RA now in hands!!!!! Any tips would be great as I work in an office and keep on loosing grip of everything and get awful pain in my fingers?

[Marnie87]

Only since Monday my RA now seems to be moving around my body, my right hip is hurting and my both my hands. Any tips or relief for hands???

[lulul]

Hi My Ra began in my hands and feet and I have damage to both thumbs plus other damage to my feet. I find gadgets and splints are my best defense! See an OT if you can to get advice about the latter.They help protect sore joints. I have a gadget to open cans open jars turn keys and cooker knobs open bottle tops etc all very useful. I cannot use a computer mouse so have one with a built in pad instead. I use wide grippers on pens and cutlery and on my toothbrush. Try to avoid repetitive movements and rest your hands in between where possible. I also use wheat hot packs for pain which you can microwave easily at work . If the pain is in yout thumbs try to lift things with your palms not in a pincer grip. I have basically learnt to use my hands with out too much use of my thumbs..very hard at times though.

Hope this helps and good luck

[Marnie87]

Thank you for the tips. I have a guy coming to my work on monday to adjust my work station so hopefully he can get me a different mouse if there is such a thing

M

x

[pawsed in reply to Marnie87]

Yes, there are other mouses (?) available, found mine on EBay and its more upright with the buttons on the side. Odd to start with but much easier on the wrists.

[trojan14 in reply to Marnie87]

You can get an angled mouse, so your hand is almost on its side when youre using it rather than palm down. Hope that makes sense!

[HarleySue]

Hi Marnie, I have terrible pain in hands & wrists aswell as feet, knees & shoulders. I referred myself to OT and she came to visit me at home. She got me splints, bathlift, toilet raiser etc as well as suggesting all the kitchen gadgets lulul suggests. It makes a big difference. Hubby bought a swim tube thing(long polystyrene tube) from 99p shop and he cuts off bits to push on cutlery, toothbrush, loo flush etc when hands are really bad - it works a treat. Hot lavender mitts in microwave also work when sitting watching TV.

Hope you sort things out soon

Sue x

[Hidden]

battery or elec toothbrush also good as more chunky.. you can buy a squeezy ball thing or use play doh to exercise hands. wax bath from argos good for hands.. I was given pipe insulation foam for my toothbrush from the ..... shire nhs trust.. got to admit they are being careful with spending ... 10p?? nras do a leaflet on key boards and mice!!.. they say a small mouse is best

[Hidden]

Oh I use splints quite a lot too.. your occuaptional therapy dept should provide these.. the shire has a good OT dept

[Hidden]

I use an Apple MacBook Pro laptop and it has a preference option for tapping the mouse gently with two fingers instead of pressing it down which I find really handy (excuse the pun!). They are very expensive to buy but Macs do have these extras, such as touch screen and gentle scroll that make can make a difference. I'm glad I saved up and went for it last Xmas and birthday because it's paying dividends now. I guess your work place might not see it that way though?

[Philip]

I was pretty lucky getting things to use around the house, I asked te Ocupational therapist for some help walking as my hands and feet are pretty bad.

They contacted me witin a week and brought back a cutlery set with big andles and something to open jars , things for turning knobs and such also a new walking stick for my laeft hand (moulded handles) and also a set of crutches, Im going for a wheelchair asesment on the 21st, all in all pretty good, maybe your OP can help you also.

[bpeal1]

The best thing I have found for pain and easing stiff joints is the hand wax bath from Argos. It was recomended by my OT. I use it every day. They are in the sale at the moment.

I also have lots of gadgets around the house.

Becky

[Gina_K]

When my hands were bad I had several injections under camera into wrists and hands, hav damage but nothing restrictive .

[Gina_K]

Also my work provided ergonomic assessment, foot rest, wrist rest & electric stapler, the latter is invaluable, I still work o n two screens and standard keyboard, always have anti inflam gel to hand, no pun intended !

[Hidden]

Hi sorry your struggling at work.

I used access to work to help with my work station and they provided things like special pen which you don't need to grip a ring pen. Dragon software so can speak to computer and it types for you, and specialist made chair, leg rests, roller pen mouse and spilt keyboard, writing and reading block, headset for phone, its amazing how much they can help.

At home I use a wax bath on hands daily these are cheap from argos

Heat pads in work

Tens machine x

Coban wrap on sore and swollen fingers works a treat

Splints see your o t for these I have both working and resting ones.

If you want any further advice pm me and I can give you links of were you can get help and info and pictures of aids etc.

Take care x

Julie x

[trojan14]

Oh yes, forgot my fab stapler- its by Rexel, and pink - can't remember what its called, but Google it. It is amazingly easy to use.