hoping that soon my meds kick in. But at mo feel nothing different is going to happen , but just hope it does
My question is will my hands ever get back to normal with no stiffness. Also will I get my strength back, in my wrists and hands
Thanks Lynda
My hands have gone pretty much back to normal but I regularly do hand exercises - we do them in Pilates and I do them and the physio exercises I got after I broke my wrist a few years ago - pretty much the same sort of thing. Same with my feet, got to keep them moving too.
I found this for you nhsinform.scot/illnesses-an... The exercises are very easy and you can do them while you are sitting watching TV or I often do them while I am out walking.
When I was prescribed hydroxychloroquine I was also prescribed a gradually reducing course of prednisolone so that by the time the steroids had finished the hydroxy had kicked in.
I think the person who could answer that…would win a Nobel prize!
But things do get better as soon as you find some medication that really suits you. ……so keep those hands warm & MOVING & let’s hope you have better news next week. Do remember gentle exercise always helps stiff joints. The more you keep them moving the better .
I had several swollen finger joints when I was initially diagnosed with RA. After several months of treatment they returned to normal size and weren’t painful. I went into ‘remission’ and was off treatment for 18 months then the RA became active again- swollen finger joints, knuckles and swollen wrist (couldn’t unscrew a bottle top). After 6 months of treatment the swelling and pain reduced and I could make a fist again. So there is hope but it can take some time for the meds to kick in and the swelling to reduce. Agree trying to keep all the hand joints moving is very important. Good luck with your treatment.
Thank you. I do try and do things rather than just give up. Waiting for meds to kick in. So tell myself all this can only get better. Lynda
hello Lynda
Echo Aged Crone——I can tell you that, in my case, from not being able to hold a pencil, I have recovered grip and strength in my hands and wrists since beginning treatment with Benepali. Now I can draw and paint again and have enough strength to hold and focus a camera.
I had given up on that and sold all my photography equipment ( which was desperate for me) ….. indeed I felt that I would never be able to do these things again.
The bank balance took a hit as I so wanted to go back to photography and being able to do this again has given me my life back. AND I can garden - have dexterity to sow seeds - how wonderful is that ?
So please hold hope. The right treatment will change your life.
I wish for you a breakthrough as I have experienced.
Oh thank you. Was it that normal medication didn’t work for you. I had a steroid injection last week it did nothing. But have been told I’ve got to wait 3 months to see if meds kick in. Just hoping that they do. It’s just so frustrating after being such an active person. But keep telling myself things can only get better Lynda
the most difficult thing ( in my opinion) is to accept the condition and make adjustments until treatment is found. Although the dmards did not help me, the steroid injections did and then the bio similar but it did take 3 years to get to remission. It is necessary to develop patience as the frustration uses valuable energy.
There will be areas of your life that you continue to enjoy so do your best to give your time to those. That would be my advice from my own experience if that’s any help.
Thank you. Lynda
Please hang in there Lynda and don't lose hope. I had a finger joint on both hands become terribly inflammed. These two fingers looked very odd for months and I was doubtful that they would return back to their original state. I had a steriod injection in one and then waited for the meds to kick in. Thankfully they did, often it's just a case of getting on the right meds. Agree with the others hand exercises to keep the hands moving help. I also bought some cadets from an online supplier to help with opening bottles and pull cans. I also bought an electric tin opener. All these things remain useful alongside the meds because they take the strain and reduce the risk of overuse.
Hi. Yes I had steroid injection but it did nothing so just hoping that meds do kick in. My wrists today feel very weak but I do try to do things. Can’t open stuff so have to get my husband to do that. But fingers crossed I am hoping to eventually get the strength back. It’s just so frustrating after being such an active person. But I will get there. Keep telling myself things can only get better. Lynda
And they will! Have you tried hand splints for support? The ones with the metal bars can be really helpful. I remember using these whilst I waited for the meds to kick in.
No Havnt tried them. Lynda
whcih meds have you started, i am the same, feel like there is glass in my wrists, cant open anything, feel so weak
Hi I am on sulfasalzine. Been on that now for just over 3 months. But also now on methotrexate 8 tablets once week been on that for nearly a month but got to wait 3 months to see if it kicks in Steroid jab did nothing Today my wrists are so weak but quite often better than today I did cleaning in the bathroom as I won’t sit and do nothing I’ve always been very active so to now be told I’ve got rheumatoid has been hard
Hope you arnt suffering too much how long have you had it I’m new to all this
Lynda
i know how you feel, 15 years on i cannot accept , waiting for 3rd medication to kick in the one i was on for 10 years stopped working, good luck, we need it, i feel your pain, hand pain is the worst
Hi. Just hope soon my medication kicks in. My wrists quite painful today. May be I should not do cleaning !
i say tht to my self all the time, i feel mine will never get back to how they used to be, such daily increased pain
Weakness in hands
Hands 
Unbearable pain in wrists & hands!
Ouchy hands!!!
