stiff painful hands and fingers in morning

karinak
karinak Member Posts: 113
edited 15. Aug 2009, 06:38 in Living with Arthritis archive
hello, just been diagnosed with R A and have bad time in the morning with my fingers doing the most simplest chores!, although waiting for 1st hospital appt for medication, i currently take ibroprofen just to ease the pain.Its great to see all the daunting questions answered in this fantastic useful forum.
Thanking you all

Comments

  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,399
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Karina,

    It might help you in the morning if you put your hands in hot water and move them about , wriggle your fingers and gently squeeze a flannel or sponge. This will help to loosen you fingers and ease the pain.

    Hope it works till you can get some painkillers from your GP.

    Luv Legs :D
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • trisher
    trisher Member Posts: 9,263
    edited 12. Aug 2009, 01:05
    Hi Karinak

    sorry to see that you are having trouble with your fingers.
    I have RA in my neck and hands. Its does help to soak them in warm water. Good luck with the hospital and I hope you get your appointment soon.

    love trisher
  • topcatt
    topcatt Member Posts: 63
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Karinak

    I have the same problems as you and sometimes takes me upto 2 hours to get my hand and wrist a bit mobile. I was advised to take ibprofen and paracetamol alternately as one tackles the inflammation and the other the pain I also use a tens machine which I find brilliant. Also as previously advised heat therapy works for me(either warm water, heat pack or best of all for me my trusty hot water bottle!) hope this helps and I am off for my first visit to rheumy next week so hoping for some results. Take care x
  • gemmapetken
    gemmapetken Member Posts: 263
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    hi
    i have RA in my hands as well.
    Like most people suggest soaking hands in hot water helps in the morning, it gets me going to wash my hair! have t get hubby to get the shower running though!!

    Good luck and take some painkillers if you are getting pain!

    Gx
  • karinak
    karinak Member Posts: 113
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    topcatt wrote:
    Hi Karinak

    I have the same problems as you and sometimes takes me upto 2 hours to get my hand and wrist a bit mobile. I was advised to take ibprofen and paracetamol alternately as one tackles the inflammation and the other the pain I also use a tens machine which I find brilliant. Also as previously advised heat therapy works for me(either warm water, heat pack or best of all for me my trusty hot water bottle!) hope this helps and I am off for my first visit to rheumy next week so hoping for some results. Take care x

    Thanks topcat, the water bottle thingy sounds good and hope your 1st appt goes ok for you too, let me know outcome and we could share information given maybe?
    take care Karina
  • karinak
    karinak Member Posts: 113
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    gemmapetken wrote:
    hi
    i have RA in my hands as well.
    Like most people suggest soaking hands in hot water helps in the morning, it gets me going to wash my hair! have t get hubby to get the shower running though!!

    Good luck and take some painkillers if you are getting pain!

    Gx

    Hello Gemma, thanks for tips , i even had tough time wiping my bum this morning!!, and why do these companies make it mission impossible for RA sufferers to squeeze the smallest of shower gel out of the fort knox type bottles??
    take care Karina
  • josiec
    josiec Member Posts: 386
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Aha! You've touched on one of my pet gripes here! I've switched to different products simply because the packaging is impossible!! Personally I find tubes of toothpaste easier than those ones with the button on top, flip tops better than screw ones (tend to leave most of them open once in them) and tubes better than screw top pots for moisturiser, etc. Wish they'd make a mouthwash that I can get into though!!! :x
  • joyful164
    joyful164 Member Posts: 2,401
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    You try wiping you bum when you have sore fingers that are tingly aswell. Then it is difficult. Goodness knows what will happen if I have the operation and all bandaged up. I've told OH to be prepared. Gosh, the mind boggles doesn't it?
    joyful
  • gemmapetken
    gemmapetken Member Posts: 263
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    ha :lol:

    i know how you feel with the shampoo and stuff, i had to open my milk this morning and ended up using my teeth!! LOL

    I find flip tops a knightmare so usually leave them open and the ones with the seal that you have to squeeze really hard!! dont get me started!!

    Gx
  • madness1985
    madness1985 Member Posts: 293
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello,

    I have had to comment about bottles .. firstl im sorry to hear your fingers are sore. Mine r bad in the morning too i find that washing my hands in hot water helps (thats after ive stuggled to get tape on in the end calling my partner to get it on .. still waiting for OT to come out ..) As for bottles, i like lemonae n i crnt open the bottles so i leave them open in the fridge ive got use to none fizzy lemonade! Shampoo, shower gel ect nightmare, i use my arm to press the shower gel then apply! But my worst hate is toilets .. the one with the wee circle thing on the top that u have to push in .. well honestly i just crnt do it so i now carry a large umberlla that gives me support while walking but also a useful tool to flushing the toilet in public places :D
  • mistywillow
    mistywillow Member Posts: 711
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    madness1985 wrote:
    Hello,

    I have had to comment about bottles .. firstl im sorry to hear your fingers are sore. Mine r bad in the morning too i find that washing my hands in hot water helps (thats after ive stuggled to get tape on in the end calling my partner to get it on .. still waiting for OT to come out ..) As for bottles, i like lemonae n i crnt open the bottles so i leave them open in the fridge ive got use to none fizzy lemonade! Shampoo, shower gel ect nightmare, i use my arm to press the shower gel then apply! But my worst hate is toilets .. the one with the wee circle thing on the top that u have to push in .. well honestly i just crnt do it so i now carry a large umberlla that gives me support while walking but also a useful tool to flushing the toilet in public places :D



    Hi
    Interesting all you lot find heat helpful for your hands, I find exactly the opposite! A cold pack when my fingers are really stiff and painful seems to work and reduce both the swelling and stiffness.
    Vive la difference!
    Gillx
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi, personally I find the toothpaste with the button on the top awful to use, I much prefer the old fashioned tube. Some of the ways I've tried to get toothpaste out of the button on top type would make a you laugh. I've even tried to stick the bristles of the toothbrush into the top of the tube! :shock: My worst experience though, was getting a roast out of the oven and dropping it! :( Rinsing potatoes and drying them on kitchen roll isn't in my cookery book! :oops: Love Sue

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