. xx

[Knit12]

If you have been not long diagnosed does your rheummy team not offer appts with RA occ health and podiatrists and phy therapists. I found them useful with lots of advice and some free gadgets like bottle openers and therapeutic gloves. Worth asking if they do anything like that where you stay. I also found talking to pharmacy helpful as they told you supplements to avoid

[mmhall34]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I see my rheumatologist on Monday for my first follow up (was diagnosed in a June) although clearly had been having some pains before then. I did get the Theramit and used a few times.. it is really nice and soothing. Just posting a side note. I am a physician myself so thought that Australian dream arthritis relief would be placebo but that really seems to help too and I haven’t needed the prednisone last few days because of it. I didn’t even know about it. An orthopedic surgeon colleague had recommended it for my s/o last week when he sprained his thumb and I looked at the jar and thought “well hell.. I’ll try it”. Only posting in case anyone is interested. We got it on Amazon and I am in no way working for this company. Just a newly diagnosed patient looking for remedies with minimal side effects to lead my most productive life like us all.