Weak hands

[calibriel]

My grip has become poor, and writing is increasingly painful and awkward - a special problem for me, because I am a writer, and like to draft by hand before typing up (and it’s beginning to affect my typing too). Do you think this could be due to my PMR (2.5years diagnosed, and currently reducing to 2.5mg without other symptoms) or should I be looking for something else? Carpal tunnel, perhaps? I also have osteoarthritis, but I don’t think it’s that. Thank you.

[Seacat30]

Why don't you think it is osteoarthritis. One of my grandmothers had severe problems with her hands from that. I remember her asking me to do things for her.

[calibriel in reply to Seacat30]

Absolutely, which is why I considered it as a cause: but it doesn’t feel like arthritis to me. In my experience, arthritis is pain before weakness, but this is weakness before pain. Also, I suffered my PMR for a long time without going to the doctor because I thought it was arthritis in my shoulders - which I assumed no-one could do anything about, apart from offer me painkillers - and I don’t want to make that mistake again!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

My grip is poor too and I don't like writing because my hands stiffen around the pen/pencil. Not that it really matters as I type everything except shopping lists! I suspect mine IS OA although I can feel a small improvement with the Actemra so it COULD be PMR. Was yours better at higher doses of pred?

Although you don't think it is the OA - what helps, if anything? Have you tried Flexiseq?

flexiseq.com/

Always worth trying a tube or two to see if it helps. If it doesn't - you can just not bother.

[calibriel in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting - I’ve never heard of Flexiseq, but it sounds like I should give it a try. I don’t think the weakness was any better on higher doses of pred. I did have steroid injections for carpal tunnel syndrome about a year ago, because of numbness in my hands on waking. The numbness improved and hasn’t come back, and I think my grip might have improved slightly for a bit; but really it’s something that’s been getting steadily worse for a while, since before I was diagnosed with PMR. I’ll try the Flexiseq, and see if it helps. Thank you

[piglette in reply to calibriel]

I use Flexiseq on my knees, I had not thought of using it on my hands. I do exercise my hands too.

You probably are not interested, but if the worst comes to the worst you can always get software on your computer so you just speak and the computer types your article up for you. No hands!!

[calibriel in reply to piglette]

Hmm … unfortunately, the physical act of writing is part of the process for me. I’m prepared to try to keep going, on the “use it or lose it” principle, for as long as I can. I’m also a bit of an amateur artist, and beginning to find some techniques difficult because of my waning dexterity. Ho-hum. So it goes

[piglette in reply to calibriel]

A friend who is an artist has recently had a stroke and he has started doing art on his iPad. I think David Hockney actually had an exhibition of his iPad art work.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to calibriel]

Tried wrist supports, braces? plenty online retailers - this is just one I found - mediuk.co.uk/shop/product-c...

[calibriel in reply to DorsetLady]

Wrist support made my carpal tunnel worse, so I stopped using it

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to calibriel]

okay -ditch that idea then 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

jinasc and co discovered it worked for their hands because they didn't wash them immediately after rubbing it into their knees

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I hadn't thought of that, of course!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Totally accidental - they suddenly realised their hands didn't hurt as much!

[jinasc]

As PMRpro advises try the Flexiseq - I use it all the time on hands, knees and shoulders.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to jinasc]

👍

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Voltaren. It really works ! Give it a 2-5 days to start working. I have OA & RA. On 15 mg of Pred. And 25 mg MTX. For 2 months now. My wrist and knuckles still give me fits.